Flames officially name Sutter coach

by James Mirtle on Jun 23, 2009 4:46 PM CDT Comment 22 comments

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

General Manager Darryl Sutter announced today Brent Sutter has been named as the head coach of the Calgary Flames. Additionally, Ryan McGill, Dave Lowry and Jamie McLennan have been named as assistant coaches.

Brent joins the Calgary Flames after two seasons as the bench boss of the New Jersey Devils compiling a 97-56-11 (.625) record during the regular season, and an Atlantic Division title in 2008-09. Prior to that, Brent spent eight seasons as owner, president, general manager, and head coach of the Red Deer Rebels (WHL).

>> team release

Sutter was really impressive with the Devils in the past two years, and I think he'll do a nice job in Calgary given the cast they have. It'll be pretty interesting should Darryl have to fire his younger brother, however.

This is a bit of a tough pill for fans in New Jersey, but you could see it coming a mile away.

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I doubt Darryl ever fires Brent. I expect he’s aware that if Brent fails, it will be Ken King letting them both go, or they both step down at the same time.

I can see why Devils fans would be disappointed by this, but as a Flames fan, I think this is excellent news. Also interesting to see how fast Dave Lowry’s star has risen… From junior assistant to junior head coach robbed of a coach of the year award to NHL assistant in just over one calendar year.

by Resolute on Jun 23, 2009 4:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I really like what I’ve heard and seen from Lowry in the junior system. The word going around is that he’s a pretty sharp cookie.

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on Jun 23, 2009 5:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, he turned a Hitmen team expected to be rebuilding into the best team in the country, perhaps the second best in WHL history, and came within a hot goaltender of the Memorial Cup. There were people in Calgary clamouring for him to become the next coach of the Flames. Nothing but respect for Lorne Mollekin, but there is no way in hell he should have been named the East finalist for coach of the year. That was a lifetime achievement nod, not one for the season itself. Lowry’s promotion will be a big hit to the Hitmen, that’s for sure.

I like Ryan McGill a lot, though I can’t pin why. The QC Flames never had much success, but McGill has been regarded as the type who got a lot out of his charges. Same with Lowry, same with Brent Sutter. This is going to be one mean coaching staff with those three on board.

by Resolute on Jun 23, 2009 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hva efun getting out in the first round every year!!!! Something I won’t miss.

by LetsGoDevils on Jun 23, 2009 7:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Such bitter jealousy is unbecoming.

Simple fact is, if you were happy Sutter was gone, you wouldn’t be whining. Especially given the difference between losing in the first round this year and advancing was a couple soft goals by Brodeur.

by Resolute on Jun 23, 2009 10:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If two wrongs make a right, or two negatives multiplied together make a positive, wouldn’t Brent’s coaching and the Flames’ trend of early exits cancel out and cause a deep playoff run?

by hawksfan21 on Jun 24, 2009 12:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It worked for Darryl!

by Resolute on Jun 24, 2009 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have fun

by LetsGoDevils on Jun 23, 2009 7:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

My understanding was that if the Flames were to sign Sutter, as he has a year left on his deal with NJ, there needs to be some sort of compensation going on there. Yet, I’ve seen nothing about what said compensation is/should be. What’s the deal on that?

http://sacrificethebody.blogspot.com/
Sacrifice the Body - Examining the NHL through statistical analysis, reasoned thought, and blind conjecture.

by IAmJoe on Jun 24, 2009 2:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Lou Lamoriello took out his OWN compensation, if you know what I mean….

I can see it now: “You really think I would let anyone do that to me? You think I’m taking this laying down? I’M A FRACKING HALL OF FAMER!”

by Afino on Jun 24, 2009 7:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

From the Herald today: http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/calgary-flames/Brothers+arms/1727187/story.html

“On June 12, Darryl got permission from New Jersey boss Lou Lamoriello to court Brent.

Asked if compensation had been involved, the old cowboy snorted: “No.”

(His counterpart’s response was a little more enlightening. “You know once you give consent, because of the new rules in the NHL, there is no recourse and no compensation,” Lamoriello told the Star-Ledger Tuesday afternoon. “I certainly believe there should be compensation in situations like this for all the obvious reasons, but there isn’t. That’s a league rule and you accept it.”)"

by Resolute on Jun 24, 2009 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Joe, if you read Lamoriello’s comments, he says the league doesn’t allow compensation in these cases anymore.

by Robert Cleave on Jun 24, 2009 9:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or, what Resolute said.

by Robert Cleave on Jun 24, 2009 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see, thanks.

Seems kinda lame that there’s no compensation involved. Such a thing would never be allowed with players, and coaches can definitely be important to their team’s success too.

http://sacrificethebody.blogspot.com/
Sacrifice the Body - Examining the NHL through statistical analysis, reasoned thought, and blind conjecture.

by IAmJoe on Jun 24, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Which seems crappy to me.

What if players were allowed to retire and then go join another team of their choosing, within a matter of a week or two. There would be huge outrage, just as there should be with this situation. I’m not bitter about the situation, but it sure is a slap in the face.

by Mandmeisterx on Jun 24, 2009 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What if players were allowed to retire and then go join another team of their choosing, within a matter of a week or two

Brett Favre says hi.

by Afino on Jun 24, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That crossed my mind,

but I took the high road and didn’t go there.

by Mandmeisterx on Jun 24, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree that it definitely sucks for Devils fans, and it is a very odd situation. Ultimately, Brent wanted to be closer to home, but also wanted to coach in the NHL. Darryl and Lou went about it the right way to make it happen, but yeah, I expect the next CBA will have a modification that would address this for the future.

by Resolute on Jun 24, 2009 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I definitely think

that Lou deserves some kudos because he handled this whole situation in a very classy way. He could have went about things a lot differently than he did, but he did what Brian Burke and Kevin Lowe don’t know how to do.

by Mandmeisterx on Jun 24, 2009 5:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They could have worked out a secret gentleman’s agreement to later trade something that worked out in New Jersey’s favour. That wouldn’t make Lou any less classy and it would serve both parties well.

by TD O'Dell on Jun 24, 2009 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The biggest negative I see from this is that any free agent that was thinking New Jersey a month ago might go elsewhere based on the uncertainty at head coach. It really has to be hard to compete in that market without a head coach.

by cubanpuckstopper on Jun 24, 2009 7:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs