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| 1984 NHL DRAFT PICK |
 | Gary
Suter
Selected in ninth round
No.
180 overall by Calgary Flames
Born June 24, 1964
 | Position:
Defense
Height: 6-0 Weight: 190
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| BEFORE THE DRAFT |
Last Team:
Wisconsin (WCHA)
Birthplace:
Madison, Wisconsin (USA)
Hometown: Madison, Wisconsin |
 |
 |
|
| PRE-DRAFT
STATISTICS | | Year |
Team | League |
GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM |
| 1979-80 |
Culver Military | Ind. H.S. |
-- | -- |
-- | -- |
-- | | 1980-81 |
Culver Military | Ind. H.S. |
-- | -- |
-- | -- |
-- | | 1981-82 |
Culver Military | Ind. H.S. |
-- | -- |
-- | -- |
-- | | |
Dubuque | USHL |
18 | 3 |
4 | 7 |
32 | | 1982-83 |
Dubuque | USHL |
41 | 9 |
30 | 39 |
112 | | 1983-84 |
Wisconsin | WCHA |
35 | 4 |
18 | 22 |
68 |
|
PRE-DRAFT AWARDS AND HONORS
World Junior Championships:
1984 (sixth place)
USHL Top Defenseman: 1982-83 (Dubuque)
USHL All-Star First Team: 1982-83 (Dubuque)
Miscellaneous: Not selected in 1982 or 1983 NHL drafts despite being
eligible both years. ... Attended Culver Military Academy in Culver, Ind.
... Spent summer of 1984 working in a Wisconsin brewery. |
| NHL CAREER |
Debut: October 11, 1985 (Winnipeg at
Calgary)
Numbers: 20 (Calgary); 6, 20
(Chicago); 20 (San Jose)
Stanley Cup: 1989.
Playing Status:
Retired September 10, 2002 |
| CAREER NHL STATISTICS | | Years |
Teams | GP |
G | A |
TP | PIM | | 1985-2002 |
Calgary, Chicago, S.J. |
1,145 | 203 |
641 | 844 |
1,349 |
|
| CAREER NHL PLAYOFF STATISTICS |
| Years | Teams |
GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM | | 1986-2002 |
Calgary, Chicago, S.J. |
108 | 17 |
56 | 73 |
120 |
|
NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
Calder
Trophy: 1985-86 (Calgary)
Sporting News All-Star First Team: 1987-88 (Calgary)
NHL All-Star Second Team: 1987-88 (Calgary)
Sporting News
All-Star Second Team: 1988-89 (Calgary)
NHL All-Rookie Team: 1985-86 (Calgary)
All-Star Game: 1986,
1988, 1989, 1991 (Calgary), 1996 (Chicago) (injured, did not play)
Stanley Cup Finals (Lost): 1986 (Calgary) (injured, did not play)
San Jose Ironman Award: 2001-02 (quad-winner)
NHL Records: Most assists by a defenseman in one game (6 vs. Edmonton
on April 4, 1986, shares record)
Calgary Records: Most points by a rookie defenseman (68 in 1985-86),
most assists in a game (6 vs. Edmonton on April 4, 1986, shares record),
most points in one period (4 in second period vs. Edmonton on April 4, 1986,
shares record), most assists in period (4 in second period vs. Edmonton on April 4,
1986), most assists by a defenseman in one game (6 vs. Edmonton on April 4,
1986), most consecutive games with at least one point (16 from March 3,
1988, to April 3, 1988, shares
record), most consecutive games with at least one assist (9 from March 3,
1988, to April 3, 1988,
shares record), most consecutive games by defenseman with at least one
point (16 from March 3, 1988, to April 3, 1988), most consecutive games by a defenseman with at least
an assist (9 from March 3, 1988, to April 3, 1988, shares record)
Chicago
Records: Most goals by a defenseman in one playoff game (3 vs. Toronto
on April 24, 1994)
Calgary
Assists
Leader: 1987-88 (70)
Calgary Playoffs Points Leader: 1988 (10),
1991 (7, tie)
Calgary Playoffs Assists
Leader: 1987 (3), 1988 (9), 1991 (6)
Chicago Playoffs Assists
Leader: 1997 (4, tie)
1988-89: Played on Calgary team that won Stanley Cup, but missed last
three rounds of playoffs, including Stanley Cup Finals series vs. Montreal, with
broken jaw.
