Family affair

Something was just not right last year in the NHL.

Sure, a crackdown on obstruction had allowed skill to show itself again. Young stars began making an impact like never before. And the hybrid Zamboni provided huge savings at the gas pump.

Still, all is not right in the world of frozen ponds unless there is that clear, unmistakable, demanding yet religiously loyal presence of a Sutter behind an NHL bench.

Brent Sutter has filled that void in New Jersey.

The 45-year-old member of Hockey's First Family, the fifth of seven Sutter siblings – six of whom combined to play more than 5,000 games in the NHL – is following in the footsteps of older brothers Brian, Darryl and Duane who have coached in the league.

Until this season, Darryl Sutter, 49, was last in the family to coach in the NHL. His 11-year run in Chicago, San Jose and Calgary ended when following the 2005-06 season he traded up for the general manager's seat with the Flames.

Before that, Brian Sutter, 51, paved the way as the first Sutter coach, and he did it for 13 seasons with St. Louis, Boston, Calgary and Chicago. Duane Sutter, 47, coached Florida for parts of two seasons.

The 44-year-old twins – Rich and Ron – remain content as pro scouts with Phoenix and Calgary, respectively.

It seemed only a matter of time for Brent Sutter, considering the success he was having the last couple years in the Canadian junior hockey system. Already sporting the reputation that comes with being a Sutter, not to mention 18 years of playing experience and two Stanley Cups, he had forged another avenue of success as well.

Brent Sutter became the first to coach Canada to consecutive gold medals on the world junior stage – 2005 and last season. During an eight-game Super Series against similar-aged Russians, his team won seven and tied one, extending Sutter's personal streak to 20 straight international junior contests without a loss.

All of this doesn't even get into his involvement with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League, a junior team he owns and previously served as president, general manager and coach. When Brent Sutter accepted the Devils' job in July, he lured Brian Sutter behind the Red Deer bench to keep it all in the family.

"When I was brought in here, I was brought in here to be me," Brent Sutter said of going to New Jersey. "You're obviously dealing with men that are playing at the pro level instead of kids dreaming to get there."

The first two months were interesting. Brent Sutter, raised in a family of confident, smart hockey minds that definitely does things their way, was now working for the most rigid GM in the league, Lou Lamoriello. Surely there would be some clashes between the two.

That might be the perception, but Sutters don't go into a challenge blind. In fact, they rarely, if ever, make a bad decision when it comes to this sort of stuff.

Some might have questioned Brent Sutter's abilities when the Devils broke slowly from the gate, but they never fell more than three games under .500. New Jersey recently ran off a nine-game winning streak – the longest in the NHL this season – to go from worst to first in the Atlantic Division and silence the early critics.

"We had to play our first nine games on the road," Brent Sutter said. "There have been a lot of changes between players and coaches and the trainers. We've had up to 17 personnel changes. There's been a lot of everyone to get acclimatized and get accustomed to each other."

The Devils are trying to do something that's not easily accomplished – retain their identity while star players move on. Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer and Brian Rafalski are not easily replaced; they were instrumental in building Martin Brodeur's reputation as the best goalie in the game.

Brodeur was knocked for his early-season play, but as his teammates have adjusted to a different forechecking system in the neutral zone while still making defensive-zone play the priority, he's starting to produce the kind of numbers that will make him a sure-fire Hall of Famer after he retires.

"Marty is finding his way now and is playing extremely well," Brent Sutter said. "You're getting goaltending and getting injured guys back."

Forward Jamie Langenbrunner and defenseman Colin White have returned, and that's made a difference. Young Zach Parise is right in the mold of past top Devils forwards – a player who produces yet is under-publicized.

And because New Jersey was out for the first nine games until final construction was complete and the doors of the Devils' new building in Newark opened, don't forget they now have a back-loaded schedule in terms of home games.

"It's always nice to have games down the stretch at home," Brent Sutter said. "We've dealt with some adversity. We handled it well. The guys stuck together. No one wavered.

"Now our game has gone up a notch, which was important. We like to think we have it going in the right direction."