Updated Sep 18, 2015 at 1:31p ET
New Canuck Brandon Sutter has yet to step foot on the ice in a Vancouver sweater, but the organization has already dubbed him a foundation player. It seems then that this new marriage between player and team is starting off well even if there are some nerves.
"You’re always nervous coming in — it’s like your first day in a new school," Sutter said to the Vancouver Province of attending his first training camp with the Canucks. "But I couldn’t find a better fit and it was almost perfect. They made a very generous decision to offer the contract, and I don’t know how I could turn that down."
The Canucks acquired Sutter on July 28 in a trade which sent forward Nick Bonino and prospect Adam Clendening to the Penguins. The trade was the second of 26-year-old Sutter's career, but this time, Sutter is looking to establish a more permanent home for himself.
To do so, Sutter will likely need to step up production-wise. The center has recorded more than 20 goals in a season just twice in his career. The first time came in his rookie season, and Sutter also posted 21 goals last season in 80 games with the Penguins. He is a skilled player in the faceoff circle, however, as Sutter led the Penguins last season with a 50.6 faceoff win percentage.
There is more room for Sutter to succeed on the scoreboard in Vancouver, as he will likely play the role of second-line center, but it is up to Sutter to make the most of the opportunity. No matter what, Sutter will control his own destiny. He signed a five-year, $21.875 million contract extension with the Canucks shortly after the trade and has a no-trade clause through the first three years of the new contract as well as a modified no-trade clause in the final two seasons.
(h/t Vancouver Province)
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