SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 15 -- The San Jose Sharks retained a key veteran Wednesday as they re-signed four-time All-Star defenseman Gary Suter, who was an unrestricted free agent.
His contract terms of the deal were not made public.
A recent addition to Team USA for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Suter, 37, collected 10 goals and 24 assists in 68 games last season, leading San Jose defensemen in goals, assists and points. He played in his 1,000th career game on Oct. 25 at Columbus and scored the game-winning goal in a 3-1 Sharks victory. He posted his 600th career assist on Jan. 6 against Florida.
In two seasons with the Sharks, Suter has netted 16 goals and 52 assists in 145 contests. He ranks fifth all-time among Sharks defensemen with a plus-minus rating of plus-15.
Suter also has played for the Calgary Flames (1985-94) and Chicago Blackhawks (1994-98). He earned All-Star nominations in 1986, '88, '89 and 1991. He also was selected in 1996 but withdrew because of injury.
The two-time U.S. Olympian missed the 1998-99 season due to a career-threatening arm injury. He underwent three surgical procedures to repair a damaged right tricep tendon, an injury further complicated by a staph infection in his tendon.
Suter won a Stanley Cup in 1989 with the Flames and claimed the 1986 Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie. He was a member of the gold medal-winning Team USA at the 1996 World Cup and shares the NHL single-game record for assists by a defenseman (six).
Originally an eighth-round selection (180th overall) in the 1984 draft, Suter has 197 goals and 614 assists with 1,292 penalty minutes in 1,063 games.
