Brent Sutter inducted into Islanders' hall of fame

Brent Sutter, who won two Stanley Cups in 12 seasons with the Islanders after being selected 17th overall in 1980 and served as their captain from 1987-91, will be the 16th inductee into the team’s hall of fame, the organization announced on Friday.

He will be honored before the Islanders face the Sharks at UBS Arena on Jan. 18 and his name will also be unveiled in a new ring of honor at the Islanders’ home rink.

“We are honored to celebrate one of the all-time New York Islander greats, Brent Sutter,” president/general manager Lou Lamoriello, who once hired Sutter as the Devils’ coach, said in a statement. “Brent was a key member of the 1982 and 1983 Stanley Cup championship teams and was a leader, serving as the fourth team captain in club history. He took pride in his role and epitomized what an Islander is all about.”

Sutter, 62, one of six brothers to play in the NHL, becomes the first inductee into the Islanders’ Hall of Fame since John Tonelli and Butch Goring were honored in 2020.

Sutter, renowned for his faceoff skills, compiled 287 goals and 323 assists in 694 games for the Islanders before being dealt to Chicago on Oct. 25, 1991 when he and Brad Lauer were exchanged for Steve Thomas and Adam Creighton. In all, Sutter had 363 goals and 466 assists in 1,111 regular season games. He was the last active player from the Islanders’ 1980-83 Cup dynasty when he retired in 1998.

Sutter lifted the Cup with the Islanders in 1982 and 1983, notching 10 goals and 11 assists in 20 postseason games to help them to their final championship.

Sutter went on to coach both the Devils from 2007-09 and the Flames from 2009-2012 with his brother, Darryl, as Calgary’s GM.

Mike Bossy and Denis Potvin were the first inductees into the Islanders’ Hall of Fame in 1992. Billy Smith joined in 1993, Bob Nystrom in 1995 and Clark Gillies in 1996. Bryan Trottier and Stanley Cup architect Bill Torrey were inducted in 2001. Bob Bourne received his plaque in 2006, coach Al Arbour in 2007 and Ed Westfall and Ken Morrow were inducted in 2011. Pat Flatley and Kenny Jonsson went in in 2012 and, lastly prior to Sutter, Tonelli and Goring.

Potvin, Bossy, Smith, Nystrom, Gillies, Trottier, Tonelli and Goring all had their numbers retired and Arbour and Torrey also have banners raised at UBS Arena.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.