Carolina Hurricanes Prospects: Brody Sutter Could Bring Size and Physicality to the Bottom-Six

Between now and the start of the preseason, Cardiac Cane will preview every Carolina Hurricanes prospect as they enter the 2015-2016 season and what we expect from them in the coming year.

Player: Brody Sutter

Position: Right Wing/Center

Date of Birth: September 26, 1991 (23)

Birthplace: Calgary, Ontario (Canada)

Height/Weight: 6’5″/203 lbs.

2015-2016 Team: Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) and/or Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

Scouting Report: 

"Sutter has a huge, intimidating frame though he does not play an overly abrasive style. Steadily adapting to the level of play in pro hockey, he is an energy player who plays an honest two-way game; occasionally chipping in offensively. (HOCKEY’S FUTURE)"

Size goes a long way in today’s NHL, and if the Carolina Hurricanes are looking for a big, intimidating player for their bottom-six, they should look no further than Brody Sutter.

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A 7th round draft pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Sutter has never had top-end prospect upside, but he does bring useful tools to the table, and he showed that throughout his junior hockey career.

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After playing his first 18 WHL games with the Saskatoon Blades, he was moved to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He would play the next three and a half seasons with the club.

After two seasons of below average play, Sutter stepped up his game and threw himself in to draft contention with good seasons in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012.

In 2010-2011, Sutter tallied career highs in goals (18), assists (24), and points (42) in 46 games played in Lethbridge. It was a breakout year for him, and it raised expectations for his final year in juniors, expectations which he exceeded.

In his final year of WHL eligibility in 2011-2012, Brody Sutter turned into a 30-30 player, tallying 30 goals, 30 assists, and 60 points. All of those were career highs.

In the WHL, Brody Sutter showed the signs of potentially being a massive, effective power forward. His goal scoring touch also came to life, and he showed that he isn’t an offensive liability.

Brody Sutter turned pro in 2012-2013, splitting time between the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers and the ECHL with the Florida Everblades. This was partly due to the lockout. Several Hurricanes players on two-way deals played down in the AHL during the lockout, which took roster spots away from rookies and young players like Sutter.

In 37 games in the ECHL, Sutter tallied 8 goals, 8 assists, and 16 points. After being promoted to the Checkers, he tallied 3 goals and 5 points in 24 games.

The 2013-2014 season was Brody’s first full season in the AHL, and he emerged as a reliable presence for the Checkers up front. He tallied an impressive 29 points in 68 games and was an even +/- player.

Sutter’s level of play improved last season with the Checkers, and the Hurricanes rewarded him with his first NHL call-up on October 16, and then another one on October 23. Both call-ups were short stints, as he played in just 4 games with the Hurricanes and failed to earn a point.

At the AHL level, Sutter shined, tallying 25 points in 45 games with an offensively-challenged Charlotte Checkers team. The numbers were also impressive considering he missed 2 months due to injury.

The Hurricanes signed Sutter to a one-year, two-way extension in July, hoping that he can start to make the jump to the NHL level.

Brody Sutter could bring a lot to the bottom-six in Raleigh this season. He is the largest player in competition for the role by a considerable margin, he uses his massive frame very efficiently, he is reliable in his own end, and he is a player that puts in 100% effort on each shift. He can also be an effective net front presence and a player that can win a lot of board battles.

While he excels in many areas, there is a reason that Sutter almost went undrafted.

Carolina Hurricanes

He does not have much of an offensive upside. He doesn’t have the hands of anything more than a bottom-six type player, which restricts him heavily.

Skating also isn’t a strong suit for Sutter. It’s hard to be that big but also be very mobile, and while his foot speed won’t keep him from cracking the NHL at some point, it is something that will keep him from, again, being more than a bottom-six player in the NHL. However, he is still pretty young at the age of 23, and he still has time to gain some more talent on his skates.

As a bottom-six physical force, Brody Sutter can bring a lot to the table, but he isn’t much more than that right now. If Sutter can show in training camp and preseason that his defensive game is NHL-ready and that he can continue to use his size to his advantage, then he has a legitimate shot at cracking the team in camp.

Sutter will attend Hurricanes training camp in September with the intention on making the NHL roster. If he does that, he will likely be placed in a 4th line power forward role that can provide a spark for the team and create some energy. If he doesn’t make the team, he will head back to the Charlotte Checkers and will likely play in a top-six role with the AHL squad.

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Down the road, Sutter projects to be a bottom of the lineup player at the NHL level, and maybe even a second unit penalty killer if he can continue to improve his defensive play.

Brody Sutter is an interesting young player that you should keep an eye on. If nothing else, he certainly has the hockey roots. He is related to 8 former/current NHL players. Hopefully the Sutter name can live on through Brody.

Next: Can Justin Shugg be an Impact Player at the NHL level?