Brent Colin Sutter (born June 10, 1962) is a Canadian former National Hockey League (NHL) player and former head coach of the New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames. Selected by the New York Islanders 17th overall at the 1980 NHL entry draft, Sutter played over 1,000 games for the Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks during his 18-year career. Sutter won the Stanley Cup twice with the Islanders and was an All-Star. He represented Canada on numerous occasions, winning the Canada Cup three times.
After retiring as a player in 1998, Sutter bought the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League and served as the team's head coach and general manager for eight seasons, winning the Memorial Cup in 2001. He coached the Canadian junior team to gold medals at the 2005 and 2006 World Junior Hockey Championships, as well as winning the 2007 Super Series. Sutter compiled a 19–0–1 record in three years as the national junior team coach. He joined the New Jersey Devils as their head coach in 2007. He led the Devils to one division title in two seasons before leaving New Jersey to take on the same position in Calgary, working for brother Darryl, who was at the time the Flames' general manager.
He is a member of the Sutter family. He was one of six brothers, along with Brian, Darryl, Duane, Ron, and Rich, to play in the NHL. Brent and Duane played together for the Islanders when the team won the Stanley Cup in 1982 and 1983. Brent coached his son Brandon and nephew Brett while with Red Deer; both have also gone on to play in the NHL. His daughter Brooke played volleyball for Red Deer College and was a first team conference all star in 2013. Sutter was inducted into the New York Islanders Hall of Fame on January 18, 2025.
Career Playing career
Sutter played for the New York Islanders and the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL, finishing with 829 points (363 goals, 466 assists) in 1111 regular season games and 74 points (30 goals, 44 assists) in 144 playoff games. In the 1980 NHL entry draft Sutter was the Islanders' first pick, 17th overall. His tenure with the Islanders lasted between 1981 and 1991. Sutter was on a team that entered the Stanley Cup Final in his first three seasons, winning in his first two. Sutter was named captain of the Islanders in 1987, when Denis Potvin relinquished the role.
In 1991, he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks with Brad Lauer for Adam Creighton and Steve Thomas. He spent the last seven years of his NHL career in Chicago. During part of his time with the 'Hawks he was coached by his older brother Darryl. Brent was the last active player in the NHL that had played with the Islanders during their early 1980s dynasty, as well as the last member of the team still with the Islanders when he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 1991. In 1991–92, he helped lead the Hawks to a Stanley Cup Final appearance, thus playing in four Cup finals in his career.
Coaching career
Sutter coached the Canadian junior ice hockey teams to consecutive gold medals at the 2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and 2006 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He led both teams to unbeaten records, becoming the first coach to lead Canada to consecutive gold medals. Sutter declined Hockey Canada's offer to return for a third time in 2007. During the eight-game 2007 Super Series, Sutter extended his junior coaching unbeaten record to 20 straight games - 19 of them wins - behind the Canadian bench in international junior play.
Sutter was also the head coach and GM of the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL for eight seasons from 1999 to 2007, leading them to a finals appearance as well as two 50 win seasons. Sutter resigned as head coach and GM of the Rebels on July 12, 2007, as he reached an agreement to become the next coach of the New Jersey Devils. The following day, Sutter was introduced as head coach of the New Jersey Devils. In the 2007–08 season, Sutter led the Devils to a 46 win season and a playoff berth. The following season, Sutter enjoyed his best season as a head coach, leading the Devils to a franchise-best 51-win season, as well as an Atlantic Division title. After a first round playoff exit from the Carolina Hurricanes, Sutter stepped down as coach of the team on June 9, 2009, citing family reasons.
Two weeks later on June 23, however, Sutter was named head coach of the Calgary Flames by his brother Darryl Sutter, the Flames' general manager. Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek was openly critical of the decision for Sutter to step down and later sign to coach another team. On April 12, 2012, he was not offered a new contract by the Calgary Flames. In November 2012, Sutter again took the reins of the Red Deer Rebels, where he also serves as General Manager.
Sutter family in hockey
The Sutter family is originally from Viking, Alberta, Canada. Six brothers: Brian, Darryl, Duane, Brent, Rich and Ron, reached the NHL in the 1970s and 1980s. Four brothers: Brian, Duane, Darryl and Brent have gone on to become coaches and general managers as well. Collectively, the six Sutter brothers played over 5000 games (including playoffs) and captured six Stanley Cups. Three members of the second generation of Sutters have played in the NHL, including Brent's son Brandon, who played 770 NHL games.
