• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Pittsburgh Penguins

Sutter Will Lead Pens to the Cup… Or not

By Brady Smith April 7th, 2014

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Brandon Sutter has the ability to score 25 goals a season. But he doesn’t break the top six forwards for his team unless one of them is hurt. He’s top six talent without a top six roster spot, and that seems to be okay with him. But if his Pittsburgh Penguins have any chance at making a Stanley Cup Run, he’s going to have to carry them there.

Like Staal Shall Be Sutter

Jordan Staal was key in the Pens Stanley Cup victory. (James Guillory-US PRESSWIRE)

Jordan Staal was key in the Pens Stanley Cup victory. (James Guillory-US PRESSWIRE)

In 2009, Jordan Staal finished the regular season 3rd in scoring for the Pens. His scoring continued in the playoffs when he notched four goals for the Pens during their Cup run. But it was the timing of his goals that made the difference. He scored arguably the goal that turned the tables for the Penguins in the series between the Detroit Red Wings. Down 2 games to 1 and down a goal, Staal took a puck and put it in the back of the net for a short hander. From that moment on, the Pens would win three of the last four games and win the Cup.

Staal also won Defensive Player of the Year for his team that year. And just like Sutter, was the key ingredient to a Cup win for the Pens.

Sutter is still young and fairly inexperienced when it comes to playing in the playoffs. But the talent and potential to break out is there. He didn’t scoremany goals this season in total, but the ones he has scored have been game changers, including a team best three shorthanded goals.

https://twitter.com/PiratesFreak94/status/452984560566161408

This is only Sutter’s third full season in the NHL due to injury and other setbacks while in Carolina. And last season was the first that Sutter had ever played in the playoffs. Of all the Penguins who’ve played in April, no one has looked better than Sutter and if that continues, he will be the key ingredient, just as Staal was in 2009, for the Pens to make a run.

Why is Sutter so Valuable?

(Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports)

Brandon Sutter (Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports)

The Penguins have the best two players in the world on their top two lines… There is no arguing that Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will have to play well during the playoffs for the Penguins to have any chance to win. But, being the best players in the world comes with the task of knowing your opponent will be game planning to stop you. Teams won’t be worried about shutting Brandon Sutter down; they’ll be focused at taking Crosby and Malkin out.

The Penguins are blessed with top notch talent and the reality is, teams cannot shut every player down. Crosby and Malkin combined for 67 points in the 2009 playoffs. That was also the final season they were relatively healthy for a full season. They will be healthy in two weeks. (Let me remind you, Malkin played an entire game on his injured foot. His time out has been super precautionary and he will be ready when it matters.)

Malkin and Crosby cannot carry the team to 16 wins; Marc-Andre Fleury cannot stop every shot he’ll see in the 24 games they may play.

The defense is one unit that must play well. The Pens will need consistent secondary scoring from the likes of Jussi Jokinen and Beau Bennett. But all of that will mean absolutely nothing if Brandon Sutter does not play well. He’s their best scorer in open ice; he’s their best defensive center; he’s their best offensive penalty killer; and he’s their secret ingredient to bringing the Stanley Cup back to Pittsburgh.

Sutter off to a Good Start

Sutter had a chance to carry the weight in the Penguins last away game of the season as Crosby, Malkin and Chris Kunitz all sat out. He responded with an open ice wrister and a beautiful redirection between his legs as the Pens won 3-2.

Sutter is more than capable of performing at a high level and it looks like he has found his confidence and hit his stride at the right time, just as Jordan Staal did at the end of the 2009 regular season. With Sutter performing, Crosby and Malkin healthy, and a complete D behind them, the Penguins are poised for a playoff run. More importantly, Dan Bylsma is poised to keep his job. Even with his success, his job is in jeopardy if he can’t find his way back to the Stanley Cup Finals.

And let’s not forget Sutter is playing for a new contract…

Fast forward to Sutter's contract negotiation this summer: "That game when we were missing our top 9 guys, I was the best!"

— Meesh (@HockeyMeesh) April 7, 2014

Be sure to leave your feedback on Sutter and here and join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #THW. 

  • Tags
  • Brandon Sutter
  • Evgeni Malkin
  • Jordan Staal
  • Sidney Crosby
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 25th 11:35 AM
Washington Capitals

Capitals’ Vanecek Playing His Way Into Samsonov’s Starting Role

Jan 25th 11:25 AM
All-Star Weekend

5 Oilers You Didn’t Know Were All-Stars

Jan 25th 11:15 AM
Column

Wild Weekly: A Pair of Series Splits Against Ducks & Sharks

Jan 25th 11:05 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

3 Marlies Players to Watch This Season

Jan 25th 10:45 AM
New York Rangers

Rangers Facing Conundrum With DeAngelo

Jan 25th 10:35 AM
College Hockey

College Hockey Report: Shootouts Highlighted the Weekend Action

Jan 25th 10:25 AM
Anaheim Ducks

3 Takeaways From Ducks’ Series Against the Avalanche

Jan 25th 10:15 AM
San Jose Sharks

3 Takeaways From Sharks’ First Series With Wild

Jan 25th 10:05 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Takeaways: Simmonds, Marner & Milestones

Jan 25th 9:55 AM
Vancouver Canucks

Canucks’ Weekly Report: Turnovers, Pettersson, Horvat & More

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information