Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Duane Sutter
View on Wikipedia
Duane Calvin Sutter (born March 16, 1960) is a Canadian former National Hockey League player and head coach. He was a four-time Stanley Cup winner with the New York Islanders.
Key Information
He is one of the famed six Sutter brothers to play in the NHL. On May 21 2019, the Edmonton Oilers relieved Duane from his head of pro scouting duties.
Playing career
[edit]Duane was drafted by the New York Islanders in 1979 in the first round (17th overall). During the following season he made his debut for the Islanders, and as a rookie was a key contributor to the Islanders first Stanley Cup championship. Duane Sutter, who was dubbed "Dog" by his teammates because he yapped and barked before and during games, also contributed to the ensuing 1981, 1982 and 1983 Stanley Cup championships. Playing in the corners of the rink, Duane Sutter was tough but skillful. Sutter had an underrated passing ability and scoring touch.
In the 1980–81 season he was joined by his younger brother, Brent, on the team and they played together until Duane was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 1987. Duane and Brent won two of their Stanley Cups together in 1982 and 1983.[1]
After the 1983 Cup win, Duane had the distinction of winning four Stanley Cup championships in his first four seasons of the NHL. He and Brent led all players with 7 and 5 points during the first three games of that series.
He played for the Blackhawks for three seasons, but after the 1989–90 season he retired.
During 1996–98 and 2000–03 he was a part of the coaching staff in the Florida Panthers (1996–98 and 2002–03 he was an assistant coach and during 2000–02 he was head coach)
Duane recently made a guest appearance in the Canadian television series, Road Hockey Rumble playing himself. He is confronted by the two hosts of the show hoping to win him over as a fan.
Duane's son Brody, is a former forward for the Western Hockey League's Lethbridge Hurricanes, and a former forward with the Manitoba Moose in the AHL. Currently playing in the DEL European League for the Iserlohn Roosters (2020–21).
Career statistics
[edit]| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1976–77 | Red Deer Rustlers | AJHL | 60 | 9 | 26 | 35 | 76 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1976–77 | Lethbridge Broncos | WCHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | ||
| 1977–78 | Red Deer Rustlers | AJHL | 59 | 47 | 53 | 100 | 218 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1977–78 | Lethbridge Broncos | WCHL | 5 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 | ||
| 1978–79 | Lethbridge Broncos | WHL | 71 | 50 | 75 | 125 | 212 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 42 | ||
| 1979–80 | Lethbridge Broncos | WHL | 21 | 18 | 16 | 34 | 74 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | New York Islanders | NHL | 56 | 15 | 9 | 24 | 55 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 74 | ||
| 1980–81 | New York Islanders | NHL | 23 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 26 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | ||
| 1981–82 | New York Islanders | NHL | 77 | 18 | 35 | 53 | 100 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 57 | ||
| 1982–83 | New York Islanders | NHL | 75 | 13 | 19 | 32 | 118 | 20 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 43 | ||
| 1983–84 | New York Islanders | NHL | 78 | 17 | 23 | 40 | 94 | 21 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 48 | ||
| 1984–85 | New York Islanders | NHL | 78 | 17 | 24 | 41 | 174 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 47 | ||
| 1985–86 | New York Islanders | NHL | 80 | 20 | 33 | 53 | 157 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | ||
| 1986–87 | New York Islanders | NHL | 80 | 14 | 17 | 31 | 169 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 26 | ||
| 1987–88 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 37 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 70 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | ||
| 1988–89 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 75 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 214 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 15 | ||
| 1989–90 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 72 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 156 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 48 | ||
| NHL totals | 731 | 139 | 203 | 342 | 1333 | 161 | 26 | 32 | 58 | 405 | ||||
Coaching record
[edit]| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | Finish | Result | |||||
| FLA | 2000–01 | 46 | 16 | 20 | 6 | 4 | (66) | 3rd in Southeast | Missed playoffs | |||
| FLA | 2001–02 | 26 | 6 | 15 | 2 | 3 | (60) | (fired) | — | |||
| Total | 72 | 22 | 35 | 8 | 7 | |||||||
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ McEvoy, Colin (February 9, 2023). "The Ultimate Sibling Rivalry: 8 Sets of Brothers Who Faced Off in Sports Championships". Biography. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
External links
[edit]- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
Duane Sutter
View on GrokipediaEarly Life and Junior Career
Early Life
