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Dallas Stars sign Ryan Suter to a 4-year deal

The Dallas Stars sign Ryan Suter to a 4-year deal with a $3.625M AAV

In the NHL’s modern history, few players have deserved the title of workhorse defenseman more than Suter.

A First-Team NHL All-Star and Norris Trophy runner-up with the Minnesota Wild in 2012-13, Suter has often ranked among the League leaders in ice time.

The Nashville Predators first-round pick (No. 7) in the 2003 NHL Draft, the Madison, Wisconsin, native had bloodlines to succeed. His late father, Bob, won gold with the United States in the “Miracle on Ice” at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. His uncle Gary Suter was a Stanley Cup champion, Calder Trophy winner and played in four NHL All-Star Games.

Suter spent two seasons with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. After being drafted, he played one season at the University of Wisconsin and then a season with Milwaukee of the American Hockey League.

A gifted skater and passer with a physical dimension to his game, Suter had a productive NHL debut, getting an assist on Nashville’s first goal of the 2005-06 season. It would be the first of four points Suter scored as the Predators reeled off eight straight wins to start the season.

He finished his rookie season with a goal and 16 points and, perhaps most importantly, a new teammate in Shea Weber, a fellow 2003 draft pick by Nashville. Suter and Weber would become one of the NHL’s best defense pairs over a six-season run. From 2006-07 through 2011-12, they formed the backbone of a Predators team that never finished with fewer than 88 points and made the Stanley Cup Playoffs five times.

Suter’s pass-first game melded perfectly with Weber’s big shot. During their time together Suter ranked 14th among NHL defensemen with 185 assists. Suter played a huge role in helping Weber top all NHL defensemen with 97 goals over that period.

Suter was a gold medalist with the United States at the 2004 World Junior Championship and assistant captain of the American team that won silver at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. On July 4, 2012, he and U.S. teammate Zach Parise each signed a 13-year, $98 million free-agent contract to join the Minnesota Wild, with whom Suter’s already-heavy workload actually increased. Suter averaged at least 26:42 per game in each of his first seven seasons with Minnesota, and his 29:25 per game in 2013-14 is the most by any player since the NHL began tracking ice time in 1997-98.

Igor Burdetskiy

Igor Burdetskiy

Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & CEO at Hooked on Hockey Magazine
I grew up playing Ball and Roller Hockey day and night somewhat religiously throughout elementary and middle school. The two don't compare though when I lace up the skates and hit the ice. I live and breathe hockey beyond the perspective of "it's just a game" and I will gladly talk hockey for hours with anyone. Hockey is more than just a lifestyle, it's a culture of passionate people who make memories every time the puck is dropped. Hockey has not only helped me get through some of the hardest times in life but has created some of the best memories to date. Want to talk hockey with me? Shoot me an email: iburdetskiy@hookedonhockey.com and let's talk some hockey!
Igor Burdetskiy
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