[News] Darryl Sutter out as Head Coach. Maloney presser at 11:30 AM MT

[howard_the_duck]

Anyone else think Maloney looked terrified when Edwards was brought up?

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by NegativeSpace

Should he not be? He just authorized a payment of over $8 million to Sutter to not coach for the next two years. If anything, this gives me more faith that Edwards' involvement is not the problem.

I was not offering an opinion one way or the other, I just know it's a key topic for a lot of people around here so wanted to highlight that question and subsequent answer from Maloney.

It's very likely completely innocent, but Maloney actually slipped up a bit in his answer. He talked a bit about how many conversations and how involved Murray is, and sort of trails off with "those who think that he is distant or uninvolved, are SADLY mistaken". This would imply that it's a negative ongoing issue- he likely meant "sorely" mistaken, and it's a common slip so I wouldnt ascribe more to it than that, but it was interesting considering the topic of conversation here is that ownership should butt out.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Can’t we just keep Maloney as GM?

What impresses me about Maloney is his self-awareness. He's said several times he's not the guy for the job because he's too far separated from the newer generation of players and coaches.

I can't use the word "refreshing" enough when it comes to Don Maloney's handling of this debacle.

[GullFoss]

Bull Case: Great team underperformed due to toxic environment created by a dinosaur coach. And a player's coach will get the best out of this team. The vezina caliber goalie returns to form, the team finds chemistry under a a more positive enviornment, the two franchise forwards have great seasons, and three special rookies on entry-level deals take the team over the top.


Bear Case: The inmates are now running the asylum. And not just any inmates. Two boat anchors who have done nothing to earn the respect of the organization.

In the bear case, the franchise is a clusterpuck. Tre bridged Tkachuk to keep 10-point per season frolik. Then Tkachuk takes advantage of the situation and Tre makes the worst trade in a generation. Then Tre signs two boat anchors to long-term contracts. And then Tre rides off into the sunset when its clear how ####ed the franchise is. Meanwhile, Sutter has to deal with 2 Prima donnas and then Tre's friend fires Sutter rather than address the boat anchor problem because no other team is willing to take on these boat-anchor contracts and it's untenable to buy them out.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Yamer

The big takeaway today (and something Maloney has been stressing since Treliving left) is that the organization is going to drastically change its philosophy going forward. Maloney took the long way around to say that they, and specifically Sutter, are out of touch with the modern NHL.

Lots of talk about getting younger and being more in touch with the new generation. That's refreshing and exciting, and I gotta say that I never expected Maloney of all people to revitalize my optimism.

Hope those words are taken to heart and we see an entirely fresh approach to team building and growth.

I've seen a few comments like this, but, after digging into his history, I truly feel like most of us just didn't know who Maloney was and what he was all about. I think he was thought of as an old-boys-club kind of hire from a failed Coyotes team, but right from his time there, he seemed to have a good mind for the way the game was going and the hard decisions required to build something good. He was let go by the Coyotes because he wanted to see the rebuild through instead of go shopping for high-priced free agents.

I think he gets it. I have to believe the Flames are in good hands.

[tvp2003]

I'm guessing Ritchie in the shootout was the final straw?

Seriously though, Sutter did a lot for this organization and those accomplishments will not be diminished, but it became painfully evident this year that he was not pressing the right buttons for this team nor was he able to. His utilization of the young players was ultimately a dealbreaker IMO.

I'm not sure if this signals a rebuild or perhaps one last painful try with this core, but either way I think it had to be done.

[getbak]

Hire Conroy as GM, Love as Head Coach, and on July 1, sign Backlund to an extension and give him the C.

[CF84]

Love as the coach:

Ruzicka - Lindholm - Toffoli
Mangiapane - Kadri - Phillips/Duehr
Huberdeau - Coronato - Pelletier/Duehr
Dube - Backlund - Coleman
Facepuncher & whoever needs a seat

Weegar - Andersson
Kylington - Tanev
Hanifin - Zadorov
Stecher - Stone

Wolf
Markstrom

I still think this is a top team. It's nice to have 13 forwards I want in the lineup too. The forward lines would probably end up different than these, but I'd really like to see Huberdeau with Coronato + Pelletier for a bit. That line could be very dangerous. I also think Phillips signs a 1-way with the Flames if Love becomes the head coach. It's fun to dream again as a fan...even if those dreams are silly.

I liked Sutter, but as a fan, all I could dream of was escape from his stubbornness. FREEDOM!!!

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Murray sounds to be heavily involved in decision making. I suggest everyone listen to the last 3 minutes of that presser. Maloney phrases it carefully imo, but it sounds like Edwards is knee deep in decision making still.

Heh, I wouldn't say he phrased it carefully. I think he put his foot in his mouth there.

