All Things Sutter

[PuckSlap]

I don’t think this is a problem with the coach. I believe he’s just trying to make things work, and the team has not found chemistry. Maybe they just don’t have it.

Everyone laughs at the pre season people who say they aren’t playing good. But it was obvious they weren’t connecting or meshing as a team. That includes the our future stars.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by btimbit

I still really just don't see it though, maybe we're wired differently but I would never take that comment in any negative kind of way, it wouldn't cross my mind so I was a little surprised to see people bringing it up like that.

But still, thanks for explaining and not just answering with snark like a lot of posters would

it's fine to say that you would personally not be annoyed by Sutter's comment, but another thing entirely to say that nobody else should either. it might be way too early in the coach/player relationship for that kind of media snarkery, or maybe that will never be the kind of humor Huberdeau is totally ok with, that does not mean he's some delicate snowflake that can't take a joke.

anyhow, nobody will be able to say with any accuracy how Huby really feels, but his recent french interview makes it sound like he's at least a bit annoyed to have to still be talking about it. as for lineup decisions, of course he's going to say publicly that he's happy to be on a line with a smart player like Backlund and hard worker like Lewis. that might actually be true for a little bit as he gets back up to speed from injury. but no 10.5M player would actually be ok with reduced ice and playing down the lineup for anything longer than a couple games. we're heading into interesting times that will determine whether we still have another couple years of Sutter shelf life, or if things are going to spoil prematurely.

[Paulie Walnuts]

The reason why everyone keeps talking about it is because of that idiot Eric Francis turning a non-story into a supposed issue. Now everyone is talking about it.

Eric Francis is a plague to this team.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

it's fine to say that you would personally not be annoyed by Sutter's comment, but another thing entirely to say that nobody else should either. it might be way too early in the coach/player relationship for that kind of media snarkery, or maybe that will never be the kind of humor Huberdeau is totally ok with, that does not mean he's some delicate snowflake that can't take a joke.

anyhow, nobody will be able to say with any accuracy how Huby really feels, but his recent french interview makes it sound like he's at least a bit annoyed to have to still be talking about it. as for lineup decisions, of course he's going to say publicly that he's happy to be on a line with a smart player like Backlund and hard worker like Lewis. that might actually be true for a little bit as he gets back up to speed from injury. but no 10.5M player would actually be ok with reduced ice and playing down the lineup for anything longer than a couple games. we're heading into interesting times that will determine whether we still have another couple years of Sutter shelf life, or if things are going to spoil prematurely.

I don’t see any meaningful difference between declaring what a large group of people you don’t know should/shouldn’t be annoyed by and declaring what one individual you don’t know will/won’t be annoyed by.

Maybe, like btimbit’s situation, you would be annoyed by the above. But it doesn’t mean Huberdeau is.

[Major Major]

I'm not going to defend the comment as I don't think it did what it was perhaps intended to do which is deflect attention... Also 6/10 for delivery.

But if Huberdeau or other players are so deeply offended by this that it distracts them from winning... Sorry, I just find it so hard to believe. I just don't think anyone is respecting the mentality of a professional athlete at this level if that's what you think.

Huberdeau came here saying that he was singularly focused on winning and that he trusted the coach and would buy in because he's won before and knows what it takes. Then one weird joke about pooping and I'm to believe that's gone out the window (but only after a loss) (and ignoring that his game has improved since the comment).

It's just such a tacky narrative.

[Burning Beard]

I think Sutter has been in the league for a long time and is willing to live with short term pain for long term gain. He doesn't live and die on the last game like many fans do. His Kings teams were never top of the league in the regular season but when they got in the playoffs they played the right way and could handle adversity.

I think he sees the chemistry wasn't there right off the hop and is playing different guys together to see what works. I think he will be very patient while the team works to sort out the chemistry.

He always talks about Markstrom being the star of this team and is relying on him to get his game back and play through it. He is a guy who always relies on a legit #1 goaltender, which Markstrom certainly was last year until the wheels fell off against the Greasers.

With that all said, I really hope he goes back to the original lines soon and gets Vladar in the net while Markstrom gets his game back.

[Major Major]

I think there's a bit of an awkward middle with this team right now with the core change. You want it to be seamless, and it almost felt like it would be.

The established core that was here deferred when they should have lead. Now they're playing better since the line change and so are the newbs. I think it's time to re-mesh to the original lines and let them rock a while.

Markstrom's play is concerning. Obviously, having a goalie become a fish can sewer a season. The thing with elite goalies though is not that they never have a bad stretch. It's that they come out of it which I think he will.

[HighLifeMan]

I love Sutter. I think he has a mind for the game that very few others do, and a way to push and motivate players that is unmatched but he certainly isn't perfect and shouldn't escape criticism either. He's emotional and stubborn - and his approach can absolutely wear on players especially during tough times.

Who on this roster is he currently getting the best out of? Three names come to mind with Lewis, Ritchie, and Zadorov - and to me that's the problem. It's his job to find and deploy his players in the best possible situations and he has flat out failed to do that with the skill players on this roster.

During the broadcast last night they mentioned how Jon Cooper accepted and embraced the player that Nikita Kucherov is and the roller coaster ride that he can put a coach through on a shift to shift basis. Do you think Sutter would have been ok with Kucherov blowing the zone while down a man late in a game to get that empty net goal last night? Not a chance. Sutter should maybe take a page out of his book in regards to integrating Huberdeau.

