The Sutter family is truly a pucks family. Now with that being said I can't say I blame the Devils giving the 4th Sutter a chance to coach in the NHL.


Report: Devils to name Brent Sutter coach


TORONTO (Ticker) -- Three members of the Sutter family have tried their luck at coaching in the NHL. Apparently, the New Jersey Devils are about to give a fourth the chance.

According to a report by Sportsnet.ca on Wednesday night, the Devils will announce the hiring of Brent Sutter as their coach Friday.

The Western Hockey League's Red Deer Rebels have a news conference scheduled for Thursday, when they are expected to announce the resignation of Sutter as the team's coach and general manager, opening the door for his arrival in New Jersey.

Sutter, whose son Brandon was drafted 11th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes last month, also owns the Rebels. He led the club to three straight Eastern Conference titles from 2001-03 and a Memorial Cup championship in 2001.

In international competition, Sutter guided Team Canada to the gold medal at the World Junior Championship in both 2005 and 2006.

Sutter will become New Jersey's 17th coach since the club moved from Colorado in 1982. General manager Lou Lamoriello fired Claude Julien - who since has been hired by the Boston Bruins - with three games remaining in the 2006-07 season and the Devils entrenched in first place in the Atlantic Division with a 47-24-8 record.

For the second time in as many campaigns, Lamoriello stepped behind the bench and led New Jersey to a victory in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals before falling in the conference semis. In 2006-07, the Devils were beaten by the Ottawa Senators, who went on to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

Two seasons ago, Lamoriello's squad was eliminated by the eventual champion Hurricanes.

Drafted 17th overall by the New York Islanders in 1980, Sutter won two Stanley Cups with the club during its run of four in a row from 1980-83. The 45-year-old native of Viking, Alberta recorded 363 goals and 466 assists in 1,111 career games with the Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks.

Sutter will follow in the footsteps of brothers Brian (St. Louis, Boston, Calgary, Chicago), Darryl (Chicago, San Jose, Calgary) and Duane (Florida) as NHL coaches. Darryl currently is the general manager of the Flames.