Miscellaneous: Had assist in his first NHL game. ... Had two goals and an
assist in his second NHL game for Calgary at Los Angeles on Oct. 13, 1985. ...
Finished second among all NHL rookies with 68 points in 1985-86. ... Missed
remainder of 1986 playoffs with torn ligaments in right knee, an injury
suffered during Game 7 of Calgary's second-round playoff series at Edmonton.
... Missed part of 1986-87 season with stretched MCL in left knee, an injury
suffered while trying to take an off-balance slap shot during Calgary's Dec.
4, 1986, game vs. Chicago. He did not return to action until Calgary's Dec.
28, 1986, game at Buffalo. ... Missed part of 1986-87 season with
re-aggravation of left knee injury, suffered in January 1987. ...
Played two games in October 1987 at left wing. ... Paired on defense with
Brad McCrimmon for Calgary in 1987-88. ... Missed part of 1987-88 season with left knee injury, suffered during
Calgary's Feb. 3, 1988, game at Winnipeg. ... Led all NHL defensemen with 91
points in 1987-88. ... Set Calgary single-season
records (since broken) for points by a defenseman (91) and assists by a defenseman
(70) in 1987-88. ...
Finished third in 1987-88 Norris Trophy voting. ... Missed part of 1988-89
season with pulled hamstring, an injury suffered during Calgary's Feb. 11,
1989, game at Washington. ... Missed part of 1988-89 season with ruptured
appendix, suffered on Feb. 23, 1989. Suter had missed Calgary's Feb. 22,
1989, game vs. Toronto, due to stomach pain that he thought was the flu. But
on the night of Feb. 23, 1989, Suter's appendix ruptured. After having
emergency surgery to remove the appendix, Suter did not return to action
until Calgary's March 31, 1989, game vs. Winnipeg. ... Missed remainder of
1989 playoffs with broken jaw, an injury suffered during Game 5 of Calgary's
first-round playoff series vs. Vancouver on April 11, 1989. As a result of
the injury, he did not play for the rest of Calgary's run to the Stanley
Cup. ... Missed part of 1989-90 season with torn cartilage in left knee, an
injury suffered when he collided with Jocelyn Lemieux during Calgary's Dec.
30, 1989 game vs. Montreal. He did not return to action until Calgary's Jan.
11, 1990, game vs. Buffalo. ... Missed part of 1990-91 season with bruised
tailbone, an injury suffered during Calgary's Feb. 21, 1991, game vs.
Vancouver. ... Missed part of 1991-92 season with bruised right knee, an
injury suffered during Calgary's Dec. 12, 1991, exhibition game vs. Team
Canada, which was preparing for the 1992 Olympics. He did not return to
action until Calgary's Jan. 8, 1992, game vs. San Jose. He scored a goal and
added an assist in that game. ... Missed part of 1992-93 season with bruised
ribs, an injury suffered during Calgary's March 16, 1993, game vs. Chicago.
... Missed part of 1992-93 season with the flu, an illness contracted in
March 1993. ... Finished fourth among all NHL defensemen with 23 goals in
1992-93. ... Ranked sixth among all NHL defensemen with 81 points in
1992-93. ... Led Calgary with 45 power-play points in 1992-93. ... Led all
Calgary defensemen in points (81), goals (23) and assists (58) in 1992-93.
