I started this new post, because I felt Sutter deserved his own post, separate from Geoff Ward. As I have followed the Calgary Flames from their inception, I will also go retro with a familiar refrain from the past. In Sutter we trust. At this point of this disappointing season, my hopes for Sutter, really are a fair evaluation of what we have and what we are missing. I would love to see them make the playoffs, but they may not. This franchise has been spinning the last few years, and I would much rather see the long term gain from hiring D. Sutter than putting my expectations on making the playoff. I also want to welcome Chis Sutter back to the franchise.
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I don’t know if I have ever felt better about being a fan of a team that is not even mediocre at this stage and plain bad. It was pretty clear that based on the decisions Ward was making and the way the team was responding that this team needed a change.
I wanted the Flames to hire Sutter (or AV) when they fired Gulutzan so this took 2.5 years too long. They finally got the elite coach.
I know some a skeptical but I think the this team will be a very tough out moving forward. I think they can close the gap on the Habs and sneak into at least the 4 spot and take on a Leafs team who faced zero adversity and haven’t won a series since 04.
We got the coach and we got the goalie. If this team fails then we need a new core but I have optimism that Sutter will get the most out of this group.
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I believe Sutter is a great coach. I'm not so sure about this collection of players. They have talent for sure, but they are soft as jelly. Hopefully they aren't a lost cause after 4+ years of mostly awful coaches leading them.
I don't think Sutter would have taken the job if he didn't think he could right the ship. Let's hope he can.
Sutter was the coach I wanted for a few years now. However, I am being tempered with expectations especially this season. I really think the hole is fairly deep and the problems to extensive for a quick jolt. I am hopeful however.
I think Sutter is here more for next season. That gives time to evaluate and make moves that probably should have been done a few years ago. We all know what the Flames are since the Ducks bounced them twice. Even a hard nose like Sutter needs actual physical but skilled players, not pretenders.
We will see though. Them playing tougher is a great start, but it will take time to change a weak minded team that has been that way for a while.
I am not expecting miracles, and I don't assume immediate success or anything like that.
I am just so glad to have hope, an expectation for a more interesting brand of hockey, and feeling that we are moving in the right direction again.
As a fan, that's all I ask for.
Yeah I feel that some fans have to realize that he's a very good NHL head coach but not a miracle worker. It's still on the players at the end of the day and evidence is mounting that the current roster lacks game breaking talent and will have to win games playing a more team oriented game which is something they have struggled to do for years. Do I expect them to play better? Yes. Do I expect to see a team that's harder to play? Yes. But Darryl can't score the goals for them and this team is seriously offensively challenged.
Yeah I feel that some fans have to realize that he's a very good NHL head coach but not a miracle worker. It's still on the players at the end of the day and evidence is mounting that the current roster lacks game breaking talent and will have to win games playing a more team oriented game which is something they have struggled to do for years. Do I expect them to play better? Yes. Do I expect to see a team that's harder to play? Yes. But Darryl can't score the goals for them and this team is seriously offensively challenged.
Haha. Jeez, man, it’s his first day on the job. A little optimism wouldn’t hurt
I already saw some little differences, like the forwards circling back instead of stopping at the blue line and waiting for the puck to catch up
He can quickly knock out some of the dumb decision making which will help
Then holding top players to a high standard should get notice and trickle down.
Pre-Sutter: 15-14-4 (.454 winning percentage)
With Sutter: 41-17-11 including playoffs (.594 winning percentage)
It's crazy to think that he went 16-4 in the playoffs that year after the team was at .500 before he was hired.
Just a ridiculously substantial improvement in the teams record in both scenarios. Let's hope he can do it again.
It's definitely encouraging to hire a guy who's turned teams around that much in the past.
However I will say, the Kings had Anze Kopitar, prime Mike Richards and also added prime Jeff Carter mid season. The Flames dont have that, especially the equivalent of Anze Kopitar.
In Sutter We Trust
