Brandon Sutter and Canucks Agree to New Contract: Latest Details and Reaction

The Vancouver Canucks announced on Tuesday that they signed forward Brandon Sutter to a five-year extension in which he will receive an average of $4.375 million per season. 

Sutter was dealt to the Canucks along with a third-round pick on July 28 by the Pittsburgh Penguins for Nick Bonino, Adam Clendening and a 2016 second-round selection. 

Playing on Pittsburgh's third line in 2014, Sutter recorded 21 goals and 12 assists for 33 points last year, his most productive season since 2009-10—his second year in the NHL, when he was with the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Sportsnet Stats revealed Sutter's projected $4.375M salary in 2016-17 is the highest among NHL forwards who have never reached 40 points in a season.

A special teams extraordinaire, Sutter is capable of controlling the faceoff circle, winning 50.6 percent of his draws in 2014 while becoming invaluable on the penalty kill. He ranked second in the league last season with four short-handed goals. 

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin forced Sutter to see third-line hockey with the Penguins, but he should get more time in Vancouver. Expect to see him on a second line flanked by wingers such as Alexandre Burrows and Sven Baertschi. 

The 26-year-old Sutter will have a mix of experience on either side of him on a Canucks team that is searching to mount a serious run in the Western Conference. Burrows is 34, while Baertschi is 22. Sutter's experience on a powerful side like Pittsburgh will bring an added winning mentality to Vancouver, who lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Calgary Flames.     

Stats courtesy of Hockey-Reference.com.