Former Minnesota Wild Defenseman Andy Sutton Retires

Jan 7, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Andy Sutton (25) tries to clear Dallas Stars left wing Brenden Morrow (10) from in front of goalie Nikolai Khabibulin (35) during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Former Minnesota Wild blue liner Andy Sutton has retired after a 15-year career that saw him play with seven different teams.

Sutton played in 676 NHL games, including 88 with Minnesota, scoring 38 goals and 112 assists for 150 points, a negative-20 rating, 1,185 penalty minutes, 13 power play goals and four shorthanded goals. In those 15 seasons, the hulking 6’6” 245-pound defenseman proved himself to be one of the NHL’s most imposing defenders. His style of play wasn’t forgiving to his body, and Sutton underwent 12 surgeries for a variety of injuries and never once played a full 82-game season. The big blue liner missed all of the 2012-13 season with a knee injury.

Sutton was selected from the San Jose Sharks by the Minnesota Wild in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft and scored five goals (three on the man advantage) and eight assists for 13 points, a negative-15 rating and 166 penalty minutes in a Wild sweater. In his career, Sutton would play for the Thrashers, Islanders, Senators, Ducks and most recently the Oilers in addition to the Sharks and Wild.