Former Maple Leafs goaltender signs PTO in New Jersey

With training camp right around the corner and the doldrums of summer coming to a close, many NHL clubs are perusing the open market in search of some depth pieces and role players willing to sign professional tryout contracts.

Earlier this week, the Maple Leafs signed forward Steven Lorentz to a PTO and now the New Jersey Devils have announced that they have signed defenseman Jakub Zboril as well as former Leaf Michael Hutchinson, whose journeyman career had a couple of pit stops in Toronto several years ago.

Hutchinson is an 11-year veteran who has played for the Winnipeg Jets, Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, and the Maple Leafs twice over.

He was traded to the Maple Leafs in December of 2018, where he reported to the Toronto Marlies and appeared in 23 games before a quick pit stop at the NHL-level for 5 starts. He was then traded to Colorado in February of 2020 before returning to the Maple Leafs as a free agent in October. Between 2020-21 and 2021-22 he wound up playing in 32 games for the Marlies as well as 10 games with the Maple Leafs.

With the Devils, Hutchinson will look to make a quick impression and earn himself a contract that would ultimately start out in the minors with Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen set to steer the ship at the NHL-level.

Source for Michael Hutchinson's information: Wikipedia
Michael Hutchinson (ice hockey)