... Missed part of 1993-94 season with twisted right knee, an injury
suffered during Calgary's Oct. 9, 1993, game at Vancouver. ... Missed part
of 1993-94 season with torn ligaments (including MCL and PCL) in left knee,
strained left hamstring and torn muscle in left thigh, an injury suffered
when he accidentally collided knee-to-knee with Don Sweeney during Calgary's
Nov. 4, 1993, game at Boston. The injury required arthroscopic surgery, and
Suter did not return to action until Calgary's Jan. 24, 1994, game vs. Los
Angeles. ... Missed part of 1993-94 season with strained muscle in left leg,
an injury suffered when he collided with Charlie Huddy during Calgary's Jan.
24, 1994, game vs. Los Angeles. He did not return to action until Calgary's
Feb. 18, 1994, game at Dallas. ... Represented by player agent Don Baizley during his NHL
career. ... Left Calgary in 1994 ranked No. 2 behind Al MacInnis on Flames'
all-time points list (565) and No. 2 on Flames' all-time assists list (437).
At the time Suter left, Calgary was the only team in NHL history to have two
defenseman as its top two scorers. ... Missed part of 1995 playoff with
broken bone in hand, an injury suffered during Game 3 of Chicago's
second-round playoff series at Vancouver on May 25, 1995. He did not return
to action until Game 3 of Chicago's Western Conference Finals series vs.
Detroit on June 6, 1995. He re-aggravated the injury in that game and missed
Game 4 of the series two nights later. ... Tied for lead among all NHL
defensemen with 20 goals for Chicago in 1995-96. ... Tied for lead among all
NHL defensemen in power-play goals (12) and shorthanded goals (2), scored
for Chicago in 1995-96. ... Led all NHL defensemen with four game-winning
goals for Chicago in 1995-96. ... Was only Chicago player to play in all 82
games during the 1995-96 regular season. ...Tied for Chicago lead with 12
power-play goals in 1995-96. ... Led Chicago with 242 shots on goal in
1995-96. ... Played in 259 consecutive games for Chicago from March 13,
1994, to Dec. 12, 1997. ... Missed part of 1997-98 season with strained
groin, an injury suffered during Chicago's Dec. 12, 1997, game vs.
Philadelphia. He did not return to action until Chicago's Dec. 26, 1997,
game at St. Louis. He scored a goal in that game. ... Traded by Chicago to
San Jose in exchange for a 1998 ninth-round pick on June 27, 1998, three
days before he was due to become a Group III unrestricted free agent. ... Signed 3-year, $10
million contract with San Jose as a Group III unrestricted
free agent on July 1, 1998. ... Missed San Jose's entire 1998 training camp
and start of 1998-99 season while recovering from two off-season surgeries
to repair a previously undetected torn triceps tendon in Suter's right
elbow. The surgeries were performed in August 1998, and Suter did not make
his 1998-99 NHL regular-season debut until San Jose's Oct. 24, 1998, game
vs. Dallas. ... Missed remainder of 1998-99 season and entire 1999 playoffs
with re-aggravation of right elbow injury, suffered during San Jose's Oct. 24, 1998, game vs. Dallas.
He took himself out of the game early in the second periods, and hoped he
would be able to return. But on Nov. 13, 1998, the Sharks announced that
Suter would have season-ending surgery on the right triceps tendon in
December 1998. He did not play again until San Jose's Oct. 2, 1999, game vs.
Calgary -- becoming the first player in pro team sports history to return
from the type of triceps injury he had suffered. ... Had heart surgery while
he was out of hockey during the 1998-99 season. ... Missed part of 1999-00
season with sprained left knee, an injury suffered during San Jose's Feb.
23, 2000, game vs. St. Louis. The injury required arthroscopic surgery, and
Suter did not return to action until San Jose's March 13, 2000, game vs.
Calgary. ... Led San Jose with 102 blocked shots in 1999-00. ... Was San
Jose's nominee for 1999-00 Masterton Trophy. ... Missed part of 2000-01
season with rib injury, suffered during San Jose's Oct. 14, 2000, game vs.
