No special treatment for coach's son

I asked several Devils today what they would do Tuesday night if they have to go into the corner with Carolina's rookie center Brandon Sutter -- who happens to be the 19-year-old son of Devils coach Brent Sutter.

Center Bobby Holik gave the best answer.

"I kill him," he said.

Holik paused for a moment and then joked, "Oh, you said Brandon Sutter. Then, I give him the puck and skate away."

All joking aside, the Devils said they would treat their coach's son just like any other member of the Hurricanes.

"You've got to do what you do," forward Mike Rupp said. "I'm supposed to finish hits, so I have to finish my hit."

"The game is so fast, you don't really think about who's out there against you," Holik said.

I asked goaltender Scott Clemmensen if there will be more pressure on him to keep the coach's son from scoring Tuesday night.

"Maybe there will be less pressure because (Brent Sutter) won't be as mad (if Brandon scores)," Clemmensen joked.

Sutter laughed when he heard that.

"It's an awkward thing because neither of us have been in this situation before," he admitted. "As a dad, I'm very proud of him, as I am all of my kids. It's different than playing against a brother. It's just different. It's your own son."

I'll have more on the Brent Sutter-Brandon Sutter matchup, including some comments from Brandon, in my article in Tuesday's Record.

***

I posted this information earlier, but someone asked, so I figured I'd post it again.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Brent and Brandon Sutter will be the fifth father-son combination in NHL history to face each other as head coach and opposing player.

The other four were: Andy Murray and Brady Murray, Rik Wilson and Landon Wilson, Bill Dineen and Gord Dineen and Bob Johnson and Mark Johnson.

Comments

[Sohl]

hahahaha oh Bobby.

[DevsFanInTX]

Holik rules.

[FOTC]

Oh Bobby...think of all the fun we would have had the past few years if Sather never offered you $9M/season.

[Adrienne]

LOL
This is why I love ya, Holik.

[JerseyLove]

Hahahaha, I <3 Bobby. I'm sure it sounded even funnier with his voice.

[Kris]

There have probably been other father and son match ups like this I assume, so if there were, who were they?

[Tom Gulitti]

I put up the information on the NHL father-son matchups on earlier post today, but I just added it to the end of this post because you asked. The Sutters will be the fifth father-son duo to face each other as coach and player.

[Johnny SB]

What # does Sutter's kid wear?

[Scott E]

"Sutter laughed when he heard that."

Look, I think Brent is doing a fine job as a coach, but in any interviews I've ever seen with the guy, I honestly cannot picture the guy laughing.

At least the jokes by Holik and Clemmensen, both relatively new to the team (this time around) shows that there's a lighthearted, comfortable atmosphere around the locker room. Which is good.

[Kris]

thanks TG, i must have skipped over it

[Puckster]

Sutter laughed? Then the story can't be true. Is it April 1st already?

[Tom Gulitti]

I believe Brandon Sutter is No. 16

[NWKDevilsFan]

Can someone please keep track of "Bobby quotes" this season?? I think it would be great to have a compilation. His one about music was classic as well - "music means nothing to me"

[Kellyn]

"I kill him."

Bobby Holik gives some of the best quotes I've ever heard from a hockey player.

[Keith]

some other good holik quotes

http://thinkexist.com/quotes/bobby_holik/

[tuckerturner]

I'm sure the coach will drive him as hard or harder because of being his son. I hope if he slips up with drugs or alcohol he will be treated as any other player would be. I'm sure he will get a family drug intervention just like any one else. His game better be on, or I'm sure he will hear it from his teammates.