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Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
Yeah, I mean it's not like Sutter didn't have two 100 point players last season. It's not his fault that Huberdeau can't chew bubble gum and walk at the same time.
I get some of the dislike for Sutter, I really do. By many accounts, he is an abrasive coach to the players and they don't like it. Some of his deployment decisions baffle a layman like me. But as far as systems and what he asks players to do, it's not off the grid compared to most coaches. If Huberdeau was really as good as people think, and really a $10.5 million player, he would have been able to adjust and at least be a PPG. I think he just isn't as adaptive or creative as he gets credit for. He is a skilled, but high maintenance player that needs to have lines crafted around him to make him good, but not the kind of player that elevates others, which is unfortunate considering the contract he received.
Having said all that, the only solution might be to cater to him in this regard, because that contract ain't going anywhere, and Sutter is not the coach who will cater to one player. Maybe Sutter has to go for that reason, but not because he isn't a good coach.
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My thoughts as well. Sutter is a good coach who did odd things this year. The season was cratered by goaltending and good players have terrible years. That is not necessarily going to repeat itself, so I worry about over correcting.
I have very little faith that they will find a better coach for the role next year if Sutter is gone. The system was not the problem. His line deployment was odd, but I can at least understand some of the reasoning behind it as he likes to have balanced lines that can be rolled. I'd prefer that they figure out the relationships in the room and try again next year (obviously with the caveat that they need to make some decisions on expiring contracts like Lindholm). If they can't figure out the relationships, then Sutter should probably go and hope the Flames can find a decent coach elsewhere.