ST. LOUIS -- Brian Sutter, a veteran leftwing for the St. Louis Blues, today was named coach of the team, becoming the youngest coach in the NHL at 31 years old.
He will retire as a player and replace Jacques Martin, who was fired last month after two years with the team and a 66-71-23 record.
'It took us a long time to decide, but we came to the conclusion that Brian could do it -- with the right help,' Blues General Manager Ron Caron said. 'Brian is coming to the Blues with his heart, drive and enthusiasm.'
Bob Berry, an NHL coaching veteran, was named Sutter's first assistant. Berry will handle the offense and serve as Sutter's tutor. Joe Micheletti, a former teammate of Sutter's, will be retained as assistant in charge of defense.
'We're going to be instilling some new things,' said Sutter, who played 12 years for the Blues. 'Teaching is the easy part. Practice is the hard part. I know I can do the job.'
Sutter said he wavered between accepting the job and continuing to play. He said that he finally decided to take the job because 'I was afraid they would hire somebody who wouldn't take us in the right direction.'
Sutter will be the NHL's highest paid coach, for one year at least. He has one year remaining on his player contract that will pay him $280,000 for the coming year. His three-year coaching contract is expected to be negotiated at a lower level.
Sutter, a three-time All-Star and one of the team's most popular players, is the Blues' second-leading scorer with 636 points.
He has had no formal coaching experience. However, three years ago while recuperating from a shoulder injury he helped Jacques Demers replace Barclay Plager. Last season, after reinjuring the shoulder, he replaced Plager, who died of cancer in February.
Berry, 44, has spent three years each in Los Angeles, Montreal and Pittsburgh, compiling a 311-292-100 record. He was fired by Pittsburgh in 1987.
'Brian was the best possible candidate for this job,' Berry said. 'I sat out last year, and as the season progressed, it got harder and harder for me. I decided I had to get back in at any level. I am here to do all I can, and hopefully my experience will be able to help Brian.'
Sutter will be asked to revitalize a team recognized for young talent but unable to reach the upper division of the league.
'We're going to be a hard-working team,' Sutter said. 'We're going to hit and we're going to protect our end of the ice.'
Sutter was not the first choice for the job. He became the leading contender after Mike Keenan, fired by Philadelphia, chose Chicago over a similar offer from St. Louis. Also considered was college coach Gino Gasparini of North Dakota.
