Ryan Suter

Suter was born on January 21, 1985, in Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.{{cite web |title=Ryan Suter |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/8897/ryan-suter |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=July 18, 2023}} to parents Bob and Diane.{{cite web |last1=Russo |first1=Michael |title=Ryan Suter: Man of 1,000 games and almost as many business interests |url=https://theathletic.com/611896/2018/10/25/ryan-suter-wild-1000-games-business-interests-tom-sagissor/ |publisher=The Athletic |access-date=July 20, 2023 |date=October 25, 2018}} He grew up in Wisconsin alongside his younger brother Garrett while their father coached at the University of Wisconsin and their mother worked as an ice hockey administrator.{{cite news |last1=Graff |first1=Chad |title=Suter returns to boyhood rink for father's legacy |url=https://www.thedickinsonpress.com/sports/suter-returns-to-boyhood-rink-for-fathers-legacy |access-date=July 20, 2023 |publisher=The Dickinson Press |date=September 5, 2015}} Suter was born into an athletic family as his father was a member of the United States men's national ice hockey team at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games and his uncle Gary Suter was a professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Growing up, Suter played for the Madison Capitols and Culver Military Academy before joining the USA Hockey's National Development Team in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Following a change to the NCAA legislature, Suter was able to enroll and play at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW) while remaining eligible for the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.{{cite news |last1=Baggot |first1=Andy |title=NHL, Suter already on fire-name basis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-nhl-suter-alrea/128436789/ |access-date=October 5, 2023 |publisher=Wisconsin State Journal |date=May 27, 2003|via=newspapers.com}} He was eventually drafted seventh overall by the Nashville Predators in the NHL Entry Draft.{{cite news |last1=Lucas |first1=Mike |title=Suter's next step pure speculation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-suters-next-step-pure/128436842/ |access-date=October 5, 2023 |publisher=The Capital Times |date=June 23, 2003|via=newspapers.com}} Prior to returning to the Badgers, Suter participated in the Predators conditioning camp ahead of the 2003–04 season. As he signed a contract with the Badgers, Suter was required to pay for his own room and board while attending the camp.{{cite news |last1=Glennon |first1=John |last2=Cirillo |first2=Chip |title=Conditioning camp next for Suter, others |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-conditioning-camp-next-fo/128436920/ |access-date=October 5, 2023 |publisher=The Tennessean |date=June 23, 2003|via=newspapers.com}} Upon rejoining the Badgers, Suter was selected as the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) preseason Rookie of the Year.{{cite news |last1=Milewski |first1=Todd D. |title=Suter embraces low-key profile|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-suter-embraces-low-key/128436996/|access-date=October 5, 2023 |publisher=The Capital Times|date=October 2, 2003|via=newspapers.com}} Although Suter began the season with one goal through six games, he was given an increase in defensive responsibilities on the Badger's rookie-dominated, power-play unit.{{cite news |last1=Baggot |first1=Andy |title=Learning the hard way |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-learning-the-har/128436972/ |access-date=October 5, 2023 |publisher=Wisconsin State Journal |date=November 1, 2003|via=newspapers.com}} Suter finished his rookie season with a selection for the All-WCHA Rookie Team and All-WCHA Third Team.{{cite web |title=WCHA |url=https://www.usahockeyntdp.com/layout_container/show_layout_tab?layout_container_id=12151330&page_node_id=1298596&tab_element_id=30785 |publisher=USA Hockey National Team Development Program |access-date=October 5, 2023}} While Suter re-enrolled at UW for his sophomore season, he signed a professional contract with the Predators on September 7. Due to the suddenness and inconvenience of the signing, as the season had already started, Predators general manager David Poile called the Badgers head coach to apologize.{{cite news |title=Suter postscript |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-suter-postscript/128437225/ |access-date=October 5, 2023 |publisher=Wisconsin State Journal |date=September 19, 2004|via=newspapers.com}}

