Riley Sutter, the checking-line center on the Hershey Bears’ Calder Cup championship teams in 2023 and 2024, is taking his talents overseas.
Sutter, per Inside AHL Hockey’s Tony Androckitis, signed a contract with the KHL’s Kunlun Red Star. The Beijing, China club will play its home games at SKA Arena in St. Petersburg in 2025-26 and saw former Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly play there during the 2019-20 season.
A talented penalty killer and shutdown centerman, Sutter was a group 6 unrestricted free agent (Group 6), and is coming off a one-year, $775k contract with the Washington Capitals.
Sutter, a 2018 third-round pick (93rd overall) of the Capitals, played six seasons with the Hershey Bears, posting 65 points (21g, 44a) in 279 games. His career-best season came in 2023-24, where he tallied 23 points (9g, 14a) in 66 games.
The writing appeared to be on the wall at the end of the season as Sutter turned emotional at times discussing his tenure with the Bears.
“You come in here at 19 and you don’t really know what to expect in pro hockey,” Sutter said. “I’ve learned a lot of life lessons here from finding my own apartment, having to get my own groceries and just really growing up. I think I’ve really matured a lot as a player and person here. All the support I’ve got from the fans, coaches, teammates is nothing short of amazing. I’ve been pretty lucky that I can, that I’ve been able to be here my whole career so far. It’s hard to think that I might have to be somewhere else next year.”
Sutter also praised Capitals and Bears brass for the Hershey teams that he had the opportunity to play on.
“It starts with the apex of the organization, just doing such a good job recruiting and having a good balance of veteran guys and bringing in some younger guys. They’ve got a really good balance,” Sutter said in his end-of-the-season media availability. “I think Hershey does a really good job bringing in guys that are obviously great players, but even better people. And I think that’s why the groups here have been so close because everyone are such good people and, you know, we generally care so much about one another. So I think that’s why, you know, a lot of the success carries over to the stuff we do on the ice. It’s pretty special. I’ve been fortunate enough to be here for six years. It’s going to be a special place for me.”
Sutter’s biggest moment with the Hershey Bears came in Game 6 of the 2024 Calder Cup Finals when his pressure along the wall helped create Matt Strome’s overtime game-winning goal. Strome’s tally gave Hershey back-to-back championships and their 13th Calder Cup in team history.
Sutter’s biggest tally as a Bear arguably came in 2023 when he scored the overtime-winner against the Coachella Valley Firebirds in Game 3 of the Calder Cup Finals. The Bears would go on to take the razor-close series in seven games thanks to a Mike Vecchione overtime goal.
Sutter, who seemingly always stepped up during Hershey’s biggest moments, also scored twice in Game 5 of the Bears’ opening-round series against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, sending the club to the Atlantic Division Finals. The Bears’ attempt to three-peat was then thwarted by the Charlotte Checkers.
“I love it here,” Sutter said. “It’s going to hold a special place in my heart. And, you know, it’s been a lot of fun.”
With Sutter’s departure, Hershey has seen many of its veteran stars from the last several seasons step away, including Mike Vecchione, Hunter Shepard, Pierrick Dubé, Chase Priskie, and Mike Sgarbossa. Alex Limoges is also rumored to be eying an opportunity in the KHL as well.
