Suter named to U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
September 10, 2026 | Men's Hockey
Madison native will become third family member added to America's highest hockey hall
MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin men's hockey alum Ryan Suter, a Madison native, will go into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame this November as part of the Class of 2026, USA Hockey announced on Thursday.
The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration, which will include the formal enshrinement of the Class of 2026 along with the presentation of the NHL's Lester Patrick Trophy, will be held Monday, Nov. 30, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Additional details will be provided later this month.
One of the most dominant and consistent two-way defensemen of his generation, Suter played in 1,526 regular-season NHL games over 20 seasons, second all-time among American-born players, and also starred on the international stage, including helping the U.S. earn a silver medal in the 2010 Olympics, and the country's first-ever gold medal in the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2004.
Suter joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in 2001 as a member of the U.S. National Under-17 Team before quickly being elevated to the U.S. National Under-18 Team, which he played for until 2003.
Following his second season with the NTDP, Suter was selected seventh overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He played one season of college hockey at Wisconsin, earning All-WCHA Third Team and WCHA All-Rookie Team honors as a freshman in 2003-04.
Suter began his professional career with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL during the 2004-05 season before making his NHL debut with the Nashville Predators in 2005-06. The blue liner played seven seasons with Nashville (2005-12), earning his first NHL All-Star Game nod during the 2011-12 season and helping guide the team to the Stanley Cup Playoffs six times.
He joined the Minnesota Wild prior to the 2012-13 season, and in his first year with the team, helped guide the Wild to the playoffs enroute to being named an NHL First Team All-Star and a finalist for the Norris Trophy, awarded annually to the league's top defenseman.
Over the following eight seasons in Minnesota, he earned two more NHL All-Star Game nods and led the team to the Stanley Cup Playoffs six more times while serving as an alternate captain for the entirety of his tenure. Following the 2020-21 season, Suter spent three seasons with the Dallas Stars (2021-24), helping the team to the Stanley Cup Playoffs all three campaigns, including the conference finals his final two years, before finishing his NHL career with the St. Louis Blues in 2024-25.
The NHL's all-time career leader in regular-season time-on-ice since the league began tracking it in 2005-06, Suter helped his teams to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 16 of his 20 NHL seasons and played in all 82 regular-season games 11 times. One of just 25 players and only three American-born players to reach 1,500 career regular-season games played, Suter amassed 107 goals and 589 assists for 696 regular-season points, and added seven goals and 38 assists for 45 points in 138 playoff games.
Internationally, Suter is a two-time Olympian, having served as an alternate captain for both the silver medal-winning 2010 team and the 2014 squad. He also played for Team USA in five IIHF Men's World Championships (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2019) and was a member of the 2016 World Cup of Hockey team.
In addition, Suter led the U.S. to a gold medal at the 2002 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship and also played for Team USA at the event in 2003. He was also a member of three U.S. National Junior Teams (2003-05), helping the U.S. to gold at the 2004 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Suter, who owns the USHL's Madison Capitols, will join two family members in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. His father, Bob, was inducted in 2003 with the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team, while his uncle, Gary Suter, went into the Hall in 2011 as an individual and again in 2016 as part of the 1996 U.S. World Cup of Hockey Team.
WISCONSIN MEN'S HOCKEY BADGERS IN THE U.S. HOCKEY HALL OF FAME
2026 Ryan Suter
2025 Joe Pavelski
2022 Jim Johannson
2020 Tony Granato
2016 Mike Richter*, Jim Carey*, Gary Suter*, Chris Chelios*
2014 Jeff Sauer, Brian Rafalski
2011 Chris Chelios, Gary Suter
2008 Mike Richter
2004 Mark Johnson
2003 Mark Johnson**, Bob Suter**
1991 Bob Johnson
*-— As part of 1996 U.S. World Cup of Hockey Team
*-*— As part of 1980 U.S. Olympic Team