"Murray is a very tuned in owner. Anyone who thinks that he isn't involved is sadly mistaken"

Oof!

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

That kind of fits their MO as they fire their coaches the moment things slide in and their coaches only last a couple of seasons.

So just like the Flames.

[liamenator]

I liked what I heard from Maloney. He seems to have cast a wide net in gathering information and impressions about what went wrong this season. The stuff about agents was smart (we probably don't talk enough about the impact agents have on league business and franchise reputations).

So he's attuned to the fact that the league and players today are very different from what they were 10, 15, 20 years ago. He's clearly not afraid to make difficult decisions or have hard conversations; it couldn't have been easy going to Murray and Bean asking them to eat $8M. And lastly, he repeated several times that he believes in delegating: let managers manage, coaches coach.

This all bodes well for the GM search, imo.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by droopydrew19

Im gonna miss Chris Sutter

At his last game against the Sharks, they had him disguised as an usher for the Usher dance cam. None of the other ushers were really doing anything, and then they showed a guy standing with his back turned to the camera. Chris then turned around so people could see his face and the crowd went nuts.

What a way to go out -- well done Chris.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by liamenator

I liked what I heard from Maloney. He seems to have cast a wide net in gathering information and impressions about what went wrong this season. The stuff about agents was smart (we probably don't talk enough about the impact agents have on league business and franchise reputations).



So he's attuned to the fact that the league and players today are very different from what they were 10, 15, 20 years ago. He's clearly not afraid to make difficult decisions or have hard conversations; it couldn't have been easy going to Murray and Bean asking them to eat $8M. And lastly, he repeated several times that he believes in delegating: let managers manage, coaches coach.



This all bodes well for the GM search, imo.

The players have a voice now, they have social media, access to reporters etc... no more secrets.

I think the Pelletier situation was the most uncomfortable thing all season and that sound bite was heard everywhere.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

Lewis’ value can easily be replicated by a younger, cheaper player on an ELC.

TBF - guys like Lewis and Stone are fine veterans. They don't cost any more than a rookie. Lewis had a lower cap hit than Duehr or Pelletier for example. But you should treat them more like Stone (a fill in for injuries or play the odd game), and not like Lewis - who basically played every game. You should be using a guy like Duehr or other young guy X in that role because there is a chance they may develop into something more. The older guy gives you a pro who can stay in shape and fill in when needed while also not having his development hurt by sitting in the press box for a month straight.

[Savvy27]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

Lewis’ value can easily be replicated by a younger, cheaper player on an ELC.

I expect that Duehr can be just as effective on the PK as Lewis was and more effective 5v5.

[Samonadreau]

Im sure the stane right now is keep the pieces. Im also sure that after July 1 when they can negotiate with next years free agents and they get a tadt of who they will sign, then that may change.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Yamer

The big takeaway today (and something Maloney has been stressing since Treliving left) is that the organization is going to drastically change its philosophy going forward. Maloney took the long way around to say that they, and specifically Sutter, are out of touch with the modern NHL.

Lots of talk about getting younger and being more in touch with the new generation. That's refreshing and exciting, and I gotta say that I never expected Maloney of all people to revitalize my optimism.

Hope those words are taken to heart and we see an entirely fresh approach to team building and growth.

The GM having a vision and that coach implementing that vision on the ice was my big takeaway.

Big disconnect with this organization and embracing the modern NHL.

Someone mentioned earlier about how Toronto and Colorado have used that approach with the GM and coach being aligned. We need that big time here.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by Yamer

What impresses me about Maloney is his self-awareness. He's said several times he's not the guy for the job because he's too far separated from the newer generation of players and coaches.

I can't use the word "refreshing" enough when it comes to Don Maloney's handling of this debacle.

The word “competent” comes to mind, something we rarely see as Flames fans.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Red Slinger

This was inevitable. Every coach has a shelf life, particularly one who can be as driving as Sutter.

He is a good coach who squeezes everything out of his players but I think the Oilers figured out how to play against his system in last years playoffs and many teams did the same this year. So, while a lot of underlying stats looked good the results weren't there. Even so, with league average goaltending the team would comfortably be in the playoffs.

This is a great opportunity to change the dynamic of this team from "do anything to get into the playoffs" to "build a team to win the Cup". It starts with getting the right GM and then the right coach. So, this is a step in the right direction but it will mean nothing if the next GM and/or coach aren't up to the task.

The opposing coaches figured out Sutter and outcoached him because they knew that whenever faced with adversity, he was going to put out his Kings and 4th liners.

[just_tim]

Originally Posted by getbak

Hire Conroy as GM, Love as Head Coach, and on July 1, sign Backlund to an extension and give him the C.

I can get behind this. Also, bring up and play the young guys, implement a modern defensive system, move Vladar (not because he sucks, because we need a space for Wolf), and play Wolf 30 for games