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Family ties: Hurricanes draft Kevin Lowe’s son Keegan, add their third Sutter

Brandon Sutter, Ondrej Pavelec

Carolina Hurricanes’ Brandon Sutter (16) has his shot blocked by Atlanta Thrashers goalie Ondrej Pavelec (31), of the Czech Republic, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

AP

When reflecting upon many of the Carolina Hurricanes’ personnel (bringing back Erik Cole, Cory Stillman and Anton Babchuk) and front office (hiring and promoting former stars Ron Francis and Rod Brind’Amour) moves over the years, it becomes clear that this franchise values familiarity. After studying their second day draft moves, it’s apparent they also value family ties.

Canes GM Jeremy Rutherford made two partially genes-based moves today, drafting Kevin Lowe’s son Keegan with their 73rd selection and adding yet another Sutter family member in the form of Brody Sutter with the 193rd pick. It’s almost as if the Hurricanes should play in Nepotism Arena at this point; they currently own the rights to Staal brothers (Eric and Jared), three Sutters (Brody is the cousin of Brent and Brandon Sutter) and Keegan Lowe.

While Rutherford was quick to say that their picks jived with the opinions of scouts, it doesn’t seem like an accident that their NHL-level and minor league rosters seem like a family reunion waiting to happen.
“I think having good bloodlines always helps, but these are players that, when the scouting staff does their list and we get to certain rounds where they fall on our list, they’re selected appropriately,” Rutherford said.

Lowe told The Associated Press that he discussed the possibility of playing for his father’s Edmonton Oilers, but he also wanted to carve his own path.

The younger Lowe went to Carolina with the 73rd pick, after finishing with two goals and 22 assists in 71 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League. He said he and Kevin Lowe discussed the possibility of being drafted by the Oilers, but Keegan Lowe decided he’d rather make a name for himself somewhere else.

“We talked about it, if I would like going there, because obviously, if I didn’t want to, it would be up to me,” Keegan Lowe said. “He was just trying to treat me like any other player. He wasn’t going to hate me if I wasn’t going to go with them ... but I’m just happy to be picked by Carolina.”


Keegan Lowe will probably get a better chance to make an impact on Carolina’s roster than Brody Sutter will, at least judging by where they were drafted (Lowe is a third round pick, Sutter went in the final round). That being said, if Brody manages to play in the NHL, he would become the ninth Sutter to play hockey at its highest level.

One cannot help but wonder if Carolina’s draft board looks more like a family tree, but such commentary won’t matter much if it pays off for the Hurricanes. Want more draft-related goodness? Head over to Draft HQ

(Note: Brandon Sutter is featured in this main photo, not Brody.)