[Sylvanfan]

To me Sutter had an identity for his team and was better than the other GM's at getting the team to execute. People look back at that team with a lot of disdain now but they were 13-20 in losing 5 straight series. In each of those losses they literally were a break or two away from winning any of those save the 07 series vs Detroit which was an open net away from being a 7 game series. That team played the series without Regehr too.

He did trade second round picks, but the guys he got in Kiprusoff, Nilson, Conroy v2, Rene Bourque did play important roles for a few seasons. The free agent signings tended to be shorter term so even if they did not work out like Amonte they did not hurt the team.

Coates had very limited resources, but he also traded guys like Niewedyk, Robert's, Fleury, and Housley. He should have had something to show for trading those guys. He too could not find goaltending and could not really improve the on ice performance of the team. Krahn, and Fata were like picking Pelech and Irving but with top 10 picks. He got Iginla and Regehr..so credit there...although again, I think Sutter deserves the kudos for making Regehr into the player he was for the Flames. Button was trying to get rid of him for a Zanulin at one point...