Brad Hunt is retiring, closing a career that included his final NHL stop with Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar.
The veteran defenseman announced his decision Saturday, ending a 14-year professional run built through persistence, puck movement and repeated battles for roster space.
Hunt played 288 NHL games and another 422 in the AHL. That workload tells the story of a player who kept earning opportunities despite going undrafted.
At 5-foot-9 and 176 pounds, Hunt never fit the traditional profile NHL teams once preferred on the blue line. His shot and offensive instincts kept opening doors.
He recorded 26 goals and 60 assists at the NHL level, producing 86 points while moving through several different systems and locker rooms.
Hunt suited up for the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche.
Brad Hunt earned every NHL opportunity
His best NHL season came with Minnesota in 2019-20. Hunt delivered 8 goals and 19 points across 59 games while earning power-play work.
He later supplied Vancouver with 17 points in 50 appearances during the 2021-22 campaign, showing he could still move the puck and support controlled entries.
Colorado became his last NHL destination. Hunt played 47 games for the Avalanche in 2022-23, recording 10 points and a +4 rating.
He remained productive after returning to the AHL. Hunt posted 49 points in 70 games for the Colorado Eagles in 2023-24 before joining the Hershey Bears.
His AHL résumé finished with 298 points. That production made him more than organizational depth whenever an NHL club needed another option on the blue line.
Hunt extended his career overseas by joining Vaasan Sport in Finland for the 2025-26 season. That move became the final chapter before retirement.
The NHL never handed Hunt a permanent job. He carved out 288 games anyway, relying on his shot, special-teams value and ability to stay ready when the lineup changed.
Did Brad Hunt have one of the NHL's most underrated careers?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Edmonton Oilers GM Stan Bowman lands $29.85M forward in blockbuster trade proposal with Ottawa Senators
