It took a while for Carton Hutton to make his NHL debut, but once he did, he proved to be worth the wait.

Following four seasons at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, including as a senior in 2009-10 when he ranked third among NCAA Division I goalies in save percentage (.928) and fourth in goals-against average (2.04), Hutton signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Philadelphia Flyers on March 20, 2010.

Although he played well in four games with Adirondack of the American Hockey League (2.71 GAA, .921 save percentage), he didn't appear in an NHL game and signed with the San Jose Sharks as a free agent on June 1, 2010.

However, Hutton would again spend the following season in the minors with Worcester of the AHL, and on Aug. 1, 2011, he signed a one-year contract with Rockford of the AHL.

After splitting the 2011-12 season between Rockford and Toledo of the ECHL, Hutton signed with the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent on Feb. 24, 2012. He would spend the rest of that season and most of the following in the AHL before he finally made his NHL debut in Chicago's regular-season finale on April 27, 2013, making 25 saves in a 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues.

Hutton was able to parlay that one game in a free agent contract with the Nashville Predators on July 5, 2013, with whom he would see plenty of action. After starting goaltender Pekka Rinne was sidelined with a hip infection in October, Hutton stepped up and played in 40 games (34 starts) in 2013-14, going 20-11-4 with a 2.62 GAA and .910 save percentage.

Following two more seasons in Nashville as the backup, Hutton signed with the St. Louis Blues as a free agent on July 1, 2016.

In 2017-18, Hutton broke out while taking over for a struggling Jake Allen. He went 17-7-3 and among goalies to play in at least 30 games, Hutton led the NHL with a 2.09 GAA and .931 save percentage.

As a result, Hutton was rewarded that offseason and signed a three-year, $8.25 million contract ($2.75 million average annual value) with the Buffalo Sabres on July 1, 2018.

Despite playing well behind a shaky defense (.908 save percentage) Hutton and the Sabres struggled, and he finished his first season as a No. 1 goalie 18-25-5.

In 2019-20, Hutton again struggled to find his form from St. Louis and split time with Linus Ullmark in net. He was 12-14-4 with a 3.18 GAA and .898 save percentage before the season was paused on March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• Hockey East Second All-Star Team (2010)
• Signed as a free agent by San Jose, June 1, 2010.
• Signed as a free agent by Chicago, February 24, 2012.
• Signed as a free agent by Nashville, July 5, 2013.
• Signed as a free agent by St. Louis, July 1, 2016.
• Signed as a free agent by Buffalo, July 1, 2018.