I agree with DS about Sutter being the most improved player. Without a doubt!
I ragged on him constantly at the beginning of the season....his mistakes were extremely obvious and he never seemed to be in the right place at the right time. If I had a quarter for every time I said he should be sent to Vegas....
Then it was like he suddenly "got it"....though I'm not sure how it happened. He was hitting, scrambling in the corners, playing in front of the net, actually scoring, assisting on goals, and making valuable contributions. By the end of the season, he had become one of my team favorites, and definitely my favorite rookie. Not a superstar, but a guy who was a positive addition, who could be counted on to work hard and not make a ton of mistakes.
A couple of things that stand out about Sutter. Off the ice, he's a great kid. Funny, personable, gracious....awesome to have around. And during pre-game warmups he was always, and I do mean ALWAYS, the last guy to leave the ice....and always after the buzzer. He was out there working his tail off, trying to improve.
I'd say he needs another year or so, but with the progress that he's made so far, who knows??
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