Sutter’s legacy grows with induction into New York Islanders Hall of Fame

For Brent Sutter, the list of accolades is already a long one.

Two-time Stanley Cup champion. NHL all-star. WHL champion. Memorial Cup champion. Three-time Canada Cup champion. Two-time World Junior Championship gold medal-winning coach. WHL Coach of the Year. WHL Executive of the Year. CHL Coach of the Year. The all-time highest scoring member of the famed Sutter hockey family. Top 10 winningest coach in WHL history.

Saturday night, ‘member of the New York Islanders Hall of Fame’ became the latest addition to Sutter’s lengthy list of accomplishments in the game of hockey.

“I’m truly humbled and honoured and grateful to be inducted into the Islanders Hall of Fame,” Sutter, 62, said in his address to the crowd at UBS Arena on Long Island Saturday night. “With all these great guys here tonight and the ones that aren’t – I am tremendously honoured just to be standing up with you guys.

“To be drafted by the Islanders, who had just won their first Stanley Cup in 1980, and then to be on a team that became part of a dynasty is absolutely crazy. To come to an environment and culture that knew how to win, I was so very fortunate. Honestly, I never thought of myself to be honoured this way.

“I was a player that would just go to the rink and do my job… I never took things for granted, I was very coachable and a student of the game. I wanted to be a good teammate, and I did my best to bring the most out of myself so I could help the team be as good as it could be, to give us every opportunity and chance to be successful and win. And that we did.”

"He was a big piece of our Stanley Cups and you could tell he was going to be a future of our team."

The 16th member of the #Isles Hall of Fame, Brent Sutter. pic.twitter.com/xLqnj1rUuP

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 19, 2025

Sutter, who hails from the small town of Viking, Alta., extended his thanks to Islanders ownership, the Hall of Fame selection committee, Islanders staff, fans, his brother Duane, who he shared two Stanley Cup championships with while on Long Island, and Islanders General Manager Lou Lamoriello, who hired Sutter to be head coach of the New Jersey Devils in July 2007.

“We are honoured to celebrate one of the all-time New York Islanders greats, Brent Sutter,” Lamoriello said in an Islanders press release. “Brent was a key member of the 1982 and 1983 Stanley Cup championship teams and was a leader, serving as the fourth team captain in club history. He took pride in his role and epitomized what an Islander is all about.”

Sutter expressed his gratitude for the impact of his minor hockey coaches, as well as to John Chapman, who was his coach with the WHL’s Lethbridge Broncos, and many, many more.

Drafted 17th overall by the Islanders in the 1980 NHL Draft, expectations were always high for Sutter after he had recorded 189 points (107G-101A) in 107 regular season games over parts of three seasons as a member of the WHL’s Lethbridge Broncos. From the time he made his NHL debut, his playing career had the makings of Hall of Fame stuff.

Sutter broke into the NHL in 1981-82, collecting 43 points (21G-22A) in 43 regular season games, before adding eight points (2G-6A) in 19 post-season contests to help the Islanders win the 1982 Stanley Cup.

“Solid skater, dependable hockey skills, prided himself in positioning, prided himself on execution,” said Bryan Trottier, a teammate of Sutter’s and an alumnus of the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos. “He’s a Sutter – he’s scrappy, he’s mean, he’s edgy, and he makes space for himself out there.”

After helping the Isles to a second consecutive Stanley Cup in 1983, Sutter went on to register a career best 102 points (42G-60A) during the 1984-85 campaign, earning NHL all-star recognition for his tremendous performance.

“Brent came along and he’s playing centreman, and all of a sudden I’m thinking, this is like Jean Beliveau, this guy,” said Denis Potvin, a teammate of Sutter’s and an alumnus of the OHL’s Ottawa 67s. “He really had it all…More importantly, it was the way he carried himself.

“He was never shy going into the corner. He was never shy going to where he had to be. He moved the puck around like a centreman has to.”

Congrats, Brent! @JetBlue | #LGI pic.twitter.com/57ac8O6Ibr

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 19, 2025

The 1987-88 season marked Sutter’s first season serving as captain of the storied Islanders franchise, an honour he held until he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 1991, along with current Spokane Chiefs head coach Brad Lauer.

Over 12 seasons with the Islanders, Sutter dressed in 694 career regular season games, totalling 610 points (287G-323A), adding another 88 playoff games for good measure.

“I’m pretty proud of ya, buddy,” said Bob Nystrom, a teammate of Sutter’s and an alumnus of the WHL’s Calgary Centennials. “I thought you deserved (to be in the Islanders Hall of Fame). It’s gonna be great to add you to the guys that are in there.”

