Anaheim Ducks sign Andy Sutton
The Anaheim Ducks have announced that they have signed free agent defenceman Andy Sutton to a two-year deal worth $2.13 million a season. The 35-year-old Sutton will join a very thin Anaheim defence core, which will try to be successful without the recently retired Scott Niedermayer.
Andy Sutton
Sutton began his professional career playing for the Michigan Tech Huskies. Sutton spent four years with the Huskies, making a name for himself as a big, strong, stay-at-home defenceman. Sutton experienced the most success in his final season with the club, notching 40 points in 38 games.
His strong play at the collegiate level helped him get signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Jose Sharks.
Sutton split his first two seasons between the Sharks, and their then American Hockey League affiliate the Kentucky Thoroughblades. He preformed well at the AHL level, but had a difficult time translating his game to the NHL.
For the 2000-01 season Sutton was moved to the Minnesota Wild in the expansion draft. He played one season in Minnesota before being traded to the Atlanta Thrashers.
Sutton found a home in Atlanta playing five seasons with the club. He served as the teams shut down defenseman using his large 6ft 6in frame to keep opponents at bay. He was also one of the team’s enforcers, tallying over 140 penalty minutes one season with the Thrashers.
In 2007-08 Sutton moved to the New York Islanders where he would spend three seasons. Not able to find his game in New York he was moved to the Ottawa Senators at the deadline last year.
Last year between the Senators and the Islanders Sutton managed five goals and eight assists for 13 points, and was a minus-10.
Anaheim’s Perspective
The Ducks General Manager Bob Murray essentially needed to fill out his defence-core for the up coming season, and Sutton has a tested NHL track record.
The Anaheim defence promises to be nothing special next year, with Toni Lydman and Lubomir Visnovsky leading the charge. Those two will be the team’s first unit, while Sutton could be slotted as high as third defenceman, playing with Sheldon Brookbank.
This line-up will not be anything to be afraid of, as Sutton was a sixth defenceman with the Ottawa Senators, and was even scratched on occasion.
Murray needed someone to fill a hole in his line-up and Sutton was one of the only veterans remaining on the market. What Murray can expect is a big tough bruiser of a defenseman that does not have a great deal of upside. In terms of his style of play, he suits the Ducks organization, as he is willing to fight when need be. Nevertheless, he will not be of much help when trying to move the puck out of their own-end, or setting people up on the power play.
Sutton will however play minutes on the teams penalty kill, as his long stick will be an asset below the goal line.
Sutton’s Perspective
There had not been a great deal of talk about where Sutton would end up prior to this signing, which could mean that his services were not in high demand.
As an aging defenceman that has not had a great deal of success in the NHL, it comes as a surprise that he was given this much money by the Ducks.
Sutton likely chose Anaheim because of the pay, and the fact that it was a multi-year deal. Knowing this is likely to be the last contract he signs, it was important for him to get lock-up by a club for over a year.
In addition the weakness of the Anaheim blue line offers him the most playing time, as well as the possibility of playing power play minutes, something he has not gotten used to during his time in the NHL.
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