I would have been worried about Darryl Sutter instituting a grinding style game, but I am actually not so worried about it.
I honestly believe the coach that said: "The Flames are scary with how they can score" was Darryl Sutter a few years ago when Hartley was the coach. The Flames, IIRC, had a pretty good year against those Kings and scored some quick goals on them. That's my (albeit weak) evidence A.
Evidence B is a bit better. Darryl had a tidbit about how important it is to be a quick transitioning team in today's NHL. Just like people liked to yap about Sutter being a 'dinosaur' when he left Calgary to join LA, I believe there is still some (strange) inkling to feel the same way again. I don't buy it. Based on his insight - and the fact that he himself stated that the 'Backlund line' should be the 'best 3rd line in the league', leads me to conclude that offence is something he actually thinks about.
Ruff is actually my second choice, followed by AV. I think the whole "always having an elite goalie" thing with AV has me second guessing, as does his insistent use of role players playing too much with both the Canucks' and Rangers' fanbases making somewhat of a meme out of it.
Ruff is probably a more 'player friendly' and experienced Bob Hartley, and that sounds pretty decent on its' own.
I just hope it isn't someone like Peters. The lack of offence (especially from the defence) and the special teams makes me skeptical about him. I think this team needs to play more like the Nasvhille Predators and VGK than what we have tuned-in for the last 2 years.
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