He ranks top 10 in Islanders history in even strength points (ninth all-time, 417), even strength goals (ninth all-time, 185), game-winning goals (10th all-time, 37), power-play points (eighth all-time, 176), power-play goals (fifth all-time, 90), and shorthanded goals (eighth all-time, 12).

Sutter spent seven seasons with the Blackhawks, before retiring as a player at the conclusion of the 1997-98 campaign. With 829 career points (363G-466A) to his credit, Sutter stands as the highest scoring member of his family in NHL history.

“With seven boys living on the farm, I’m sure it wasn’t easy,” Sutter said, as he thanked his mother and father for their support over the years. “We were taught to treat others the way we wanted to be treated. You taught us what work ethic was, what toughness was, what dedication was, what discipline was, and what working together to accomplish a common goal was in everything we did. We may not have come from wealth, but we were rich in so many ways.”

"Ranch and playing hockey, it's a way of life."

Brent Sutter: Life on the Ranch

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 18, 2025

Family has always been at the heart of the story for the Sutters. Saturday’s induction ceremony was no different for Brent.

On hand for Sutter’s induction into the New York Islanders Hall of Fame were his wife Connie, his brother Duane, sons Merrick and Brandon, Brandon’s wife Giselle and their three children.

“You exemplified the core values of this organization,” said Jon Ledecky, co-owner of the Islanders, during the Hall of Fame Induction Dinner. “You built this organization on community, tradition, and most importantly, family.”

Unveiled was a bronze plaque featuring Sutter and his accomplishments, which will live forever in the Islanders Hall of Fame. He was also presented with a painted portrait, courtesy of artist Tony Capparelli, highlighting key moments from Sutter’s Isles career. His name was enshrined within UBS Arena, added to the Islanders Ring of Honour, prominently displayed in the bowl for fans in attendance.

“From the day I was drafted back in 1980 and to this day, I have been truly blessed and proud to say I wore the Islander jersey,” Sutter concluded.

A weekend celebrating our history and the newest #Isles Hall of Famer, Brent Sutter! 🤩#LGI | @SoloStove pic.twitter.com/3rnisRBfS3

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 20, 2025

Upon the completion of his playing days, Sutter retired to his ranch near Sylvan Lake, Alta., where he continued to raise cattle. Shortly thereafter, he decided to return to the Western Hockey League, where he has applied a career’s worth of lessons about winning, hard work, and dedication.

Prior to the 1999-00 season, Sutter became the Franchise Owner of the Red Deer Rebels, stepping straight into the fire as President, General Manager, and Head Coach.

“On behalf of the WHL Board of Governors and the WHL’s 22 member Clubs, I’d like to congratulate Brent Sutter on his induction into the New York Islanders Hall of Fame,” commented WHL Commissioner Dan Near. “Brent’s accomplishments – including serving as a key member of the Islanders for back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships – make him most deserving of this honour.

“Just as Brent was a champion and leader with the Islanders, he is a WHL and Memorial Cup champion and continues to provide leadership today as President and General Manager of the Red Deer Rebels and as a member of the WHL Executive Committee, furthering his legacy as a steward for the game of hockey.”

Over his 26 seasons operating the Rebels, Sutter has been the Winner of the WHL’s Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy for WHL Coach of the Year (2000-01), the WHL’s Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy for WHL Executive of the Year (2000-01), and the CHL’s Brian Kilrea Award for CHL Coach of the Year (2000-01).

The storied 2000-01 campaign saw Sutter guide the Rebels to a WHL Championship and Memorial Cup title. The Rebels strung together back-to-back Scotty Munro Memorial Trophies as WHL Regular Season champs in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

“I had the pleasure of being coached by you – congratulations, well deserved,” said Rebels alum Arron Asham, who suited up in Red Deer from 1994 through 1998, before playing for Sutter as a member of the New Jersey Devils. “We’ll see you in Red Deer.”

Under Sutter, the Rebels have secured four Central Division titles, two seasons with at least 50 wins, and another three seasons with at least 45 wins.

The 2015-16 season featured a Memorial Cup hosted by Red Deer and Sutter’s Rebels.

A veteran coach of more than 1,000 WHL regular season games, Sutter stands as one of only 12 WHL coaches to have surpassed the 500-win plateau.

No matter how much time passes or where the sport takes him, Sutter’s legacy within the game of hockey only continues to grow.

Congratulations to @Rebelshockey President and General Manager Brent Sutter on his induction into the @NYIslanders Hall of Fame! #Isles pic.twitter.com/qMPE0y9dgJ

— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 19, 2025