Brandon Sutter

Brandon Sutter
Sutter with the Vancouver Canucks in 2015
Born	(1989-02-14) February 14, 1989 (age 35) Huntington, New York, U.S.
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	188 lb (85 kg; 13 st 6 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Right
Played for	Carolina Hurricanes Pittsburgh Penguins Vancouver Canucks
NHL draft	11th overall, 2007 Carolina Hurricanes
Playing career	2008–2021

Brandon Sutter (born February 14, 1989) is an American-born Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Vancouver Canucks.

Playing career

Junior

Sutter played major junior hockey with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League (WHL) under head coach and father Brent Sutter. During the 2006–07 season, he was selected to represent the WHL at the annual ADT Canada-Russia Challenge. Additionally, Sutter was selected to play in the 2007 CHL Top Prospects Game in January. In the off-season, Sutter was drafted 11th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Professional

Carolina Hurricanes

Sutter (centre foreground) taking a face-off against Dave Steckel, December 2009

After a brief stint with Carolina's then-American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Albany River Rats, at the end of his 2007–08 WHL season, Sutter debuted in the NHL with the Hurricanes in 2008–09. On October 23, 2008, he scored his first NHL goal against Marc-André Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The next game, on October 25, Sutter suffered a concussion after a collision with Doug Weight of the New York Islanders. Sutter had his head down as he was leaning forward for a loose puck in the neutral zone when Weight caught him with his shoulder. Although the hit was ruled as legal and Weight was not assessed any penalty, it re-sparked the debate in the NHL on head shots. ^[1] Sutter returned to the line-up after missing eight games. ^[2]

On July 12, 2011, Sutter signed a three-year, $6.2 million contract extension with Carolina. ^[3]

Pittsburgh Penguins

On June 22, 2012, Sutter was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins (along with Brian Dumoulin and Carolina's first-round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, which the Penguins used to select Derrick Pouliot) in exchange for Jordan Staal. ^[4]

On March 12, 2013, in a game against the Boston Bruins, he scored two goals 3:24 apart in the third period that led to a 3–2 comeback victory for Pittsburgh. ^[5]

Sutter practicing with the Penguins, January 2013

On August 5, 2014, the Penguins announced they had re-signed Sutter to a two-year, $6.6 million contract extension. ^[6]

Vancouver Canucks

On July 28, 2015, Sutter was traded (along with a third-round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft) to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Nick Bonino, Adam Clendening and a second-round pick in 2016. ^[7] On August 4, 2015, the Canucks announced they had signed Sutter to a five-year, $21.875 million contract extension. ^[8] Sutter played 16 games in the 2015–16 season before it was revealed he required sports hernia surgery. ^[9] He missed 33 games before returning to the Canucks lineup on January 26, 2016. However, on February 9, his fourth game back following the surgery, he suffered a broken jaw in a game against the Colorado Avalanche that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. ^[10] Sutter scored 5 goals and 4 assists for 9 points in 20 games for the Canucks in an injury-plagued 2015–16 season.

In August 2016, the Canucks announced Sutter had switched from number 21 to 20 after Chris Higgins (who previously wore 20 the previous six seasons) had the final year of his contract bought out, to let new Canucks free agent acquisition Loui Eriksson wear number 21. ^[11] On January 4, 2017, Sutter was awarded his second career penalty shot, converting against Mike Smith of the Arizona Coyotes. ^{[12] [13]}

On November 24, 2017, Sutter suffered a groin injury in a 3–2 loss to the New Jersey Devils. ^[14] After missing 21 games, Sutter returned to the lineup on January 14, 2018, scoring the overtime-winning goal in a 3–2 win over the Minnesota Wild. ^[15]

On October 29, 2018, Sutter suffered a separated shoulder in a game against the Minnesota Wild. He was expected to miss four-to-six weeks. ^[16] He returned to Vancouver's lineup in early January before suffering another groin injury, his third in four seasons with the Canucks, on February 9, 2019, in a game versus the Calgary Flames. ^[17] On March 5, 2019, the Canucks revealed that Sutter would undergo surgery on his other sports hernia, ending his season. ^[18]

Sutter's injury troubles in Vancouver continued during the 2019–20 season. He missed 13 games with a lower–body injury sustained on November 12 in a game versus the Nashville Predators. ^[19] He returned in December 2019 but after three games, he again left the Canucks lineup, this time missing 12 games with an upper-body injury. ^[20] Sutter ultimately returned to the Canucks lineup in January 2020 and played in every subsequent game before the final month of the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sutter scored one goal and five assists in the 2020 playoffs.

