MONTREAL -- The Canes' Brandon Sutter, knocked unconscious Saturday in the New York Islanders game, returned to Raleigh by train on Monday.
Sutter, who suffered a concussion, was released from a Long Island hospital on Sunday and spent Sunday night with his father, Brent, the coach of the New Jersey Devils.
"Brandon will be fine," Brent Sutter said today in an interview. "He's still suffering from whip-lash symptoms and is sore, but he was feeling much better (Monday) and was in a good state of mind, and his improvement is significant.
"He loves his team and is proud to be a Hurricane. He wants to get back as soon as he can."
Sutter was injured after a big hit to the head from the Islanders Doug Weight, a former Hurricane. He was reaching for the puck near mid-ice and put his head down just before Weight slammed into him with his shoulder.
"He was playing really well and I think he was starting to get confidence in what he was doing out there," forward Ray Whitney said after today's practice at the Bell Centre. "He got caught on the wrong end of something that was legal. It was hard and it's going to affect him for a little bit coming back."
What can be done to prevent such hits?
"If the league fined players where any blow to a man's head that causes that kind of injury came with a significant suspension, maybe," Whitney said. "It's also the duty of the player not to put himself in that position, but unfortunately if he does, it's up to the other player to realize that and maybe not hit him.
"It's a gray area because I don't know that at the speed we're going, and in Dougie and Brandon's situation, if that would have mattered. It's a gray area and you don't want to put it in other people's hands because once you put it in the league's hands, a lot will depend on the player. They're not going to suspend the superstars.
"It's a tough topic for the league. But I think with the speed and size of the players now we have to do something that makes players consciously think about not taking a hit to somebody's head."
Canes captain Rod Brind'Amour said it's as much a player issue as a league issue.
"Guys have got to know when guys are in vulnerable positions and you've got to know where not to take liberties on guys," he said.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
There was no way this was
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 11:00 — Anonymous (not verified)There was no way this was "accidental"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhepQWlvQKs
Someone explain to me what
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 08:54 — Anonymous (not verified)Someone explain to me what difference Gillies would have made over Brookbank? Neither would have been on the ice. Neither would have been sent out onto the ice. Gillies is probably the better fighter of the two, but that's not the point. It wasn't like Brookbank failed to do his job. He was never even given an opportunity to do it.
Someone should have been run after that hit, and it didn't have to be Weight. But first and foremost, PLEASE get rid of the instigator penalty already! Or get a coach that doesn't care when our guys take that penalty to stand up for their teammates.
No Respect
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 22:16 — gmwannabeeI am tired of seeing our players drilled in the head whether it is legal or not..and not seeing anybody take the gloves off. Gillies should have made the team, I will take him over Brookbank. When players used to have no helmets..they respected one another more. I mean...Weight drilled Sutter..and then almost tied the game with a Penalty Shot. He should have been taking that shot with a few welts. The team needs to stick up for players. I would rather have a few guys in the box after a hit like that for sending a message. Orpik still needs to get flattened. Bring up a DMan that will put someone into the first row.
Actually I was thinking 3rd
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 22:52 — Anonymous (not verified)Actually I was thinking 3rd row...
Come on Luke......
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 20:06 — canesgirl (not verified)Luke, we get that you're doing the hockey player stance and sticking up for your colleague, however, you have to admit, it's extremely curious that all of the word coming out about the Sutter hit, have come from every media source but the N&O. Canada had TSN all over this, and the Devils bloggers and NJ media were all well into putting in their two cents before we heard a peep from our own so-called Canes beat writer.
Chip had HUGE shoes to fill when you left this post and moved on- he's not even in the game, let alone filling your shoes. The coverage of the Canes is poor at best since the change happened, and you have to admit yourself, that you would have been all over this from all angles, and with tons of updates. This blog has taken several steps back, and is completely uninformative. It used to be the go to source for anything Canes now, for me, and many people I know, it's an after thought.
Of course my post won't even make it on the blog, but sometimes the truth hurts. Plus, we have esteban to play happy cheerleader on every post that comes from Chip.
A happy Cheerleader ??
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 10:08 — esteban1949Oh Please !! i don't know about how you were taught to look at things in life and by whom. But do remember dear lady, that unless you have the credentials to back up what you feel more better at, or a Phd in journalism, minoring in sports reporting, then please give alittle credit where is credit is due. So what if Chip or anyone else never ever gets a pulitzer prize for sports reporting at least and even though that is his job and gets paid for it...to try to do his best to keep us the ever fickle fan informed. trust me Chip doesn't need me or anyone of us to back him up! All i have done was let him know that I as a fan...appreciate his and when luke was here the efforts made. because either one of them can get into places and with players none of us here could ever get to ...So you dear lady and everyone else here think I'm a cheerleader for the free press...oh please where you any of you in the 60's prostesting against what was really a terrible situation...the advent of the liberal press who would by inuendo find you guilty of anything...in the jury of the pubic opinion...Chip may not be what some would like as a fortune 100 type of reporter...but again...he gets his job done..good or bad...and he still has his job...
and that's the bottom line...
Go Canes !
Oh come now Chip...
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 13:51 — acidqueenThere's no need to hide behind your sockpuppet any longer. Put esteban away, man up, and defend your posts yourself. ;)
Just sayin'. Drily, of course.
Amen !!
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 18:58 — esteban1949relax and remember sir...your Father's been there and Done that ! Thanks for the info Chip !
Go Canes,Rats & Lethbridge Too!!
