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.

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 Games – 1982, 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.

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.

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

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 Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1972–73Red Deer RustlersAJHL5127406754————— 1973–74Red Deer RustlersAJHL59425496139————— 1974–75Lethbridge BroncosWCHL53344781134601139 1975–76Lethbridge BroncosWCHL72365692233734745 1976–77Kansas City BluesCHL3815233847————— 1976–77St. Louis BluesNHL354101482401114 1977–78St. Louis BluesNHL7991322123————— 1978–79St. Louis BluesNHL77413980165————— 1979–80St. Louis BluesNHL7123355815630004 1980–81St. Louis BluesNHL783534692321163977 1981–82St. Louis BluesNHL7439367523910861449 1982–83St. Louis BluesNHL79463076254421310 1983–84St. Louis BluesNHL763251831621115622 1984–85St. Louis BluesNHL7737377412132132 1985–86St. Louis BluesNHL4419234287912322 1986–87St. Louis BluesNHL1433618————— 1987–88St. Louis BluesNHL761522371471003349 NHL totals 779 303 333 636 1,786 65 21 21 42 249

International Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM 1975 Canada WJC 5 1 4 5 2

Coaching statistics Team Year Regular season Postseason G W L T OTL Pts Division rank ResultSTL1988–8980333512-782nd in NorrisWon in first round (4-1 vs. MIN) Lost in second round (1-4 vs. CHI)STL1989–908037349-832nd in NorrisWon in first round (4-1 vs. TOR) Lost in second round (3-4 vs. CHI)STL1990–9180472211-1052nd in NorrisWon in first round (4-3 vs. DET) Lost in second round (2-4 vs. MIN)STL1991–9280363311-833rd in NorrisLost in first round (2-4 vs. CHI)BOS1992–938451267-1091st in AdamsLost in first round (0-4 vs. BUF)BOS1993–9484422913-972nd in AdamsWon in first round (4-3 vs. MTL) Lost in second round (2-4 vs. NJ)BOS1994–954827183-573rd in AdamsLost in first round (1-4 vs. NJ)CGY1997–9882264115-675th in PacificMissed playoffsCGY1998–9982304012-723rd in NorthwestMissed playoffsCGY1999–2000823136105774th in NorthwestMissed playoffsCHI2001–02824127131963rd in CentralLost in first round (1-4 vs. STL)CHI2002–03823033136793rd in CentralMissed playoffsCHI2003–04822043118595th in CentralMissed playoffsTotal 1,028451417140201,0621 Division Title28-40 (.411)

See also List of NHL head coaches Notable families in the NHL

References

External links