File:P2060649 (4354135397).jpg

After playing one season with the Wisconsin Badgers, Suter joined the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL) for the 2004–05 season due to the NHL lockout. In his only season with the Admirals, Suter tallied seven goals and 23 points to help the Admirals to 49 wins.{{cite web |last1=Karnosky |first1=Jason |title=Milwaukee alums finding success in NHL |url=https://theahl.com/milwaukee-alums-finding-success-in-nhl |publisher=American Hockey League |access-date=October 5, 2023 |date=March 15, 2011}} Following his rookie season, Suter spent three days at the U.S. Olympic orientation camp before joining the Predators for their training camp.{{cite web |title=U.S. Olympic hockey camp concludes with scrimmage |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2156210 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=October 5, 2023 |date=September 8, 2005}} He subsequently made his NHL debut, and tallied his first NHL assist, on October 6, 2005, against the San Jose Sharks.{{cite web |title=After unbeaten preseason, San Jose drops opener |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/nhl/recap/_/gameId/251005027 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=October 5, 2023 |date=October 5, 2005}} Suter later scored his first career NHL goal on December 21, against the Chicago Blackhawks,{{cite web |title=Suter gets first NHL goal as Nashville spanks Chicago |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/251221004 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=October 5, 2023 |date=December 22, 2005}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} becoming one of the youngest defenceman to score his first goal in NHL history.{{cite web |title=Youngest Defensemen, First NHL Goal |url=https://records.nhl.com/nsh/records/skater-records/youngest-players/youngest-defensemen-first-nhl-goal |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=October 5, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20231005210346/https://records.nhl.com/nsh/records/skater-records/youngest-players/youngest-defensemen-first-nhl-goal|archive-date=October 5, 2023}} As the Predators made a push for the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs, the team traded a first-round draft pick for veteran defenseman Brendan Witt. As such, Suter was limited to 71 games and 16 points during the regular season and saw no ice time during the playoffs.{{cite web |last1=Glennon |first1=John |title=Attitude Determines Altitude |url=https://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2008-02/attitude-determines-altitude |publisher=USA Hockey Magazine |access-date=October 5, 2023 |date=February 2008}}

Suter returned to the Predators for the 2006–07 season, where he improved significantly from his rookie season. He tallied eight goals and improved to 24 points while skating an average of 20:09 minutes per game. As the Predators qualified for the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs, Suter appeared in all five playoff contests against the Sharks. He tallied his first career playoff goal in the Predators Game 3 loss on April 16, 2007.{{cite web |title=San Jose scores three unanswered to grab 2-1 series lead |url=https://www.espn.com.au/nhl/recap/_/gameId/270416018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212173511/https://www.espn.com.au/nhl/recap/_/gameId/270416018 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 12, 2024 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=October 5, 2023 |date=April 17, 2007}} This would prove to be his only point as the Predators fell to the Sharks in five games.

On June 16, 2008, Suter signed a four-year, $14 million contract extension with the Predators which commenced for the 2008–09 NHL season.{{cite web |title=Predators sign Suter to four-year contract |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nhl-suter-idUSHAR67091920080616 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=October 5, 2023 |date=June 16, 2008}}

File:130223 Ryan Suter Wild (cropped1).png in February 2013.]]

On July 4, 2012, Suter signed a 13-year, $98 million contract with the Minnesota Wild. He and fellow free agent signee Zach Parise were introduced to the media on July 10 and were announced as alternate captains under captain Mikko Koivu.{{cite news |title = Wild agrees to terms with Suter, working on Parise | newspaper = Minneapolis Star-Tribune | url = http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/161345055.html | date = 2012-07-04 | access-date = 2012-07-04}}{{cite web| url = http://www.nbc15.com/sports/headlines/Ex-Badger_Suter__Parise_make_Minnesota_the_place_to_be_161836905.html | title = Ex-Badger Suter, Parise make Minnesota place to be | publisher = NBC Sports | date = 2012-07-10 | access-date = 2012-07-10}} Suter got off to a rough start with a –7 plus-minus rating in his first nine games. However, once he began pairing with rookie defenseman Jonas Brodin, Suter began playing to expectations and was among three finalists for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded yearly to the NHL's top defenseman. For the season, Suter averaged an NHL-leading 27:17 minutes of ice time as Minnesota reached the playoffs, where the team fell to the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round.