Nice job
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 18:04 — Anonymous (not verified)So comments from a person who disparages peoples' culture & religion are not considered offensive, but criticizing the N&O or its' writers are forbidden?
More outstanding work!!!
In case Brandon is reading...
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 18:00 — hctimo787Brandon, take your time and get well 100% before trying to come back. It's not worth rushing back, especially this early into the season. We're gonna need you at 100% when you come back! Glad to hear the prognosis is pretty good. Get well soon.
The head shot was an
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 17:47 — Anonymous (not verified)The head shot was an accident. Taking out Sutter was not. The replay is clear on that. Weight had Sutter lined up well before he reached for the puck -- head down.
Why do the Hurricanes lose Cullen, Cole, Sutter et al to big hits? They are small and the coach doesn't use Brookbank et.al. often enough. Weights next shift -- Brookbank should have been sent. Teams abuse the Hurricane players because they can.
Well Said!
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 08:43 — W Stout (not verified)These kind of incidents should be blamed on Coach L & management...Brookbank should have been on the ice and Conboy should have been brought up the next day.
I know Doug Weight is a good guy - but someone should have been made an example of before we play a goon team that thinks they can get away with that type of incident.
Something can be said about being the "Hanson Brothers" every so often.
When should Brookbank have
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 12:31 — DMarlow (not verified)When should Brookbank have been on the Ice? When it happened? We were killing a penalty, no room for Brookbank. Immediatly after it happened? Now killing a 5-3 penalty because the ref penalized Bayda for sticking up for his teammate, again, no room for Brookbank.
Next even strength shift? Yes lets furthor risk losing by having Brookbank get an instigator penalty and putting us down a man. Not to mention the Isle coach isnt about to put Weight on the ice when we send Brookbank out.
The rest of that game was about surviving and squeaking out a win. Next time we play New York we can handle settling the score.
Chip, thank your readers
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 17:43 — Anonymous (not verified)Chip, thank your readers for all their assistance with your job! Love how the comment with the link to the original story (which you don't even site for credit) now appears under the Monday debate - after this gets posted.
I'll do it for you:
http://njmg.typepad.com/devilsblog/2008/10/brandon-sutter-improving.html
what morons like you do not
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 09:24 — Anonymous (not verified)what morons like you do not realize it that as of this year teams no long HAVE to disclose injury information to ANYBODY.
Rained on Parade - To Anonymous
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 21:04 — esteban1949Are you related to anyone on the 20 mule team ? You're acting like a "rookie"! Besides if you are so good...head your blessed assurance down the N&O and apply for The Job...If you think you can do better than Chip or Luke...The put your 25 years of experience,wisdom and know-how on the line ...esteban skates off in total amazement that anyone would be or stoop as low as a cheap shot like that...Midnight Student !!! ...No Class !!!
Estaban
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 07:14 — Anonymous (not verified)You need professional help. Your posts are that of a mental patient or someone who's been knocked out repeatedly.
Seeing as how Chip spoke
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 19:41 — ldecockSeeing as how Chip spoke with Brent Sutter himself today, I don't see how any credit is due.
For the record, had the N&O taken quotes from that blog post, they would have been credited as such. We do not pass off other people's reporting as our own.
I think folks are
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 09:38 — Anonymous (not verified)I think folks are frustrated with the timeliness of blog postings. It's irritating that other outlets - some of which don't even cover hockey professionally - seem to consistently have information on the team before our local paper's site. (BTW I'm a subscriber to the print edition of the N&O as well.) This is a highly emotional time in Caniac Nation & that can lead to reactionary & thoughtless comments - but that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. I think most of us understand these are rough times for all reporters & appreciate everyone's hard work. But it took time & experience for you to round into the excellent hockey reporter you are. I don't expect any different for Chip & I don't think it's unreasonable for readers to speak up when they see issues they'd like addressed.
Anyway! As far as the head hits issue, there's a great piece in today's Globe & Mail. Guy Carbonneau & others are interviewed.
"'Blows to the head shouldn't be part of hockey'
SEAN GORDON AND ERIC DUHATSCHEK
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
October 28, 2008 at 12:05 AM EDT
A recent spate of injury-causing, dubious hits is prompting calls — led by Montreal Canadiens head coach Guy Carbonneau — for the NHL to better protect players from head shots.
"The league has to do something," Carbonneau said after practice yesterday. "This makes no sense to me. Blows to the head shouldn't be part of hockey."
Carbonneau pointed to a hit against Habs forward Andrei Kostitsyn by Phoenix Coyotes defenceman Kurt Sauer, one on Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matt Stajan by Boston Bruins defenceman Dennis Wideman and one on Carolina Hurricanes rookie Brandon Sutter by Doug Weight of the New York Islanders as recent examples of dangerous blows levelled at players in vulnerable positions.
In each case, no penalty was assessed."
article:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081028.wspt_head27/BNStory/Sports/?page=rss&id=..wspt_head27
This comment process is
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 11:07 — ldecockThis comment process is open, in part, for you to share your criticisms (constructive, I would hope) of our coverage.
But you accused Chip of stealing quotes, which he did not do. I could not let that unfounded accusation go unanswered.
To clarify, I was not the
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 16:46 — Anonymous (not verified)To clarify, I was not the person who accused Chip of stealing quotes, I was explaining my viewpoint in general. I just replied to your post.
Fair enough. Let me
Wed, 10/29/2008 - 12:20 — ldecockFair enough. Let me rephrase: Chip was accused of stealing quotes, which he did not.
That being said, I encourage you to register instead of posting anonymously to remove any confusion in the future.