Boston. He did not return to action until San Jose's Oct. 23, 2000, game at
Carolina. ... Played his 1,000th career NHL game for San Jose on Oct. 25,
2000, at Columbus. He scored a goal in that game. ... Missed part of 2000-01
season with the flu, an illness contracted in November 2000. ... Missed part
of 2000-01 season with knee injury, suffered during San Jose's Feb. 18,
2001, game at Minnesota. He did not return to action until San Jose's Feb.
23, 2001, game vs. Anaheim. ... Missed part of 2000-01 season with knee
injury, suffered during San Jose's March 3, 2001, game at Boston. He did not
return to action until San Jose's March 12, 2001, game vs. Montreal. ...
Missed remainder of 2000-01 regular season with swollen calf, an injury
suffered during San Jose's March 29, 2001, game vs. Anaheim. He did not
return to action until Game 1 of San Jose's first-round playoff series at
St. Louis on April 12, 2001. ... Missed remainder of 2001 playoffs with
concussion, suffered during his first shift in the opening period of Game 1
of San Jose's first-round series at St. Louis on April 12, 2001. ... Led all
San Jose defensemen with 10 goals in 2000-01. ... Was San Jose's nominee for
2000-01 Masterton Trophy.
The Lomakin Incident: Suter
was suspended
by the NHL for the first four games of 1987-88 season for high-sticking
Soviet player
Andrei Lomakin in the face during the first period of Team USA's Sept. 4, 1987, Canada Cup game vs. USSR.
The suspension also applied to the next six international games sanctioned
by the IIHF, carrying over into the 1988 World Championships (had Suter
attempted to play in them). Lomakin required
more than 20 stitches near his eye to close the cut opened up by Suter's stick. Suter
claimed he hit Lomakin in retaliation for being speared under his throat, although tape of
the play did not indicate Lomakin had deliberately attempted to spear Suter before Suter
whacked him with a two-hander. "It was absolutely the worst thing I have
ever seen in hockey," Team Canada co-general manager Bobby Clarke told
The Hockey News. For his part, Suter
later apologized for the incident, saying he felt "terrible" because he
never meant for his stick to catch Lomakin in the face. Calgary general
manager Cliff Fletcher unsuccessfully tried to make the case that Suter
should not be suspended by the NHL because the Canada Cup was not an NHL
game, even though it was sanctioned by both the NHL and NHLPA. As it turned
out, the NHL did have the right to discipline its players for their behavior
in the Canada Cup. In late September, the NHL finally ruled that Suter's
total suspension should be for 10 games, although only four would be in the
NHL itself. "All players must be made aware that they are responsible for
their conduct wherever they play while under an NHL contract," said NHL vice
president Brian O'Neill at the time of the ruling. As a result of the suspension, Suter
did not make his 1987-88 NHL regular-season debut until Calgary's Oct. 16,
1987, game vs. Edmonton.
The Kariya Incident: In the days prior
to the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, Suter became the focus of a major NHL
controversy that led to his own four-game NHL suspension and a $1,000 fine.
