Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Former Red Wing Suter Signs With Vancouver

Originally posted on Detroit Hockey Now | By Kevin Allen | Last updated 8/11/23

Pius Suter received the two-year NHL contract he wanted, but had to accept a significant pay cut to get it.

The Canucks signed Suter to a two-year $3.2 million deal with yearly salaries of $1.6 million. He earned $3.75 million playing for the Red Wings in 2022-23. That was part of a two-year contract that paid him $6.5 million over two seasons.

Sources said the Red Wings were interested in retaining Suter, but only on a one-year deal. He was looking for the security of a multi-year deal.

The Red Wings appreciated smaller center Suter’s versatility, and his all-around game. He can kill penalties, and move up and down the lines if needed. He can play on a scoring line or a checking line. Detroit coaches and teammates appreciated his professional approach..

The Vancouver Canucks have signed Pius Suter to a 2-year, $3.2M contract. pic.twitter.com/L0hdkN5ijB

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 11, 2023

“He filled a lot of quality roles for us,” Coach Derek Lalonde said. “That’s certainly a credit for him. A lot of it out of necessity and a lot of it a credit to him. Very useful player. Where he fits in going into the future, where he fits in in the league, I don’t know. That’s the layer, management-coach. But obviously, the way I used him down the stretch speaks volumes for what he did for us.”

But the Red Wings were also looking to get bigger, and Suter is only 5-foot-11 on a very tall day. He has been a consistent offensive contributor, scoring 14 or 15 goals in all three of NHL seasons. The Swiss native played a season with the Blackhawks before coming to Detroit.

The Canucks were looking for a forward who could provide some secondary scoring. The Red Wings knew they were making some changes and they needed roster spots.

This article first appeared on Detroit Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission.

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