SLAM! Sports
SLAM! Hockey
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
COLUMNS
NHL
The Teams
Full Schedule
Monthly Schedule
Standings
Statistics
Rosters
Injury list
Movement
Trades
Hits Gallery
INTERACTIVE
JUNIOR
MORE HOCKEY
ALSO ON SLAM!
Wednesday, January 5, 2000
Oh, brother!
Ron's the last of the Sutter clan still playing the game
Cover a team long enough and one tends to offer advice. It is, after all, only human nature.
Not your correspondent, however.
I prefer to allow those who pull in the fat wage to make the key decisions. Then if they mess up, they're vulnerable for inquisition.
But occasionally it is imperative to interfere. Take the 1982 NHL entry draft in Montreal ...
I hopped an elevator to Glen Sather's suite at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel and buttonholed the Edmonton Oilers GM.
"Slats, are you gonna make a deal to move up in the draft and snag one of those Sutter twins?'' I blurted on the eve of the proceedings.
As is often the case, Sather responded with a question of his own.
"Whad'ya mean?''
"Well, they stopped making 'em,'' I stressed, paraphrasing Mark Twain's age-old advice pertaining to buying land.
Well, here it is approaching 18 years later and six Sutter brothers have amazingly found their way from Viking to the NHL. It all began with Brian in 1976-77 and is winding down to Ron with the San Jose Sharks today. Parts of four decades and yet - somewhat sadly - not one has suited up for either the Calgary Flames or the Oilers.
"Yeah, it is (sad),'' agreed Ron yesterday following the Sharks' practice. "I think if you would have asked any one of us, we would have said we would have loved to have an opportunity to play for either the Oilers or the Flames.
"Growing up here you came to see the Oilers play. I remember coming to watch them in the WHA. Certainly I have no regrets, but we do get asked that a lot. 'Why couldn't you have played for the Flames or Oilers?' It doesn't work that way.''
IT AIN'T OVER ...
Don't give up the ship yet, cautions Sharks coach Darryl Sutter, whose playing career spanned seven seasons in Chicago.
"We've talked about that a lot,'' said Darryl about nary a Sutter performing in Wild Rose Country, although Brian's third coaching stop is in Calgary. "It is strange ... but maybe someday.
"Hey, like I told our guys; who would have ever thought they'd be playing for a team in California and had a New Year's Eve in Nashville headed into the year 2000? It's funny how this world works.''
Well, five retirements later, it's down to 36-year-old Ron, who is with his sixth NHL oufit. Twin Rich, who played for seven teams, is now scouting for the incoming Minnesota Wild. Duane is scouting for Florida, while Brent is Mr. Everything - owner/GM/coach - with the junior Red Deer Rebels.
Duane played for three Cup winners and Brent two on Long Island. Is Ron perhaps envious of their rings?
"Envious? No, they had great teams and great team chemistry,'' he stressed of the early 1980s Islanders.
How long can he keep playing?
"He's basically played a year at a time for the last two-three years and to be quite honest with you, he's had a better year this year than last year,'' explained Darryl. "Guys who take good care of themselves and accept a role and are good in the room, they can play as long as the heart allows it.''
With the Sharks battling for first place in the tough Pacific Division and his role as a fourth-line centre expanded, Ron has targeted no date for hanging 'em up.
"I'm just going to take it as it comes. I feel like my contributions are more this year than last year and that makes it more enjoyable to come to the rink,'' said the six-foot, 180-pounder. "My responsibilities haven't changed; I know my role and what's expected of me.
"You know how you have to stay ready on the bench and make sure the young guys are prepared. It's not an easy job or a glamorous role by any means, but it's something I'm comfortable with. I accepted it a couple of years ago.''
He also doesn't find it uncomfortable playing for his brother.
"He's coached Brent and Richie (in Chicago) before,'' said Ron. "I know my role and he doesn't need to remind me what I have to do. I know he's my brother but I respect him as a coach and I'm no different than 19 other guys who put the jerseys on. I don't want to let them down either. You don't just play for the guy behind the bench.''
He's certainly played for a number of different coaches, but not one was perhaps quite like Iron Mike Keenan, who played mind games by threatening to trade his twin brother.
"Yeah, that's true, he said that to me different times,'' chuckled Ron of his days in Philadelphia. "But it was Mike's way of motivating you. He'd say, 'I'm sitting this guy out unless you get your butt going.' And he would do it.''
TWO CUP FINALS
Under Keenan, though, Ron Sutter made two trips to the Stanley Cup finals, losing to the Oilers - five games in 1985 and seven two years later.
"I sat right there,'' he said, pointing two stalls to his left, "and cried after Game 7.
"Guys always ask me about it ... and I want that opportunity again.''
With time winding down, San Jose appears to be the last hurrah for Sutter as a player. The improvement in the Sharks during Ron's four seasons has made playing in San Jose most worthwhile.
"When we have 20 guys going, I believe, yes, we have an opportunity ... but we need 20 guys on the same page every night.''
No one would ever dispute a Sutter's desire ... which is something even I knew in '82.
 Bert's back on blades Blue Jays boot game Bombers drop Peterson Felicien rebuilds race | Visit our Polls Archive |