Sutter making his name

RALEIGH -- Brandon Sutter is a 19-year-old rookie with a famous hockey name, a lanky frame, and, most agree, a lot of game.

Four games into his career with the Carolina Hurricanes, Sutter has assisted on a game-winning goal, been a part of two victories, played against the Detroit Red Wings and come within an inch or so of scoring his first NHL goal against, well, the defending Stanley Cup champions.

"It's been pretty crazy," he said, sounding pretty much like any other teenager.

Sutter, the Canes' first-round draft choice in 2007, arrived at training camp last month from Red Deer, Alberta, with the intent of making the roster. While the center has a rich hockey pedigree -- his father, Brent, is coach of the New Jersey Devils and Brandon is the ninth family member to be drafted into the NHL -- he had to prove himself, earn his spot.

"The one thing I noticed about him versus the other young guys is that he's not nervous at all," said Dan LaCouture, an NHL veteran who came to camp as an unsigned free agent and made the team. "In my first training camp, I was 20 and nervous as all heck. You're in the locker room with men, guys who have kids.

"But Brandon wasn't nervous. He has a lot of poise."

For Sutter, training camp would be a blur of practices, weight training, charter flights, preseason games, nights at the Crabtree Marriott, protein shakes, text messages from buddies back home, faceoff tips from Hall of Famer Ron Francis, special teams meetings, media interviews.

Then, it was on to the regular season. His first regular-season NHL game was against the Florida Panthers at the RBC Center, and Sutter had an assist on LaCouture's winning goal in a 6-4 win.

An NHL point. In his first game.

"He seems years ahead, development-wise and in terms of his maturity," forward Wade Brookbank said. "He plays like he's been in the league for years.

"It may be a cliche, but as people say, it's in his genes."

A head for the game

The calls show up on Sutter's Blackberry simply as "Dad." Brandon and his father speak almost daily, though Brent Sutter's schedule is pretty full.

"Usually typical father-son stuff," Brent Sutter said. "I am the dad of a son trying to make it on an NHL team, so I am a big fan of his.

"Brandon has been around the NHL since he was a little guy, around in that environment. He's always been a sponge to everything that happens. But I try to help. I went through things as a player and had experience in a lot of training camps. I'd try to offer things to help him."

And Dad's advice?

"Be the best player you can be, every day," Brent said. "He's a smart, intelligent player who knows how to play the game. He just needs to be the best he can be."

At 6 feet 3 and a lean 183 pounds, Brandon is not a bruising type who can physically impose his will on the ice. See him in the locker room in his red Under Armour T-Shirt, gray shorts and sneakers and he looks like a shooting guard on one of the local college basketball teams.

"To be honest, just getting him through the rigors of camp and maintaining his weight was a big thing," said Pete Friesen, the team's strength and conditioning coach.

Sutter's hockey game is about hustle and smarts. It's about being in the right place, making the right play.

"He's never been a kid to put up 100 points in a season," Brent said. "And he's not the biggest guy, although when he's 22 he could be 200 or 210 pounds.

"But what he lacks in size he makes up for in intelligence. He picks things up quickly. As a coach, you can put him in every situation."