{"id":92890,"date":"2025-07-26T01:56:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T01:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/92890\/"},"modified":"2025-07-26T01:56:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T01:56:13","slug":"riley-sutter-reportedly-signs-with-kunlun-red-star-of-the-khl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/92890\/","title":{"rendered":"Riley Sutter reportedly signs with Kunlun Red Star of the KHL"},"content":{"rendered":"

Riley Sutter<\/strong>, the checking-line center on the Hershey Bears\u2019 Calder Cup championship teams in 2023 and 2024, is taking his talents overseas.<\/p>\n

Sutter, per Inside AHL Hockey\u2019s Tony Androckitis<\/a>, signed a contract with the KHL\u2019s Kunlun Red Star. The Beijing, China club will play its home games at SKA Arena in St. Petersburg<\/a> in 2025-26 and saw former Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly play there during the 2019-20 season<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udea8 Source \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f @InsideAHLHockey<\/a> \ud83d\udea8<\/p>\n

Washington Capitals UFA C Riley Sutter signed with Kunlun Red Star (KHL) \u27a1\ufe0f 2025-26.<\/p>\n

Sutter turned 25 before July 1, so he reached AHL veteran status after recording 4G-5A in 55GP with AHL-Hershey in 2024-25.<\/p>\n

Another AHL \u27a1\ufe0f \ud83c\udf0e#AHLFreeAgency25<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) July 25, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou come in here at 19 and you don\u2019t really know what to expect in pro hockey,\u201d Sutter said. \u201cI\u2019ve 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\u2019ve really matured a lot as a player and person here. All the support I\u2019ve got from the fans, coaches, teammates is nothing short of amazing. I\u2019ve been pretty lucky that I can, that I\u2019ve been able to be here my whole career so far. It\u2019s hard to think that I might have to be somewhere else next year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sutter also praised Capitals and Bears brass for the Hershey teams that he had the opportunity to play on.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt 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\u2019ve got a really good balance,\u201d Sutter said in his end-of-the-season media availability. \u201cI think Hershey does a really good job bringing in guys that are obviously great players, but even better people. And I think that\u2019s 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\u2019s why, you know, a lot of the success carries over to the stuff we do on the ice. It\u2019s pretty special. I\u2019ve been fortunate enough to be here for six years. It\u2019s going to be a special place for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sutter\u2019s 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\u2019s overtime game-winning goal. Strome\u2019s tally gave Hershey back-to-back championships and their 13th Calder Cup in team history.<\/p>\n

Sutter\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Sutter, who seemingly always stepped up during Hershey\u2019s biggest moments, also scored twice in Game 5 of the Bears\u2019 opening-round series against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, sending the club to the Atlantic Division Finals. The Bears\u2019 attempt to three-peat was then thwarted by the Charlotte Checkers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love it here,\u201d Sutter said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to hold a special place in my heart. And, you know, it\u2019s been a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Sutter\u2019s departure, Hershey has seen many of its veteran stars from the last several seasons step away, including Mike Vecchione<\/a>, Hunter Shepard,<\/a> Pierrick Dub\u00e9<\/a>, Chase Priskie<\/a>, and Mike Sgarbossa<\/a>. Alex Limoges is also rumored to be eying an opportunity in the KHL as well<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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