RED DEER, Alta. (CP) - Brent Sutter is leaving the WHL's Red Deer Rebels amid speculation he'll be the next head coach of the NHL's New Jersey Devils.
He declined to elaborate on his plans for the future after stepping aside Thursday as GM and head coach of the major junior team he purchased in 1999. He's retaining ownership.
Older brother Brian Sutter will take over as head coach of the Rebels.
New Jersey is the only NHL team currently lacking a head coach. The job has been vacant since GM Lou Lamoriello fired Claude Julien with three games left in the regular season and stepped behind the bench himself.
Brent Sutter leaves Alberta junior team; reports say he will coach Devils