Brian Sutter

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Brian Sutter
Brian Sutter 1979.jpg
Sutter with the St. Louis Blues in 1979
Born (1956-10-07) October 7, 1956 (age 68)
Viking, Alberta, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for St. Louis Blues
NHL draft 20th overall, 1976
St. Louis Blues
WHA draft 36th overall, 1976
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career 19761988

Brian Louis Allen Sutter (born October 7, 1956) is a Canadian former ice hockey forward and former head coach in the National Hockey League (NHL). Brian is the second oldest of the famous Sutter brothers and the oldest of the six that played in the NHL. He is also the only one to have his number retired by an NHL team.

Contents

Career

Player

Sutter was drafted by the St. Louis Blues during the 2nd round (20th overall) in the 1976 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Blues until 1988, when a nagging back injury forced him into retirement. In 12 years with the Blues, he played in three NHL All-Star Games1982, 1983, and 1985. For the last nine years of his career, he was the Blues' captain. His jersey, #11, was retired by the St. Louis Blues on December 30, 1988.

Sutter awaiting a face-off with Mike Milbury (pictured left) and Charlie Simmer (pictured center) of the Boston Bruins at the Boston Garden on March 21, 1985. Mikemilburyfacingoff.jpg
Sutter awaiting a face-off with Mike Milbury (pictured left) and Charlie Simmer (pictured center) of the Boston Bruins at the Boston Garden on March 21, 1985.

Coaching

Immediately after retiring, he was named the Blues' head coach (1988–1992). In 1991, he won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's best coach. All told, he spent the first 16 years of his adult life at ice level with the Blues.

Sutter subsequently held head coaching positions with the Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, and Chicago Blackhawks (2001–2004). On June 21, 2005, the Blackhawks hired Dale Tallon as their new general manager; Tallon and the rebuilding Blackhawks decided not to renew Sutter's contract.

During the 2006–07 season, Sutter coached the Bentley Generals of the Chinook Hockey League, leading the team to its first berth in the Allan Cup, Canada's senior men's hockey championship.

Sutter was named the head coach of the Western Hockey League's Red Deer Rebels on July 12, 2007, replacing his younger brother Brent, who left the Rebels to become the head coach of the NHL's New Jersey Devils. On March 24, 2008, the Rebels announced that Brian Sutter had resigned as head coach of the team, citing personal reasons. [1]

Sutter returned as head coach of the Generals for the 2008–09 season, leading them to its first Allan Cup title in 2009. [2] In August 2012, Sutter left the Generals to become the new head coach of the Innisfail Eagles, also of the Chinook Hockey League. [3] He stepped down as head coach of Innisfail in 2022. [4]

Personal life

Sutter and his wife Judy have two children, a son Shaun and a daughter, Abigail.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

   Regular season   Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1972–73 Red Deer Rustlers AJHL 5127406754
1973–74Red Deer RustlersAJHL59425496139
1974–75 Lethbridge Broncos WCHL 53344781134601139
1975–76 Lethbridge BroncosWCHL72365692233734745
1976–77 Kansas City Blues CHL 3815233847
1976–77 St. Louis Blues NHL 354101482401114
1977–78 St. Louis BluesNHL7991322123
1978–79 St. Louis BluesNHL77413980165
1979–80 St. Louis BluesNHL7123355815630004
1980–81 St. Louis BluesNHL783534692321163977
1981–82 St. Louis BluesNHL7439367523910861449
1982–83 St. Louis BluesNHL79463076254421310
1983–84 St. Louis BluesNHL763251831621115622
1984–85 St. Louis BluesNHL7737377412132132
1985–86 St. Louis BluesNHL4419234287912322
1986–87 St. Louis BluesNHL1433618
1987–88 St. Louis BluesNHL761522371471003349
NHL totals7793033336361,78665212142249

International

YearTeamEvent GPGAPtsPIM
1975 Canada WJC 51452

Coaching statistics

TeamYearRegular seasonPost-season
GWLTOTLPtsDivision rankResult
STL 1988–89 80333512-782nd in Norris Won in first round (4-1 vs. MIN)
Lost in second round (1-4 vs. CHI)
STL 1989–90 8037349-832nd in NorrisWon in first round (4-1 vs. TOR)
Lost in second round (3-4 vs. CHI)
STL 1990–91 80472211-1052nd in NorrisWon in first round (4-3 vs. DET)
Lost in second round (2-4 vs. MIN)
STL 1991–92 80363311-833rd in NorrisLost in first round (2-4 vs. CHI)
BOS 1992–93 8451267-1091st in Adams Lost in first round (0-4 vs. BUF)
BOS 1993–94 84422913-972nd in AdamsWon in first round (4-3 vs. MTL)
Lost in second round (2-4 vs. NJ)
BOS 1994–95 4827183-573rd in AdamsLost in first round (1-4 vs. NJ)
CGY 1997–98 82264115-675th in Pacific Missed playoffs
CGY 1998–99 82304012-723rd in Northwest Missed playoffs
CGY 1999–2000 823136105774th in NorthwestMissed playoffs
CHI 2001–02 824127131963rd in Central Lost in first round (1-4 vs. STL)
CHI 2002–03 823033136793rd in CentralMissed playoffs
CHI 2003–04 822043118595th in CentralMissed playoffs
Total1,028451417140201,0621 Division Title28-40 (.411)

See also

References

  1. "Brian Sutter resigns as junior coach". March 24, 2008. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  2. "Another Sutter in Calgary?". April 6, 2009. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  3. "Innisfail Eagles net Brian Sutter as coach". Innisfail Province. August 21, 2013. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  4. "Brian Sutter steps down as Innisfail Eagles coach". September 28, 2022.
Preceded by St. Louis Blues captain
197988
Succeeded by
Preceded by Jack Adams Award winners
1991
Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the St. Louis Blues
198892
Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the Boston Bruins
199295
Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the Calgary Flames
1997–2000
Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks
200104
Succeeded by