Devils Tap Brent Sutter as New Head Coach
Friday, 07.13.2007 / 1:00 PM
/ News
New Jersey Devils
Print
Sutter joins the Devils after spending the past eight seasons as owner, president, general manager, and coach of Red Deer (WHL).
newjerseydevils.com – The New Jersey Devils today named Brent Sutter to the position of head coach. The announcement was made by Devils’ CEO/President/GM Lou Lamoriello. As per club policy, no further terms were disclosed.
“We are fortunate to have someone with Brent Sutter’s character, knowledge, energy, enthusiasm, and experience join our organization,” said Lamoriello. “He has been successful at every level and we look forward to him continuing that success in the National Hockey League.”
As WHL Champions, he led Red Deer to the 2001 Memorial Cup Championship at Regina, Saskatchewan. Sutter has also coached internationally, guiding the Canadian National Junior team to consecutive 6-0-0 marks and Gold Medals in 2005 and 2006, becoming the only individual to ever accomplish the feat. As a player, the Viking, Alberta native helped his country to first-place finishes at the 1984, 1987, and 1991 Canada Cup Championships. Sutter was also a member of Canada’s 1986 Bronze Medal-winning World Championship team.
Sutter, 45, joins the Devils after spending the past eight seasons as owner, president, general manager, and coach of Red Deer (WHL). During that time, he led the Rebels to a 314-194-68 (.604) mark in 576 regular-season games behind the team’s bench. Sutter guided Red Deer to its first-ever league championship in 2001, and three consecutive WHL Eastern Conference Championships from 2001-03. He was the recipient of the 2001 Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as the league’s top coach.
Sutter’s NHL playing career spanned 18 seasons with the New York Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks. A center, he recorded 363 goals and 466 assists for 829 points and 1,054 penalty minutes in 1,111 career regular-season games. Sutter added 30 goals and 44 assists for 74 points and 164 penalty minutes in 144 career playoff games. Along with his brother Duane, he was a member of New York’s 1982 and 1983 Stanley Cup Championship teams, and served as captain from 1987 through 1991.
Sutter was was traded to Chicago on October 25, 1991 and played seven more seasons, including three years for his brother Darryl. Sutter retired as an active player on April 18, 1998. He was originally New York’s first choice and the 17th overall selection in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft.
Brent Sutter is the third youngest of seven Sutter brothers, six of whom played in the NHL. He and his wife, Connie, have two sons, Merrick and Brandon, and one daughter, Brooke. Brandon currently plays for the Rebels, and was Carolina’s first choice, 11th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
