[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

First, thanks for the insight into the 2004 team.

If what you say is true -- and I have no reason to believe otherwise -- then I think that the core of my argument remains intact, which is that I don't think Sutter is very good at adjusting his system. Of course, that's a drawback of Gulutzan as well, and so for that reason, I feel like it'd be a lateral move if not a downgrade, seeing as how Sutter has coached recently. I'd also hesitate before blaming Gulutzan for the special teams, as well as the defenders he has at his disposal, as I feel those two things are more on Cameron and Treliving/Jerrard more than Gulutzan.

Obviously, as head coach, Gulutzan has to be invested into on-ice deployment decisions (an area where he and I don't always agree) but if anything I've disagreed with some of Sutter's recent personnel decisions even more. Dustin Brown on the fourth line never really made sense, in my opinion, and keeping Gaborik with Kopitar for as long as he did was nonsensical. A lot of the Kings' shortcomings also rest on Lombardi too, though.

I guess the really difference is Sutter could get the most out of his players. You rarely saw his teams take nights off and they played a very composed and dominating style of hockey. He may have a short window as a coach but players absolutely bought into his agenda. The were physical and played with a snarly unshakable identity.