Sutter tabbed as new Devils coach
July 13th, 2007
East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - The New Jersey Devils have named Brent Sutter their new head coach.
Sutter left his position as head coach and general manager of the Western Hockey League's Red Deer Rebels -- a team he also owns -- on Thursday, paving the way for his selection as the new Devils bench boss.
"We are fortunate to have someone with Brent Sutter's character, knowledge, energy, enthusiasm and experience join our organization," said Devils CEO, president and general manager Lou Lamoriello. "He has been successful at every level and we look forward to him continuing that success in the National Hockey League."
Lamoriello, of course, replaced himself behind the bench. He fired Claude Julien with just three games remaining in the regular season last year. New Jersey held on to win the Atlantic Division and beat Tampa Bay in the first round of the playoffs, then lost to eventual conference champion Ottawa in five games of the second round.
Sutter spent the past eight seasons with Red Deer, leading the Rebels to a record of 314-194-68 in 576 regular-season games as coach. He was the WHL's top coach in 2001 when the Rebels won the league championship.
The 45-year-old native of Viking, Alberta is one of six brothers to play in the NHL and will become the fourth of the six to coach in the league. Brian, Darryl and Duane all had prior coaching stints in the NHL.
Brent Sutter played 18 seasons in the NHL with the New York Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks. The Islanders made him the 17th overall pick of the 1980 Entry Draft.
In 1,111 career regular-season games, Sutter scored 363 goals and assisted on 466 others for 829 points. He won Stanley Cup titles with brother Duane as a member of the Islanders in 1982 and '83, and was the club's captain from 1987 through 1991.
Sutter was traded to Chicago in October 1991 and remained with the Blackhawks through the 1997-98 season, playing three seasons for Chicago with brother Darryl as coach.