On January 25, 2021, Sutter scored his first career NHL hat-trick against the Ottawa Senators. ^[21] Following his sixth year with the Canucks in the 2020–21 season and having concluded his contract, Sutter opted to forgo free agency in re-signing to a one-year, $1.125 million contract extension with Vancouver on July 29, 2021. ^[22] However, Sutter did not play in the 2021–22 NHL season due to suffering from long COVID, following his positive test result in March 2021. He was placed on long term injured reserve for the season, and also sat out the 2022–23 NHL season.

Retirement

On August 29, 2023, Sutter signed a professional tryout (PTO) contract with the Edmonton Oilers. ^[23] On October 1, Sutter announced his retirement after he was released from his PTO. ^{[24] [25]}

International play

Medal record
Representing   Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
	2008	Czech Republic

Sutter, who has dual citizenship of both the United States and Canada, elected to play for Canada in international competition. Sutter represented Canada extensively during his junior career at the under-18 and under-20 levels. He competed in two IIHF World U18 Championships in 2006 and 2007, losing the bronze medal game in both tournaments.

Shortly after being drafted into the NHL in the summer of 2007, Sutter was chosen to represent Canada at the 2007 Super Series, an eight-game showdown between Canada and Russia's under-20 teams, where father Brent Sutter was head coach. Playing Game 7 in his hometown of Red Deer, Alberta, he scored a goal and was named player of the game. Coincidentally, the match also marked the last junior game Brent coached in Red Deer, where he had previously just completed a seven-year coaching career with the Red Deer Rebels. ^[26] Sutter made his second under-20 appearance for Canada at the 2008 World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic, where he helped Canada win gold, overcoming Sweden 3–2 in overtime.

Personal life

Sutter is part of the venerable Sutter hockey family. He is the son of Brent Sutter, who coached him in junior with the Red Deer Rebels and Team Canada at the 2007 Super Series; Brent is a former head coach of the Calgary Flames. He has an older brother, Merrick, who currently serves as the Rebels' senior vice president, and a younger sister, Brooke. ^[27]

Sutter's cousin Brett was a teammate of his with the Rebels who was drafted two years ahead of him by the Calgary Flames, and currently plays in the American Hockey League. Another cousin, Brody, played for the WHL's Lethbridge Hurricanes and was drafted 193rd overall by Carolina in the 2011 draft. Brody played professionally in the AHL as well as in Europe.

As a result of his father's career, Sutter grew up in Huntington, New York, and Chicago, Illinois, before his family settled in Red Deer, Alberta, following Brent Sutter's purchase of the Red Deer Rebels organization.

In March 2021, he was one of 21 Canucks players that contracted COVID-19 and is now considered a "long-hauler" experiencing post-COVID after effects which prevent him from training. Unlike ex-Edmonton Oilers backup goalie Alex Stalock and forward Josh Archibald, Sutter does not suffer from myocarditis, a condition that causes heart inflammation associated with COVID-19. ^{[28] [29]}

Sutter was known as "Flat Stanley" to his Penguins teammates, due to his thin frame. Flat Stanley is a children's book character who is squashed under a bulletin board and becomes flattened. He then mails himself around the world to have adventures. ^[30]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2004–05	Red Deer Rebels	WHL		7	0	2	2	8		7	1	4	5	2
2005–06	Red Deer Rebels	WHL		68	22	24	46	36		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Red Deer Rebels	WHL		71	20	37	57	54		7	0	3	3	14
2007–08	Red Deer Rebels	WHL		59	26	23	49	38		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Albany River Rats	AHL		7	1	1	2	2		7	0	2	2	4
2008–09	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		50	1	5	6	16		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Albany River Rats	AHL		22	4	8	12	16		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		72	21	19	40	2		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		82	14	15	29	25		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		82	17	15	32	21		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		48	11	8	19	4		15	2	1	3	0
2013–14	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		81	13	13	26	12		13	5	2	7	2
2014–15	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		80	21	12	33	14		5	1	1	2	2
2015–16	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		20	5	4	9	2		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		81	17	17	34	12		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		61	11	15	26	8		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		26	4	2	6	6		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		44	8	9	17	25		17	1	5	6	4
2020–21	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		43	9	3	12	2		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				770	152	137	289	149		50	9	9	18	8