Duane Sutter was born on March 16, 1960, in Viking, Alberta, Canada, as the fourth of seven brothers in the Sutter family.[4][6] Raised on the family's 3,200-acre grain and cattle farm near Viking, Sutter and his siblings endured rigorous daily labor, including chores like feeding livestock and harvesting crops, which instilled a profound work ethic and physical resilience from a young age.[2] Their parents, Louis John Sutter and Grace Sutter, cultivated a highly competitive atmosphere among the boys by encouraging intense informal hockey games on the farm, often turning sibling rivalries into grueling matches that mirrored the demands of professional play.[2][6] Sutter's passion for hockey began with early exposure on local frozen ponds and sloughs, where the brothers would skate for hours after completing farm duties, honing their skills in a makeshift outdoor environment.[2] By around age 5 or 6, he transitioned to organized youth leagues at community rinks in the Viking area, participating in minor hockey that built on the toughness and teamwork developed through family play.[7]Junior Hockey Career
Duane Sutter began his junior hockey career in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) with the Red Deer Rustlers during the 1976-77 season, where he recorded 9 goals and 26 assists in 60 games, showcasing early offensive potential alongside accumulating 76 penalty minutes.[8] The following year, 1977-78, he played for the Rustlers in the AJHL, tallying 47 goals and 53 assists for 100 points in 59 games while racking up 218 penalty minutes, highlighting his emerging physical presence.[9] Late in that season, Sutter transitioned to the Western Hockey League (WHL, formerly WCHL) with the Lethbridge Broncos, appearing in 5 games and contributing 1 goal and 5 assists.[8] In the 1978-79 season, Sutter established himself as a key player for the Broncos, leading the team with 50 goals and 75 assists for 125 points in 71 games, while his 212 penalty minutes underscored his gritty, agitating style as a physical forward who disrupted opponents and drew penalties.[8] This tenacity, rooted in his farm upbringing in Viking, Alberta, where sibling rivalries on the family grain farm built resilience and toughness, complemented his offensive contributions.[10] The Broncos advanced deep into the WHL playoffs that year, defeating the Calgary Wranglers 4-3 in the division final before going 0-4 in the round-robin semi-final against the Brandon Wheat Kings and Portland Winter Hawks, with Sutter adding 11 goals and 12 assists in 19 playoff games.[11] His performance earned him co-winner of the Lethbridge Star Performer (3-Stars Leader) award and solidified his reputation as a hard-nosed competitor.[12] Sutter's junior tenure peaked in the 1979-80 season with the Broncos, where he served as a leader before his mid-season recall to the NHL, posting 18 goals and 16 assists in just 21 games along with 74 penalty minutes.[8] His consistent physicality and scoring drew attention from NHL scouts, who valued his toughness and the Sutter family pedigree—part of a hockey dynasty with five brothers also reaching the NHL.[12] This led to his selection by the New York Islanders in the first round, 17th overall, of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, where evaluators praised his blend of grit and productivity as ideal for playoff-style hockey.[12]NHL Playing Career
New York Islanders Tenure
Duane Sutter was selected by the New York Islanders in the first round, 17th overall, of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft following a standout junior career with the Lethbridge Broncos.[1] After signing with the Islanders, Sutter made his NHL debut in the 1979-80 playoffs, appearing in 21 games and contributing three goals and seven assists as the team captured its first Stanley Cup by defeating the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.[1][13] He transitioned to the regular season roster in 1980-81, playing 23 games and registering seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points while accumulating 26 penalty minutes in a role focused on checking lines.[1] Over the next several seasons, Sutter developed into a prominent enforcer and agitator, using his physical presence—evidenced by seasons like 1984-85 with 174 penalty minutes and 1985-86 with 157—to protect and complement offensive stars such as Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier on the Islanders' forward lines.[1][13] Sutter played a vital role in the Islanders' dynasty, helping secure three more consecutive Stanley Cups in 1981, 1982, and 1983.[1] In the 1981 playoffs, he recorded three goals and one assist in 12 games en route to the championship over the Minnesota North Stars.[1] The 1982 postseason saw him contribute five goals and five assists in 19 games during the sweep of the Vancouver Canucks in the finals.[1] His most productive playoff run came in 1983, with nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in 20 games, including the opening goal in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, a 2-0 victory that set the tone for New York's four-game sweep.[1][14] Sutter's aggressive physical play throughout the 1983 finals disrupted Edmonton's high-powered offense, allowing the Islanders' skilled players to thrive in the series-clinching 4-2 win in Game 4.[13][14] As a cornerstone of the "Long Island Dynasty"—the Islanders' unprecedented run of four straight titles from 1980 to 1983—Sutter appeared in 547 regular-season games for the team from 1979 to 1987, tallying 121 goals and 171 assists for 292 points.[1] His Islanders career concluded on September 9, 1987, when he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for future considerations, later revealed as a second-round pick in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.[1][15]Chicago Blackhawks Tenure
