Brett Sutter Brett Darryl Sutter ( born June 2 , 1987 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League . Sutter was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the 6th round , 179th overall , in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft , and traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on November 17 , 2010 . He made his NHL debut for the Flames during the 2008 – 09 season , scoring a goal in his first game . He is the son of former Flames general manager Darryl Sutter , and the eighth member of the famous Sutter family to play in the NHL . Playing career . Western Hockey League . Sutter played four Western Hockey League ( WHL ) seasons with the Kootenay Ice and Red Deer Rebels between 2003 and 2007 . During his time in Red Deer , he played with his cousin Brandon , and was coached by his uncle Brent Sutter . He was the Rebels ' team captain in his final season of junior in 2006 – 07 , and posted a career high 28 goals . Calgary Flames . He turned professional in 2007 – 08 . Sutter was one of the Flames ' final cuts prior to the season , and was assigned to their American Hockey League ( AHL ) affiliate , the Quad City Flames , where he recorded four goals and ten points in 75 games . Sutter earned more ice time throughout the season as he adapted to the speed of the professional game . Sutter returned to Quad City for the start of the 2008 – 09 AHL season . He recorded one goal and six assists in 28 games prior to joining the Flames . Sutter was recalled by the Flames on December 22 , 2008 from Quad City , in a move that generated interest as his father is the Flames general manager . " Everybody makes a big deal about his last name , but there ' s been lots ( of Sutters ) before him and will be ones after him , " Darryl Sutter said . The Flames stated that he was recalled on merit , and to fill a specific role with the team . He made his NHL debut on December 23 , 2008 against the Anaheim Ducks , and scored a goal while being named the game ' s third star . Sutter played three games with the Flames before being returned to Quad City . Though he spent the majority of 2009 – 10 with the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL , Sutter appeared in ten NHL games with the Flames that season . He stuck with the Flames out of training camp as an extra forward to begin the 2010 – 11 NHL season ; however he was a healthy scratch for most games , dressing for only 4 of the Flames ' first 16 games . On November 11 , he was arrested in Scottsdale , Arizona after allegedly punching a cab driver outside of a bar the night before the Flames ' were to play the Phoenix Coyotes . Less than a week later , he and Ian White were traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for Anton Babchuk and Tom Kostopoulos . Carolina Hurricanes . Immediately following his trade from Calgary to Carolina , Sutter was assigned to the Hurricanes ' top AHL affiliate , the Charlotte Checkers . On October , 6 , 2011 he was named the Checkers team captain for the 2011 - 2012 season . Family . Upon making his NHL debut on December 23 , 2008 , Brett became the eighth member of the Sutter family to play in the NHL . Along with his father , Darryl , his uncles Brent , Brian , Duane , Rich and Ron all played in the NHL , while his cousin Brandon is currently an alternate captain of the Carolina Hurricanes . Another cousin , Shaun , was also a draft pick of the Flames in 1998 , and is playing professionally in Europe . Two of his other cousins , Brody and Lukas are currently playing in the Western Hockey League . Brett ' s selection by the Flames , 179th overall , was coincidentally the same spot at which his father was drafted . Darryl was claimed by the Chicago Blackhawks , 179th overall , in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft . Brett is the middle child of former Flames ' GM Darryl Sutter and wife Wanda . He has an older sister ( Jessica ) and younger brother ( Christopher ) . Christopher was diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth .