Penguins hire Duane Sutter as professional scout

The Penguins have hired former NHL forward and coach Duane Sutter as a professional scout.

A member of the revered Sutter family, Duane Sutter will oversee scouting on the West Coast of North America. Sutter, 59, was a member of four Stanley Cup-winning teams with the New York Islanders in the early 1980s. In addition to the Islanders, Sutter played for the Chicago Blackhawks. He has held a variety of front office roles throughout the NHL including the head coaching position of the Florida Panthers in the early 2000s. Most recently, he served as director of professional scouting for the Edmonton Oilers until being fired this past May.

Sutter is the brother of former Penguins forward Rich Sutter and uncle of former Penguins center Brandon Sutter.

Additionally, the team has hired former NHL forward Jay McClement as a scout. McClement, 36, spent 12 years in the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues. After failing to make the Penguins’ roster as a non-roster invitee during the 2017 training camp, he finished his career with EHC Olten of Switzerland’s NLB league. McClement will scout in Quebec.

The Penguins also promoted a number of their staffers.

Derek Clancey, formerly the director of professional scouting, is now the director for player personnel. A member of the franchise for 13 years, Clancey has been part of the 2009, 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup championships.

Ryan Bowness, formerly a professional scout, is now the director of professional scouting.

Eric Heasley, manager of hockey operations, has been also been named assistant general manager of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Former All-Star power forward Kevin Stevens, who has served as a special assignment scout since 2017, will now also serve as a professional scout.

Former professional scout Al Santilli has been named as a global cross over scout.

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