Following his departure from the New York Islanders, Duane Sutter was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks on September 9, 1987, in exchange for a second-round draft pick in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.[1] In his first partial season with Chicago during 1987-88, Sutter appeared in 37 regular-season games, recording 7 goals and 9 assists for 16 points while accumulating 70 penalty minutes, contributing as a physical presence on the fourth line.[1] He also dressed for 5 playoff games that spring, where the Blackhawks were eliminated in the first round by the Detroit Red Wings, though Sutter did not register any points amid 21 penalty minutes that reflected his combative role.[8] Sutter re-signed with the Blackhawks as a free agent ahead of the 1988-89 season and remained with the team through 1989-90, playing a total of 147 games across those two full campaigns, during which he tallied 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points and racked up 370 penalty minutes.[4] Known for his veteran leadership and enforcer qualities, Sutter provided grit and stability to Chicago's bottom-six forwards; in 1988-89 alone, he led the team with 214 penalty minutes while chipping in 16 points over 75 games.[1] His physical toll was evident in the 1989-90 season, where he posted 156 penalty minutes in 72 games with 18 points, often serving as a mentor to younger players amid the Blackhawks' push to the Stanley Cup Final that year.[8] Sutter's playing style evolved from the agitator role that defined his Islanders tenure—characterized by aggressive checking, fighting, and shot-blocking—to a reliable depth contributor in Chicago, where his emphasis shifted toward leadership and penalty-killing duties as scoring opportunities diminished.[16] This transition underscored the physical demands of his career, culminating in a total of 1,353 penalty minutes over 731 NHL games, a figure that highlighted the wear from his hard-nosed approach.[1] Persistent injuries, including knee issues, and a reduced on-ice role led to his retirement at age 30 following the 1989-90 season.[17] Sutter immediately transitioned into a scouting position with the Blackhawks, becoming their chief scout for Western Canada in July 1990.[18]Post-Playing Career
Coaching Roles
After retiring from professional hockey in 1990, Duane Sutter transitioned into coaching, beginning with a stint as head coach of the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League during the 1992–93 season.[19] He then moved to the minor leagues as head coach of the Indianapolis Ice in the International Hockey League, the primary affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, starting midseason in 1992–93 after replacing John Marks; Sutter remained in that role through the 1994–95 season, compiling an overall record of 66 wins, 92 losses, and 20 ties.[20][21] These positions allowed him to focus on player development within professional systems, leveraging his NHL experience to mentor emerging talent. Sutter entered the NHL coaching ranks with the Florida Panthers as an assistant coach for the 1995–96, 1996–97, and 1997–98 seasons, where he contributed to team preparation and skill enhancement.[8] After a period as a scout, he returned to the Panthers' bench as an assistant in the 2000–01 season before being promoted to head coach on December 29, 2000, replacing Terry Murray amid the team's struggles; in that partial season, he led the Panthers to a 16–20–6–4 record over 46 games, finishing third in the Southeast Division but missing the playoffs.[22][3] Sutter's head coaching tenure continued into the 2001–02 season, where he posted a 6–15–2–3 mark in 26 games before being relieved of duties on December 3, 2001, and replaced by Mike Keenan; the team again failed to qualify for postseason play.[3] He briefly returned to the Panthers as an assistant coach during the 2002–03 season while also serving in player development capacities.[12] Later in his career, Sutter took on international roles, including director of coaching and mentor coach for the Újpesti Jégkorong Akadémia U18 and U21 teams in Hungary during the 2021–22 season.[19] He then served as an assistant coach for the Hungary U18 national team in the 2022–23 season, helping to build foundational skills among young players in a developing program.[19] Throughout his coaching stints, Sutter's approach was influenced by his playing background as a physical forward, emphasizing disciplined, hard-working team cultures without achieving a Stanley Cup as a coach.[3]Executive Positions
