Quote:
Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under
I really struggle with Sutter as the coach of the Flames.
On one hand he is basically the only coach that this team has had in the last 30ish years that has consistently delivered decent results. The cup run, division titles, the playoff round win last year. There just is no one else in this organization that has his resume, accolades, and most importantly Stanley Cup wins. I know that Darryl has forgotten more about hockey than I will ever know. He supported pride day, he seems like a really good dad to Chris, he speaks thoughtfully on Truth and Reconciliation. I know there is a good and decent man in there.
But man he is just such an ornery S.O.B. sometimes it makes it hard to support the guy. And to think that his style and temperament pushed away Brad frustrates me to no end. He does not really give off the "collaborative approach" vibe that I think teams need nowadays. I agree with Bingo when he says he gets too caught up in trying to "stick it" to someone. Sure he has been hired to coach, he sets the line up, so in essence he has a right to defend his decisions, but it just seems like everything is done as a middle finger to the media, or the fans, or even conventional wisdom, like not using Toffoli in a shootout with the season on the line. The insistence on rolling four lines no matter what is also a bit of a frustrating as well.
I don't know. If players and now GMs are leaving because of him that is not a very good sign.
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To be fair, Sutter may be part of the reason Treliving left but it's evident that he's not the only reason. That said I have a big problem with the fact that he hammers down this team concept to the players but doesn't walk the walk. Since he came back he's done the following;
-Told the media over and over what a talentless team the GM built.
-The “
Hopefully he has more energy in his 500th game than he did in his 499th game” comment to soil what should be a feel good moment for the player and organization.
-The dumb "
He had to take a ####" comment about Huberdeau leaving the bench during a game.
-His bizarre disdain for Matthew Phillips.
-The bizarre Pelletier meltdown in the media and handling of the player when he was initially called up.
-Poor handling of ice time this season with the 4th line playing far too much in key moments in games.
-Poor handling of the goaltending in that he kept riding a goaltender that was struggling while the backup goaltender was winning more games.
-Was barely on speaking terms with his boss by the end of the season.
-Alienated players in the locker room when it's his job to properly manage the personalities, not force them out the door.
Flames fans need to be honest with themselves as for years we mocked McTavish and Lowe for putting the Oilers in a bad light. Well Darryl Sutter has put the Flames in a bad light. It's probably not a stretch to say that several NHL players around the league have told their agents that they want no part of Calgary and prospects in the upcoming draft would rather that other teams draft them over the Flames. The man has done a lot of good things for the organization but it's really, really time for him to move on and retire as he's kind of lost the plot here as times change and he hasn't, nor does he want to.