The Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday agreed to terms with center Brandon Sutter on a three-year contract. The deal will pay Sutter $1.5 million in 2011-12, $2 million in 2012-13 and $2.7 million in 2013-14.
"Brandon is one of the cornerstones of our franchise moving forward," Carolina President and General Manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. "He is an extremely intelligent player who can perform in all situations, and has already grown into a leadership position for the Hurricanes at a very young age."
Sutter, 22, established career highs in games played (82), penalty minutes (25) and plus/minus rating (plus-13) in 2011-12, his third season with the Hurricanes. Born in Huntington, N.Y., but raised in Red Deer, Alta., he totaled 14 goals and 15 assists (29 points) and led all Carolina forwards in shorthanded ice time (2:21 per game).
Sutter also led all Carolina forwards and ranked tied for seventh among NHL forwards in blocked shots (73), and was first on the team in plus/minus (plus-13). He skated in his 200th NHL game on April 2 against the New York Islanders, and the Hurricanes were 11-0-1 in 2010-11 when he scored a goal.
The son of former New York Islanders center and current Calgary Flames coach Brent Sutter was Carolina's first-round selection (No. 11) in the 2007 Entry Draft, He has 36 goals, 39 assists and 43 penalty minutes in 204 career NHL games with the Hurricanes.
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