I said it in the other thread. Sutter basically revitalized the franchise
Remember they were 7 years of no playoffs
Not just Kipper which turned out to be the steal of a GM’s lifetime, but adding Warrener, Reinprecht, Simon, Nilson, Niemenen - he built a supporting cast around Iggy that gelled, made it to the playoffs, and basically won the Cup (it was in)
Then for several years thereafter, they were perennial contenders. The team always had an identity. Although the drafting wasn’t great, he was going for it, and brought in productive players like Cammalleri, Tanguay, high profile guys like Jokinen and Bouw, and some nifty steals like Huselius and Rene Bourque
Still can’t believe the bad fortune in 2009 with all of those injuries, because that was the best lineup seen in this city this millennium.
Treliving teams have not had an identity, and he has not gotten the results on the ice. Drafting has been better, but as for the high can’t miss picks, you get a Tkachuk because the previous year on ice was abysmal, and because the Oilers and Canucks screw up.
Sutter all the way. I can’t let his last year, and whatever the heck Phaneuf did that saw him need to go, take the shine off of the “In Sutter We Trust” red mile days that revitalized the franchise
Brad needs some kind of on ice success, any kind, before he is even in the conversation.
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