The fact the Oilers signed the 37-year-old Sutton to a one-year contract extension in Februray should tell you all you need to know about the state of the Oilers' defense. Sutton does add toughness however, perhaps his only redeeming fantasy quality. Even in limited duty, he should give you 50 PIMs and close to 100 each of hits and blocked shots.
Sutton is another stay at home defenseman who will give the Oilers some toughness in front of his own net. Sutton didn't light the lamp once in 2010-11, so he won't be seeing power play time. Still, he is the type of defenseman that every team covets as opposing teams will skate a wide berth around him rather than take the physical punishment he is willing to hand out down the middle of the ice.
Sutton had another injury-filled season in 2008-09, playing in just 23 games. If he could ever stay healthy for the course of a full season, he's a defenseman capable of 25 points and 100-plus PIMs. Unfortunately, that is a big "if," so don't bother taking the gamble on draft day.
The big defensemen can chip in a few points and some pims but only those in extremely deep leagues need look. He has played 70 or more games just once in his career.
Sutton has the ability to chip in a few points, but the Isles mainly brought him in to use his frame and reach to clear the crease for Rick DiPietro. His high end in points seems to be 25.
Sutton is one of Atlanta’s top rear guards and his performance in the upcoming season will be one of the most important on the team if they are going to make the playoffs. The 31 year old topped his career marks last year with 25 points but his true value for fantasty players is in the 144 penalty minutes he got. If your league doesn’t count shots (he had only 86 last year) Sutton is a great last d-men in deeper leagues…buckets of PIM’s and also chips in a bit with points and plus-minus.
Sutton should round out the bottom of the Thrashers defense. Sutton scored an impressive seven power play goals in his last season with the Thrashers but six of those goals came in one five-game span. He could post 20+ points again but he could also regress to his output from a few years ago -- single digits. With Jaroslov Modry, Greg de Vries and Niclas Havelid moving past him on the depth charts the latter looks to be more likely.
