Brandon Sutter Key to Staal Trade.
By Drew Shetler
The blockbuster trade that sent Jordan Staal to the Carolina Hurricanes would not have happened unless one player was given to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
That one player was Brandon Sutter. Having Sutter part of the the trade kept the three center model together that Penguins fans have come to love.
Sure it is going to look different than the past six years without having number 11 centering the third line, but it should work. Taking a closer look at Sutter’s game and it is easy to see why the Penguins wanted him.
He is a responsible two way center whose game is still improving, especially on the offensive end. The past three years he has scored at least 14 goals.
Sutter has outstanding leadership qualities. After his rookie season he was named one of two alternate captains.
Sutter is so good defensively that he was the Hurricanes top penalty killer last season. Remind anybody of someone else that used to play for the Penguins?
Sutter will prove that the Penguins are not going to miss Staal as much as they may think.