Following his retirement from playing in 1990, Duane Sutter began his post-playing career in scouting with the Chicago Blackhawks for two seasons, but transitioned to the Florida Panthers organization in the late 1990s as a pro scout from 1998 to 2000, where his evaluations contributed to personnel decisions and eventually led to elevated responsibilities akin to assistant general manager duties during organizational transitions.[23][12] After a stint in coaching, he returned to front-office work with the Panthers as Director of Player Development from 2002 to 2008, emphasizing talent evaluation and growth strategies that leveraged his on-ice experience to assess player potential.[19] In 2008, Sutter joined the Calgary Flames as Director of Player Personnel, a role he held from the 2008–09 season through the 2010-11 season, where he played a key part in draft selections, trade negotiations, and pro scouting operations while collaborating closely with his brothers—Darryl Sutter as general manager until 2010 and Brent Sutter as head coach from 2009 to 2011—to build the team's roster.[24][19] His work focused on identifying undervalued talent through extensive pro scouting networks, drawing on familial insights into player character and fit within the Flames' system. Sutter moved to the Edmonton Oilers in 2011 as a pro scout, advancing to Vice President of Player Personnel and Head of Pro Scouting by 2016, positions he maintained until May 2019 amid front-office restructuring under new general manager Ken Holland.[25][19] In this capacity, he was instrumental in major acquisitions, such as the 2017 trade sending Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders for Ryan Strome, which addressed roster needs for scoring depth, and free-agent signings like center Kyle Brodziak in 2018 to bolster defensive reliability.[26] His pro scouting emphasis, informed briefly by prior coaching roles in player assessment, utilized an extensive network—including connections from the Sutter family—to evaluate trade targets and free agents effectively.[27] After departing Edmonton, Sutter served as a pro scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2019-20 season, continuing his focus on talent evaluation in the NHL.[19] From 2021 onward, he shifted to international development work, acting as Director of Coaching (Mentor Coach) for Újpesti Jégkorong Akadémia U21/U18 in Hungary during the 2021-22 season and as Assistant Coach for Hungary's U18 national team in 2022-23, contributing to youth player personnel and scouting initiatives abroad.[19] In July 2025, he was inducted into the Florida Panthers' Wall of Honour in recognition of his contributions to scouting and player development.[5] As of November 2025, Sutter has not held a formal NHL executive position, focusing instead on consulting and international advisory roles in player development.[5]Career Statistics and Records
Playing Statistics
Duane Sutter's NHL regular season career spanned from 1979 to 1990, during which he appeared in 731 games, scoring 139 goals and recording 203 assists for a total of 342 points, while accumulating 1,333 penalty minutes.[1] His physical style of play is reflected in his career total of 1,333 penalty minutes.[1] This equates to an average of 0.47 points per game over his career.[1] In the playoffs, Sutter played 161 games, contributing 26 goals and 32 assists for 58 points, along with 405 penalty minutes.[1] During the New York Islanders' four consecutive Stanley Cup-winning runs from 1980 to 1983, he appeared in 72 playoff games, tallying 20 goals and 25 assists for 45 points and 184 penalty minutes.[1] The following table summarizes Sutter's regular season statistics by year:| Season | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979-80 | NYI | 56 | 15 | 9 | 24 | 55 |
| 1980-81 | NYI | 23 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 26 |
| 1981-82 | NYI | 77 | 18 | 35 | 53 | 100 |
| 1982-83 | NYI | 75 | 13 | 19 | 32 | 118 |
| 1983-84 | NYI | 78 | 17 | 23 | 40 | 94 |
| 1984-85 | NYI | 78 | 17 | 24 | 41 | 174 |
| 1985-86 | NYI | 80 | 20 | 33 | 53 | 157 |
| 1986-87 | NYI | 80 | 14 | 17 | 31 | 169 |
| 1987-88 | CHI | 37 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 70 |
| 1988-89 | CHI | 75 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 214 |
| 1989-90 | CHI | 72 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 156 |
| Career | 731 | 139 | 203 | 342 | 1,333 |
Coaching Record
Duane Sutter served as head coach in the National Hockey League (NHL), International Hockey League (IHL), and Western Hockey League (WHL), compiling regular-season records across these leagues with no postseason appearances as head coach. His head coaching tenure was marked by midseason appointments and transitions, reflecting challenges in achieving consistent team success.[8] In the NHL, Sutter's sole head coaching role came with the Florida Panthers, where he assumed the position on December 28, 2000, following the dismissal of Terry Murray, and held it until January 9, 2002, when Mike Keenan replaced him.[23] Over 72 games spanning parts of the 2000–01 and 2001–02 seasons, he recorded 22 wins, 35 losses, 8 ties, and 7 overtime losses, yielding 59 points and a .410 points percentage; the Panthers finished 3rd in the Southeast Division in 2000–01 (overall team: 22–38–13–9, 66 points) and 4th in 2001–02 (overall team: 22–44–10–6, 60 points), missing the playoffs both years.[28][29] Sutter's minor professional and junior head coaching records are summarized below:| Team | League | Year | Games (G) | Wins (W) | Losses (L) | Ties (T) | OTL | Pct | Finish | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine Hat Tigers | WHL | 1992–93 | 72 | 29 | 38 | 5 | 0 | .438 | 10th East | Missed |
| Indianapolis Ice | IHL | 1992–93 (partial) | 16 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 5 | .531 | 4th West (overall team: 5th Turner) | Lost in 1st round (2–0 vs. Fort Wayne) |
| Indianapolis Ice | IHL | 1993–94 | 81 | 28 | 46 | 0 | 7 | .389 | 15th overall | Missed |
| Indianapolis Ice | IHL | 1994–95 | 81 | 32 | 41 | 0 | 8 | .444 | 13th overall | Missed |
| Florida Panthers | NHL | 2000–02 (partial) | 72 | 22 | 35 | 8 | 7 | .410 | See above | Missed |
