Sutter is an ELITE systems coach. His systems singlehandedly allow his teams to stick around every game and usually dominate the opposition 5v5 while allowing minimal defensively.
However, his roster management is head-scratching and frustrating, particularly in regard to the Flames' younger players and running all four lines NO MATTER THE SITUATION, thus hurting his otherwise fantastic on-ice product.
A Sutter-coached team in which he does everything EXCEPT roster management would be the ultimate coaching the NHL has ever seen and I honestly don't even feel ridiculous saying that lol which is why it's so frustrating watching him hurt his own awesome product.
However, all that being said, so many things went horribly wrong this season that Sutter had no control over:
Markstrom being literally even average (and I mean even like a .900 SV% lmao not his .030% drop off from last season from .922 to .892) easily equals Playoffs for the Flames. It's not dramatic to say that he singlehandedly cost the team 10-15+ points this season, and I think that might be selling it short. His GSAA had a 40(!!!) goal swing from last season. What is Sutter supposed to do about that?? If Markstrom even lets in 10 less goals, Flames are comfortably in the Playoffs. Hell, bring back the first version of Markstrom the Flames got (.904 SV%, -4.0 GSAA) and the Flames are comfortably in the Playoffs.
Huberdeau being even an average player this season and the Flames are in the Playoffs. How can we blame Sutter for what is literally the biggest point drop-off in NHL history? He was tried on both sides of his wing & tried with different linemates (spent 50% of his 5v5 time with Kadri and 25% each with Lindholm/Backlund). There are things Sutter could've definitely done better in handling Huberdeau, but at some point Hubey Dubey Doo-nothing needs to get some blame. I swear I have never seen a player consistently miss the net more to one spot (in his case, within a foot left of the net) from the same part of the ice throughout the course of an ENTIRE season. But Huberdeau did. Hell, a 65-point Huberdeau and the Flames are comfortably in the Playoffs. He picked it up towards the end of the season a bit, but too little too late.
Kadri not being a dick post-All-Star break and the Flames are comfortably in the Playoffs. I have never regretted getting a player's jersey more than I have my Blasty Kadri. His play in the final game against Chicago was INEXCUSABLE & PATHETIC. His showing overall since the All-Star break, specifically during this final chase, was the showing of a selfish loser. Not the attitude you're going to win with.
On the other hand with Sutter, I would definitely argue playing guys like Pelletier/Ruzicka/Phillips (& probably even Coronato over this final stretch) over wasted pairs of skates like Lucic & Ritchie and the Flames would've been comfortably in the Playoffs.
Let's also not overlook what was just overall historically bad luck the Flames suffered this season. I'm not even kidding. The statistical anomaly of a season this otherwise amazing team (on paper) suffered deserves a deep dive.
But when we look at the main faults this season, we have to look at the three top-paid players on the team before we look at Sutter.
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