Jersey Poll - All Time #20

[codynw]

Is Ryan Suter at all related to Gary? I would assume yes, but I really have no idea.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by codynw

Is Ryan Suter at all related to Gary? I would assume yes, but I really have no idea.

Gary's his uncle.

[FlatLandFlamesFan]

No doubt here , even though be was overshadowed by Chopper . Great D-man

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

If you watch the 86' Oiler series game 7 video that was posted here a while ago, it's evident how good of a skater Suter was. There were a bunch of hall-of-famers in that game, but Suter was one of the few players who wouldn't look out of place on the ice today. And because MacInnis had the legendary shot, people forget that Suter also had an excellent point shot. Hard, accurate. The pair of them on a powerplay was an absolute nightmare for goalies.

Back in those days the Flames would be on the powerplay and they'd be passing it back and forth and because everyone in the stands knew way more about playing hockey, the fans would get impatient with the both of them, hollering "shoot", "Shoot", "SHOOOOOT the goddamn puck!"

Good thing they didn't listen to us, because they seemed to know what they were doing.

Also, someone mentioned above that Suter didn't play defence and never learned how to do it right in Calgary. I don't really remember it that way. I mean sure, he was no Ray Bourque, but it was the 80's (mostly), and defence was pretty loosey-goosey all around.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Saying he had to be paired with one of the best defensive defencemen the Flames ever had to be effective, doesn't say much for your argument that he was elite.

He didn't have to be paired with McCrimmon to be effective. The guy played on two Canada Cup teams, a World Cup team, and two Olympic teams.

As for being elite, well he was no Curtis Glencross - I'll grant you that. Hard to figure why was named to the second all-star team in 87-88, though. Rigged voting?

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

He didn't have to be paired with McCrimmon to be effective. The guy played on two Canada Cup teams, a World Cup team, and two Olympic teams.

As for being elite, well he was no Curtis Glencross - I'll grant you that. Hard to figure why was named to the second all-star team in 87-88, though. Rigged voting?

I guess I'm just slightly biased against players who can't or won't play a two way game, especially a defenceman.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I always looked at Suter as the perfect compliment to MacInnis. Leave MacInnis open, and he blasts the puck through the goalie. Leave Suter open, and he will skate it right into the net. Suter was fairly decent at defence too - he was probably the 'defensive' defencemen on that pairing. Was he a shut-down D? No. He wasn't perfect, but he was more than even just passable.

Besides, with Suter-MacInnis, Roberts-Nieuwendyk-Loob all on the ice, who the heck needs to play defence? The other team, that's who!

Anyways, easily the pick this round by far. One of the best defencemen of all time (so underrated), who had his best seasons in Calgary. I love Huselius, but he wasn't a consideration for me at all. Glencross I think gets murdered on these forums unjustly at times (dude is what he is, and always has been that inconsistent depth player), but no way I vote for him. Eloranta was my second choice based purely on name Murdoch I honestly don't even remember in Calgary.

[Vulcan]

IIRC the only time Suter and MacInnis played together was on the PP, so yeah they didn't need to be that defensively aware when together.

LOL, Skari Eloranta is your second choice?

[chopper89]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Gary's his uncle.

And Ryan's dad/Gary's brother, Bob, played for the US Olympic team on the Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid in 1980.

Not sure who he decapitated during that time, but probably some Russian dude.

[troutman]

No votes for Mud?

[btimbit]

Dallas Eakins