Friedman: Sutter, Canucks negotiate extension

As Irfaan Gaffar reports Brandon Sutter has a good chance for an increased role with the Canucks after playing the last few seasons behind Crosby and Malkin on the depth chart.

Two days after acquiring Brandon Sutter from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Nick Bonino and Adam Clendening, the Canucks may be close to signing their new centre to a contract extension.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, there is still work to be done between the two sides, but a five-year deal at around a $4.4 million cap hit is expected to be the final rate.

Sutter is entering the final year of a two-year contract that pays him $3.3 million against the cap. Currently 26 years old, Sutter turns 27 in February of 2016 and would be eligible for unrestricted free agency next July.

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A checking centreman, Sutter scored a career-high 21 goals and 33 points for the Penguins this past season. In 495 career NHL games, he has 98 goals and 185 points.

Sutter was originally picked by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round (11th overall) of the 2007 NHL Draft. Carolina traded Sutter to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2012 for Jordan Staal, Brian Dumoulin, and the eighth pick in the 2012 draft.

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