I don't know how many posters have played hockey. I have, for a lot of years, over 35 to be more precise. There wasn't one team I played on that didn't have the big guy on it, or the farm kids. Our skilled guys always played better with these guys on the team and better when on the ice with them. They had the luxury of playing comfortably and without worry or scared of the other teams ###### bags. The Eric Staal piece of shyte slashing on Johnny years ago, doesn't happen anymore. These guys can play their skill game as there will be consequences the other team doesn't wanna pay. It's a real life deterrent.
Sutter will also have these guys all playing balls to the wall. There will be injuries as players will be sacrificing themselves for the team. The players will have other players backs and that extra will or want to go to battle, will be there. We all saw Tkachuk, right or wrong, but that's what happens when you don't support each other. Good coach or not, Sutter demands you play for each other and that in itself makes them better.
This mentality is seen by other players and IMO makes it easier to sign with the Flames. They don't want to come to a team that is soft or plays for stats. That's an issue the Flames have had. No Steve Begin's making the sacrifices which is contagious. Calgary isn't a preferred destination but it doesn't need another reason for players to not sign there.
As pointed out by a few other posters, look what Sutter did with Warrener, Montador, Commadore and what Engelland did for this team. It's been lacking for a long time, having 8 dmen with this style is a requirement to keep the punishment going.
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