In the 1982–83 season the Chicago Black Hawks traded captain Terry Ruskowski to the Los Angeles Kings on October 24, and two months later coach Orval Tessier named Sutter team Captain on December 10, 1982. Sutter finished the 1982–83 with 31 goals and 30 assists in 80 games. In the 1983 Stanley Cup playoffs Sutter scored four goals and six assists as the Black Hawks defeated Brian Sutter's St. Louis Blues three games to one, and the Minnesota North Stars four games to one, and eventually fell to the Edmonton Oilers in Conference finals in a four game sweep. Sutter played through the playoffs with broken ribs.