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2006	Canada Pacific	U17	4th		6	4	2	6	0
2006	Canada	WJC18	4th		7	2	0	2	2
2006	Canada	IH18			4	0	2	2	0
2007	Canada	WJC18	4th		6	1	1	2	2
2008	Canada	WJC			7	0	1	1	2
Junior totals					30	7	6	13	6

References

1. "Weight-ing in on head shots". The Province . November 18, 2008. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
2. "Hurricanes activate C Sutter". National Post . November 14, 2008. Retrieved December 2, 2008.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
3. "Hurricanes re-signs Brandon Sutter to three-year deal". NBC Sports. July 12, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
4. "Penguins trade Staal to Hurricanes for Sutter, Dumoulin". The Sports Network . June 22, 2012. Archived from the original on June 26, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
5. "Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins" . Retrieved March 12, 2013.
6. "Brandon Sutter re-signs with Penguins". NHL.com. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
7. "Canucks acquire Sutter & 3rd rounder from Pens". Vancouver Canucks . Retrieved July 28, 2015.
8. "Canucks sign Sutter to five-year extension". nhl.com. August 4, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
9. "Canucks' Sutter has surgery to repair sports hernia". nhl.com. December 12, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
10. "Canucks' Sutter, Edler out long-term with injuries". nhl.com. February 12, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
11. @Canucks (September 16, 2016). "💥 NUMBER NEWS 💥 Brandon Sutter has switched to No. 20 so newcomer Loui Eriksson could wear No. 21" (Tweet). Retrieved September 17, 2016– via Twitter.
12. "Ryan Miller, Canucks shut out Coyotes". nhl.com. January 4, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
13. "Penalty shot: Sutter vs Luongo". NHL. October 19, 2013. Archived from the original on February 3, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
14. @Canucks (November 26, 2017). "Sutter is out, Burmistrov is in, confirms Coach Green. Sutter is "more than day-to-day, but it's nothing too serious" (Tweet). Retrieved January 26, 2021– via Twitter.
15. "Brandon Sutter caps rally with OT winner as Canucks top Wild". cbc.ca. January 14, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
16. Lalji, Farhan. "Being told Sutter has a separated shoulder. 4-6 weeks is best case". Twitter. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
17. @BlakePriceTSN (February 11, 2019). "Sutter is "going to be a little while" "in the groin area, we're not exactly sure what it is". Expects a roster move" (Tweet). Retrieved January 26, 2021– via Twitter.
18. "Brandon Sutter injury update". nhl.com. March 5, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
19. "Canucks' Brandon Sutter still chasing confidence in his health". sportsnet.ca. December 13, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
20. "Canucks notebook: Sutter's back, the playoff push and Tocchet's Kessel quip". theprovince.ca. January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
21. Gemma Karstens-Smith (January 26, 2021). "Brandon Sutter scores 1st career hat trick as Canucks roll over Senators". cbc.ca. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
22. "Canucks re-sign Brandon Sutter". Vancouver Canucks. July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
23. "Oilers sign Sam Gagner and Brandon Sutter to PTOs". Edmonton Oilers. August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
24. "Sutter retires from NHL after 13 seasons". NHL.com. October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
25. "Brandon Sutter retires from hockey after attempting comeback with Oilers". Sportsnet.ca. October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
26. "Canada's Super Series streak snapped". TSN . Retrieved December 2, 2008.
27. "Staff – Red Deer Rebels". Red Deer Rebels. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
28. "Canucks forward Brandon Sutter still experiencing COVID-19 symptoms". Sportsnet.ca. October 11, 2021. Archived from the original on October 12, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
29. Prasad, Travis (October 12, 2021). "Canucks' Brandon Sutter struggles with lingering COVID-19 symptoms". British Columbia. Archived from the original on October 13, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
30. "Penguins' Most Creative Player Nicknames Through the Years". The Hockey Writers. March 25, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Jack Johnson	Carolina Hurricanes first round draft pick 2007	Succeeded by Zach Boychuk