Suter scored his first NHL hat-trick on January 4, 2014, against the Washington Capitals; his first two goals came on the power play 38 seconds apart in the second period, and in the third period, right after his penalty expired, Suter scored his third goal on a two-on-one with defenseman Clayton Stoner.[http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=699047 Hat trick: Ryan Suter scores 3 in Wild's 5-3 win over Capitals] This goal sealed what would eventually be a 5–3 victory for the Wild.

During the 2015–16 season, Suter set a franchise record for the Minnesota Wild with the most points by a defenseman in a single season. With 43 assists and 51 points, he also set a personal best in both categories. Throughout his tenure with the Wild, he has continuously been relied upon to play a large number of minutes including on the power play and on the penalty kill.

On October 19, 2018, in a 3–1 win against the Dallas Stars, Suter recorded his 500th NHL point, becoming the 11th American-born defensemen to reach the milestone.{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Jeff |title=Suter, Wild rally past Stars in third |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/minnesota-wild-dallas-stars-game-recap/c-301106378 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=October 20, 2018 |date=October 19, 2018 |quote=Suter became the 11th United States-born defensemen with 500 NHL points}} Later that month, on October 25, Suter played in his 1,000th NHL game, becoming the 109th defenseman to reach the milestone.{{cite web |last1=Myers |first1=Dan |title='All-time player' Suter preps for 1,000th NHL game |url=https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/ryan-suter-1000-games-102418/c-301232592 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=October 25, 2018 |date=October 15, 2018}}

On July 13, 2021, the Wild bought out the remaining four years of Suter's contract.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/parise-suter-buy-outs-071321/c-325641624 |title=Wild to buy out contracts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter |publisher=Minnesota Wild |access-date=July 13, 2021 |date=July 13, 2021}}

On July 28, 2021, the opening day of free agency, Suter agreed to sign a four-year, $14.6 million contract to join the Dallas Stars.{{Cite web|title=Suter, Holtby each sign contract with Stars|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/ryan-suter-dallas-stars-signing-update-news/c-325805852|access-date=July 29, 2021|website= National Hockey League | date = July 28, 2021}}

Following the conclusion of the {{NHL Year|2023}} season, Suter was bought out of the final year of his contract for the second time in his career, becoming the second player in NHL history to be bought out twice (the other player being Tony DeAngelo).{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5597856/2024/06/27/ryan-suter-dallas-stars-buyout/ |title=Dallas Stars buying out Ryan Suter ahead of final year of contract: Sources |last1=Russo |first1=Michael |last2=LeBrun |first2=Pierre |date=June 27, 2024 |work=The Athletic |access-date=June 28, 2024}}{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/dallas-stars-buy-out-defenseman-ryan-suter-062824 | title = Stars buy out defenseman Ryan Suter | publisher = Dallas Stars | date = June 28, 2024 | accessdate = June 28, 2024 }}

On July 10, 2024, Suter signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the St. Louis Blues for the {{NHL Year|2024}} season.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/ryan-suter-agrees-to-1-year-contract-with-blues | title = Suter agrees to one-year contract with Blues | publisher = St. Louis Blues | date = July 10, 2024 | accessdate = July 10, 2024 }}

He played his 1,500th NHL game on February 8, 2025, becoming only the 22nd player to reach the milestone, and the third American-born player to do so.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/suter-set-to-play-in-1-500-nhl-games | title = Suter reaches 1,500 NHL games milestone | publisher = St. Louis Blues | date = February 8, 2025 | accessdate = February 8, 2025 }}

