It's hard to argue that Sutter is the most famous name in hockey -- Gretzky, Lemieux and Orr would top the list, just to start -- but thanks to the six hockey-playing brothers, the Sutters are, without question, the game's first family.

And just when it looked like the Staal brothers were ready to make a run at that title, another generation of Sutters has arrived.

Brandon Sutter, the Carolina Hurricanes' first-round pick in 2007 and son of New Jersey Devils coach Brent Sutter, is only a hair away from becoming the first second-generation Sutter in the NHL.

His cousins Shaun and Brett were the first to be drafted, but neither has played above the AHL. A few younger cousins are coming along, but right now Brandon is carrying the weight of his generation, even if it doesn't rest heavily on his shoulders.

"I don't really feel that at all," Sutter said this week. "From Day 1, this is what I wanted to do growing up -- play at as a high a level as I can."

That may not take long. While Sutter will remain in the minors with Albany (AHL) this season -- and is scheduled to make his pro debut today -- the Canes would not have signed him if they didn't think he was ready to play for them this fall.

Sutter still needs to pack some muscle onto his 6-foot-3 frame, but so did Eric Staal as a 19-year-old, and that worked out pretty well. The Canes have high expectations for a player whose bloodlines are impeccable.

But being a first-round pick is no guarantee of NHL stardom. No one would say Kevyn Adams hasn't had a nice NHL career, but more was expected of him when he was taken 25th overall in 1993. Adams didn't turn out to be the big-time scorer his pick projected him to be.

In a way, that's sort of the worst-case scenario for Sutter. He may "just" be a reliable defensive presence in the middle, a big body who can skate and take on the opposition's top line.

That alone is why the Hurricanes took him 11th overall instead of the higher-skill, higher-risk, higher-reward pick of Angelo Esposito, who, despite being no relation to Phil and Tony Esposito, had the offensive talent to go first overall but slipped to 20th because of concerns over his drive and love of the game.

There are no concerns in that department with Sutter, who by all accounts has all the grit and tenacity of his father Brent and five famous uncles, five of whom played in more than 700 NHL games and two of whom played in more than 1,000.

Whether he has the scoring ability of Brian and Brent -- both scored more than 300 NHL goals -- or of Rich and Duane -- who combined for 288, still nothing to sneeze at -- remains the big question with Sutter.

For now, Sutter is just happy to get his pro career started after spending the year as one of few veterans on a rebuilding -- and dismal -- junior team.

"I just want to get back into a competitive environment where the games are important," Sutter said. "This is going to help me out a lot going into camp next fall."