Awards and achievements NHL All-Star Game – 1985 Bob Nystrom Award – 1991 Inducted into the New York Islanders Hall of Fame - 2025
Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1977–78Red Deer RustlersAJHL6012183033————— 1978–79Red Deer RustlersAJHL6042428479————— 1979–80Red Deer RustlersAJHL59701011711311310152516 1979–80Lethbridge BroncosWHL51012————— 1980–81Lethbridge BroncosWHL6854541081169641051 1980–81New York IslandersNHL32240————— 1981–82Lethbridge BroncosWHL34463480162————— 1981–82New York IslandersNHL432122431141926836 1982–83New York IslandersNHL802119401282010112126 1983–84New York IslandersNHL6934154969204101418 1984–85New York IslandersNHL724260102511033614 1985–86New York IslandersNHL612431557430112 1986–87New York IslandersNHL692736637351014 1987–88New York IslandersNHL7029316055621318 1988–89New York IslandersNHL7729346377————— 1989–90New York IslandersNHL673335686552352 1990–91New York IslandersNHL7521325349————— 1991–92New York IslandersNHL846106————— 1991–92Chicago BlackhawksNHL61183250301835822 1992–93Chicago BlackhawksNHL652034546741124 1993–94Chicago BlackhawksNHL73929384360002 1994–95Chicago BlackhawksNHL47781551161234 1995–96Chicago BlackhawksNHL8013274056101126 1996–97Chicago BlackhawksNHL3977141820006 1997–98Chicago BlackhawksNHL5226828————— NHL totals 1,111 363 466 829 1,054 144 30 44 74 164
International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 1984 Canada CC 8 2 2 4 10 1986 Canada WC 8 4 7 11 8 1987 Canada CC 9 1 3 4 6 1991 Canada CC 8 3 1 4 6 Senior totals 33 10 13 23 30
Head coaching record
NHL Season Team Regular season Postseason G W L OTL Pts Finish W L Win % Result 2007–08NJD 824629799second in Atlantic14Lost in conference quarterfinals (NYR) 2008–09NJD 82512741061st in Atlantic34Lost conference quarterfinals (CAR) 2009–10CGY 8240321090third in Northwest———Did not qualify 2010-11CGY 8241291294second in Northwest———Did not qualify 2011-12CGY 8237291690second in Northwest———Did not qualifyNHL total41021514649 482 playoff appearances
Junior leagues Season Team League Regular season Postseason G W L T OTL Pts Division rank Result 1999–2000Red Deer RebelsWHL7232319073third in CentralLost Eastern Conference quarter-final (Ice, 4-0) 2000–01Red Deer RebelsWHL725412331141st in CentralWon WHL championshipWon Memorial Cup (Portland, 4-1) 2002–03Red Deer RebelsWHL725017321051st in CentralLost final (Rockets, 4-2) 2003–04Red Deer RebelsWHL72352210585second in CentralLost Eastern Conference final (Tigers, 4-2) 2004–05Red Deer RebelsWHL72362664824th in CentralLost Eastern Conference quarter-final (Tigers, 4-3) 2005–06Red Deer RebelsWHL722640—6585th in CentralDid not qualify 2006–07Red Deer RebelsWHL723528—9794th in CentralLost Eastern Conference quarter-final (Tigers, 4-3) 2012–13Red Deer RebelsWHL492915—5(85)third in CentralLost Eastern Conference semi-final (Hitmen, 4-1) 2013–14Red Deer RebelsWHL733533—5755th in CentralLost Eastern Conference tiebreaker (Raiders, 5-3) 2014–15Red Deer RebelsWHL723823—1187third in CentralLost Eastern Conference quarter-final (Tigers, 4-1) 2015–16Red Deer RebelsWHL724524—393second in CentralLost Eastern Conference finalLost Memorial Cup semi-final (Hitmen, 4-1) 2016–17Red Deer RebelsWHL723029—1373third in CentralLost Eastern Conference quarter-final (Hurricanes, 4-3) 2017–18Red Deer RebelsWHL722732—1367third in CentralLost Eastern Conference quarter-final (Hurricanes, 4-1) 2018–19Red Deer RebelsWHL683329—6725th in CentralLost Eastern Conference quarter-final (Raiders, 4-0) 2019–20Red Deer RebelsWHL63243333545th in Central Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2020–21Red Deer RebelsWHL23415—412 no standingsno playoffs
International Year Event G W L T OTL Result 2005WJC 66000Gold medal 2006WJC 66000Gold medal 2007SS 87010Champions 2014WJC 742014th placeTotal2723211
See also Captain (ice hockey) Notable families in the NHL List of NHL players with 1,000 games played
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