{{MedalTableTop|Toews2010WinterOlympics.jpg|220px|Canada's Jonathan Toews guards the puck from Suter during the 2010 Winter Olympics|name=no}}

{{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }}

{{MedalSport | Ice hockey}}

{{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}}

{{MedalSilver| 2010 Vancouver |}}

{{MedalCompetition|World Junior Championships}}

{{MedalGold|2004 Helsinki |}}

{{MedalCompetition|IIHF World U18 Championships}}

{{MedalGold|2002 Trnava|}}

{{MedalCompetition|World U-17 Hockey Challenge}}

{{MedalGold|2002 Manitoba|}}

{{MedalBottom}}

Suter has represented the United States in eleven tournaments, and has won three gold medals.

{{blockquote|I feel it's an honor to wear the Team USA Jersey and every time I'm on the ice I play my hardest and give everything I have. Playing for Team USA is one of those things you look forward to. When I got the call and was asked to play on this team, it was an easy answer. It didn't matter who was on the team or who the coach was. It's just an honor to wear the jersey and compete for your country."{{cite web | url = http://www.usahockey.com/international/main_site/main/home/06world_suter_051605 | title = Suter finds place in Team USA | publisher = USA Hockey | date = 2007-04-05 | access-date = 2008-03-04 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005552/http://www.usahockey.com/international/main_site/main/home/06world_suter_051605// | archive-date = 2007-09-27 }}}}

On January 1, 2010, Suter was named to the United States' roster for the 2010 Winter Olympics. He was one of the team's alternate captains.{{cite web |url= http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=513231 |title= Suter Named Alternate Captain for US Olympic Team |website= Nashville Predators |location= Nashville, Tenn |date= January 11, 2010 }}

In 2016, he was also selected to represent the United States at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey alongside Wild teammate, Zach Parise.

On April 19, 2019, Suter returned to the International stage for the first time in three years as he accepted an invitation to represent Team USA at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, held in Bratislava and Kosice, Slovakia.{{cite web| url = https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1013947 | title = First 17 players named to 2019 U.S. Men's national team | publisher = USA Hockey | date = April 19, 2019 | access-date = April 19, 2019}}

In 2020, Suter was introduced into the IIHF All-Time USA Team.

Suter resides in Madison, Wisconsin, during the NHL off-season. He is married to Becky Suter (née Palmer), who is from Bloomington, Minnesota. Ryan and Becky have four children together.{{cite web| url = http://jawandapuck.blogspot.com/2012/06/suter-parise-minnesota-bound.html | title = Suter, Parise are Minnesota bound | website = jawandpuck.com | date = 2012-07-01 | access-date = 2012-07-01}}{{cite web| url = http://www.madisonmagazine.com/Madison-Magazine/September-2014/Hockeys-Ryan-Suter-Is-Back/ | title = Hockey's Ryan Suter Is Back | publisher = madisonmagazine.com | access-date = 2014-09-13|last = Madsen|first = Tamira|date=September 2014}}

• Notable families in the NHL

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{{succession box | before = Scottie Upshall | title = Nashville Predators first round draft pick | years = 2003 | after = Alexander Radulov}}

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Category:1985 births

Category:Living people

Category:American men's ice hockey defensemen

Category:Culver Academies alumni

Category:Dallas Stars players

Category:Ice hockey people from Madison, Wisconsin

Category:Ice hockey players from Wisconsin

Category:Ice hockey players at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Category:Ice hockey players at the 2014 Winter Olympics

Category:Medalists at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Category:Milwaukee Admirals players

Category:Minnesota Wild players

Category:Nashville Predators draft picks

Category:Nashville Predators players

Category:National Hockey League All-Stars

Category:NHL first-round draft picks

Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in ice hockey

Category:St. Louis Blues players

Category:Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey players

Category:21st-century American sportsmen