The incident leading to the suspension and fine took place during the second
period of Chicago's Feb. 1, 1998, game at Anaheim, when Suter cross-checked
Paul Kariya across the jaw, giving Kariya a concussion and knocking him out
of the Olympics for Team Canada. On Feb. 3, 1998, the NHL ruled that Suter's
cross-check was a deliberate attempt to injure, although the Blackhawks
argued that such intent was never there and that Suter was merely trying to
prevent a goal (his shot on the play ended up in the net.. Chicago
management had said the NHL was excessively punishing Suter for hurting one
of its marketable stars. NHL vice president Brian Burke did not ban Suter
from competing for Team USA in the Olympics, but did give him both the fine
and four-game suspension, which took effect that night. As a result of the
suspension, Suter did not return to NHL action until well after the Olympic
break, in Chicago's Feb. 28, 1998, game at Colorado. He scored a goal in
that game. |
| NON-NHL CAREER |
Post-Draft Teams:
Wisconsin (WCHA)
Olympics: 1998 (5-8 place), 2002 (silver medal)
World Cup of Hockey: 1996
(first place)
Canada Cup: 1987 (fifth place), 1991 (second place)
World Championships: 1985
(fourth place), 1992 (seventh place)
NON-NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
Madison (Wis.) Sports Hall of Fame: Inducted
2004
Team USA World Championships MVP: 1985 (co-winner)
Wisconsin Carlson Award (MVP): 1984-85
Wisconsin Kelsey Award (Most Competitive Player): 1984-85
Wisconsin Coyne Award (Most Consistent Player): 1984-85
Miscellaneous: Never played in
minor leagues. ... Wore No. 4 at
University of Wisconsin. ... Led Wisconsin (WCHA) with 110 penalty minutes
in 1984-85. ... Set Wisconsin single-season record (since broken) for
penalty minutes in WCHA games with 96 in 1984-85. ... Left the University of Wisconsin after
his sophomore year to pursue pro hockey. ... Was on Calgary
team that joined Washington for 1989 NHL Friendship Tour in Soviet Union.
The Flames faced four Soviet teams on the tour. ... Ran with the Olympic
torch when it came to San Jose on Jan. 18, 2002, on way to Salt
Lake City. ... Ran hockey camp with older brothers in
Madison, Wis., in off-seasons of playing days. ... An avid
fisherman, he competed in celebrity fishing tournaments during off-seasons
of his playing days. ... Named to defense position on USHL's 25th
Anniversary team by a USHL panel in January 2004.
The Gretzky Incident: During the 1991
Canada Cup, Suter found major controversy at 8:48 of the second period in
Game 1 of Team USA's final series vs. Canada on Sept. 14, 1991, in Montreal.
At that moment, Suter checked Wayne Gretzky from behind, knocking him into
the end boards and out of the Canada Cup. Although no penalty was called on
the play, Team Canada and its fans were livid, accusing Suter of targeting
the tournament's leading scorer and the best player in the world with a
deliberate attempt to injure. Ironically, Suter turned out to be Team USA's
goat two nights later in Game 2, which the Americans lost to complete
Canada's sweep. Late in the third period, after Team USA rallied to tie the
game at 2-2, Suter mishandled the puck at the point on a power-play,
allowing Canada's Steve Larmer to get free for a breakaway goal that ended
up being the game-winner.
Personal: Full name is
Gary Lee Suter. ...
Younger brother of former college hockey player John Suter and former minor
leaguer Bob Suter, a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey "Miracle on Ice"
team. ... Older brother of professional drag-bike racer Steve Suter. ... Uncle of minor-leaguer Ryan Suter. |
| HOW HE GOT AWAY |
| TRADE:
Calgary traded Suter, Paul Ranheim and Ted Drury to Hartford in exchange for
James Patrick, Zarley Zalapski and Michael Nylander on March 10,
1994. The Flames had traded Suter right before the NHL trade deadline
because he was due to become a restricted free agent at the end of the
season. The following day, March 11, 1994, while Suter was flying from Calgary to Hartford,
the Whalers traded Suter, Randy Cunneyworth and an
undisclosed draft pick (1995
third-round choice -- later traded) to Chicago in exchange for Frantisek Kucera and Jocelyn Lemieux. |
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|
SNAPSHOT '84 | | Total Selected: |
250 | | Forwards: |
142 | | Defense: |
88 | | Goaltenders: |
20 | | Major Junior: |
110 | | Tier II/Jr. B: |
16/9 | | College Players: |
23 | | High School: |
47 | | Midget: |
4 | | U.S. Junior B: |
1 |
| Canadian: |
145 |
| Euro-Canadian: |
2 | | USA Citizens: |
62 | | U.S.-Born: |
63 |
| European: |
41 |
| Reached NHL: |
102 |
| Stanley Cup: |
20 | | Hall of Fame: |
1 |
| All-Star Game: |
18 |
| Year-end All-Star: |
7 |
| Olympians: |
31 |
|
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