Standing at and weighing , Sutter made the jump to the NHL in the 1979–80 season, playing eight games and scoring his first NHL goal in a December 16, 1979 in a 7–3 win over the Detroit Red Wings. In the 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs Sutter suited up for all seven games including a first round three game sweep victory over the St. Louis Blues captained by his older brother Brian. During the series Darryl scored one goal and one assist, while Brian was held pointless in three games. The Black Hawks were subsequently eliminated in the second round in a four game sweep loss to the Buffalo Sabres. In his first seven playoff games Sutter scored three goals and one assist.