We need more creativity out there. We need more involvement as a five man unit in transition. We need to open up the middle of the ice more. We have become a stale and predictable team offensively that takes low percentage shots with little to no traffic in front.

Everyone needs to be better - but as they say, it starts at the top.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Not really. The guy that has no pressure on him in Florida is thriving. Its not meant to be finger pointing but its the truth. You can smile and wave and hide it, but it's there.

And come playoffs at the end of the long game I guarantee you see the reverse.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

And come playoffs at the end of the long game I guarantee you see the reverse.

Maybe? Tkachuk has been to the 2nd round so there is that.

[Toonage]

Once. And as was the case in every playoff appearance he was injured and a detriment to the team ultimately.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

The reason why everyone keeps talking about it is because of that idiot Eric Francis turning a non-story into a supposed issue. Now everyone is talking about it.

Eric Francis is a plague to this team.

yeah, anytime EF writes a column, the whole town reads it and reacts. EF drives the spots media bus, train and plane in this town

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Maybe? Tkachuk has been to the 2nd round so there is that.

So have the Oilers.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I still don't get how this turned into anything, let alone something AGAINST Huberdeau by Sutter? It was an off the cuff comment as a joke because Sutter doesn't generally address injury inquiries immediately following a game. That's ****ing it.

How would it feel if there was an important meeting at work, in front of all your co-workers and even your external business clients were there - and you had to step out for a minute.

Then when someone asks about you, your boss says in front of everyone "he had to go take a s***"

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

How would it feel if there was an important meeting at work, in front of all your co-workers and even your external business clients were there - and you had to step out for a minute.

Then when someone asks about you, your boss says in front of everyone "he had to go take a s***"

Wouldn't bother me in the slightest

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

How would it feel if there was an important meeting at work, in front of all your co-workers and even your external business clients were there - and you had to step out for a minute.

Then when someone asks about you, your boss says in front of everyone "he had to go take a s***"

I don't think it was the comment alone, to me, it just seems so out of character for Sutter to make a comment like that. It's just not the kind of thing you expect from Sutter who is usually all business and protective of how the media treats players. It seemed kind of flippant from a coach that isn't usually like that. It's hard to imagine that Sutter would have made the same comment if the player was Backlund, Tanev, Markstrom, Lucic, Lindholm, Kadri, etc...

Maybe I am looking into it too much and seeing something that isn't there, but my gut is telling me that Sutter isn't all that enamored with Huberdeau. I think it just stems from Huberdeau's playing style and inability to coach it out of him. To be honest, I am not a big fan of how Huberdeau plays either, but Darryl seems like he might be taking it personally.

[Toonage]

But I'm guessing your work meetings don't make the news or have sound bites repeated on sports news broadcasts or are you asked about that meeting everyday.

(or maybe it does, who knows)

[saillias]

I think more than enough time has been spent on the take a **** drama. Supposedly it didn't go over well, but I think it's settled.

I just want to ask Sutter (or Brad), what happened with Sonny Milano and Jusso Valimaki. Why didn't those guys work out. Why did you keep Mackey and even Meloche over Valimaki. You must've known there was zero shot either of those guys are claimed, but decent to high chance Valimaki would be lost. Who's call was it to not play Milano in the last few preseason games, while he was still on PTO. It suggests to me there was a disagreement between Sutter and GM. Brad wanted the player to make the team and Darryl refused to put him on the roster and already made up his mind he didn't.

At the time I gave them the benefit of the doubt with these decisions that the org was developing very high standards and had expectations which spoke to how competitive and dominant they expected to be. But it turns out they just made two bad decisions. These are both exactly the kind of player they could use right now.

As for Sutter it does seem like he's been on 110% tilt since September. For me the "take a ****" comment did not offend me but something he said a week later saying "all that about the Flames defensive depth was BS" did get under my skin. One it's a shot at management. Two he's been taking shots at Mackey since preseason. Did you not pick him as your 7.Who's call was it to run Valimaki out of town then, Craig Conroy's?

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Maybe I am looking into it too much and seeing something that isn't there, but my gut is telling me that Sutter isn't all that enamored with Huberdeau. I think it just stems from Huberdeau's playing style and inability to coach it out of him. To be honest, I am not a big fan of how Huberdeau plays either, but Darryl seems like he might be taking it personally.

Huberdeau made the mistake of coming into camp confident in himself. Can't have that.

[Kasi]

Sutter I think has always been a coach who plays on the edge with his interactions with the media and players. I think us fans find it tremendously funny but I’m not sure if professionals do.

On the matter of coaching style it feels a lot like square peg, round hole type of thing. He’s spreading the grinders around and trying to turn everyone into grinders. The top line worked last year despite not being grinders because Gaudreau was so good at holding the puck and that worked against most teams. I’m just not sure if he’s willing to give Huberdeau the support he needs to unlock his offensive style or if he’s going to try and turn him into the same style he has everyone else play.

I do think Trev needs to step in and save Sutter from himself. Force some of these grinders out of the lineup. But this control the edges and puck and just throw lots of pucks at the net is going to hopelessly fail if they’re not backed up by elite goaltending. And Markstrom is not that this year.