Cougars, Calamities and Classics: Sutter Shocker…Not Really
What’s been touted by radio stations, blogs and stories as the worst kept secret in Calgary, has come to fruition today with the Calgary Flames announcing Brent Sutter as their new head coach.
Rumours were circulating before former bench boss Mike Keenan was even fired but spread like wildfire once Brent resigned from his post with the New Jersey Devils.
Back in March Brent said he’d be staying with the Devils but ended up handing in his resignation early in June, family reasons being a major factor in the decision. In a very gracious move, Devils GM Lou Lamoriello gave the Flames permission to sign Brent with “no strings attached” as stated on NJ.com.
(On a high sidenote, it was also announced today that Lou will be inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame)
Big Darryl is certainly one to keep things in the family, both personally and professionally as Brent is the fifth Sutter to join the Flames organization. Personally, brothers Duane and Ron are Director of Player Personnel and Scout respectively and Darryl’s son Brett plays with Calgary’s farm team.
Professionally joining Brent behind the bench , after an assistant coach clean out, are former Flames Jamie McLennan and Dave Lowry; Ryan McGill will take up assistant coaching duties as well.
You could look at things from the perspective, is five Sutter’s too many? The Sutter’s have such a legacy in hockey it’s hard to argue that having so many of them with one organization will be a bad thing.
Uncle Jim Playfair (as I like to call him) took over from Darryl and things didn’t work out so well with the team making a very disappointing first round exit (I know this well as I was there), after Uncle Jim came Mike Keenan, there were talks of whether or not his firm style of coaching would take the team all the way but again, dissapointing first round exits.
I dont’ know about you but being a Flames fan I am very excited by the move, we all remember what happened the last time a Sutter was behind the Flames bench and it’s about time the boys in red picked up another Stanley Cup.
It’s an old adage but a tried and true one when I say, only time will tell whether or not Brent can take a team that has the talent (is it bad to say this within days of the draft?) all the way.
