As with the rest of the world, Brandon Sutter’s life has changed dramatically in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The forward was one of many Vancouver Canucks who tested positive for the virus when the outbreak hit the team in April 2021. Sutter was able to finish the season and then signed an annual contract with Vancouver in the summer.
It wasn’t until August that his health began to deteriorate as he began ramping up his activity to prepare for the 2021-22 season. Sutter has been battling the effects of prolonged COVID and has not returned to the NHL ice since.
Now 34, Sutter is still not completely healthy, but is starting to think about returning to professional hockey.
“You never know, but I feel like I’m making my way through this and seeing a light at the end of the tunnel,” Sutter said on Monday. on the Eric Francis Show Sportsnet.
“I can train again and just go about my daily activities. … I rode a couple of days a week with the (Red Deer) Rebels. … I can’t do what I want to, I can’t get it to the level that I need to, but I’m getting better and there’s definitely hope that by the middle it’ll all be over. -summer. If that’s the case and I feel good, I’ll do my best to do it.”
Sutter is currently a free agent and his goal would be to sign a pro tryout offer with an NHL team during training camp. The 11th pick in the 2007 draft has 152 goals and 137 assists in 770 games between the Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins and Canucks.
The New York native cites his children as one of the main motivations that prompted him to return to his favorite game. Sutter hopes to give them an experience similar to the one he grew up with as the son of longtime NHL player Brent Sutter, who also had a successful coaching career.
“My kids are now six, four and one years old, and due to COVID they have not been able to be at the rink for the last couple of years, so I did not have the opportunity to share hockey with them in the way that I dreamed,” Sutter told Francis.
“I would like them to run around the rink, like in childhood. That would be cool… So I would like this year to give him a chance.”
The main source of frustration for Sutter initially was the inability to understand what was wrong with his body, as a number of tests showed no problems. He still meets with doctors in Calgary and consults with naturopaths. He also kept in touch with Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, who himself is battling long-term COVID-19.
“You’re not alone, but it’s rare,” Sutter told Francis. “Fortunately, none of my loved ones or teammates had any bad, lasting effects. … Unfortunately, I did. So, just deal with them day by day.
“I’ll just see what my body can do.”
Source: sports.yahoo.com
