According to Edmonton Oilers color commentator Bob Stauffer, Brandon Sutter is expected to join the Edmonton Oilers on a professional tryout offer for 2023-24.
Sutter last played in the NHL with Vancouver during the 2020-21 season, scoring nine goals and 12 points. Four months ago, in an interview with the popular online show Donnie and Dhali, Sutter revealed his struggles of his life with long-COVID that has kept him out of the game since May 2021.
“Finally starting to feel better, making some progress,” Sutter said in March about dealing with long COVID. “It’s been a long road for sure, got to learn more about my immune system than I ever thought I would, but I’m starting to see some light in the tunnel for sure and just becoming a good dad again and starting to come around for sure.”
Drafted 11th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2007, Sutter has managed to build a career based on shutting down opponents and being a reliable two-way forward. Scoring was never his strong suit, but the 6-foot-3, 190-pound winger knew a thing or two about getting in the way of scoring lanes.
Sutter made his NHL debut in 2008 with the Hurricanes and would spend four years there, scoring a career-high 21 goals and 40 points during the 2009-10 season. He’d then go on to play for Pittsburgh from 2013-15 before ending up in Vancouver for a six-year run. He last signed a one-year deal to play with the Canucks in 2021-22, but never suited up due to the effects of long-COVID.
Sutter has 289 career points in 770 games over 13 NHL seasons. Sutter also helped Canada win gold at the 2008 world juniors, among other international adventures.
He has been an alternate captain for every team’s he has played for, and has generally been a fan favorite. An NHL comeback at 34 after two seasons away would definitely be a popular one around the league.
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