Duhatschek: Darryl Sutter’s assignment is clear – light a fire under the middling Flames
New York TimesA last desperate attempt to salvage a season going rapidly off the rails? The Flames hired Sutter to replace Geoff Ward for the remainder of this season and two additional seasons, charting a new/old course for a team that’s been unable to form any sort of identity, with its current nucleus in place. The object of hiring Sutter to coach the team was unmistakable – it was to light a fire under a group of reasonably talented hockey players that just eked back to.500 on Thursday night, during an impressive 7-3 win over the Ottawa Senators that also marked Ward’s final appearance behind the bench. Rarely does a fired hockey coach go out on a winning note – but these were desperate times in Calgary, a team that is currently fifth out of seven in the NHL’s North Division and has been spinning its wheels almost from the start of the season, inconsistent in virtually every area of its game. Sutter’s last turn behind the Flames’ bench also resulted in their best playoff result of the past 30 years – when he led the 2004 team to the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost in seven games to the Lightning.
History of this topic
Flames fire head coach Sutter after disappointing season
Associated Press
Markstrom reigns over streaking Kings as Flames win 2-1
Associated Press
What Flames’ Adam Ruzicka brings to Elias Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli’s line
New York Times
LeBrun: Can Darryl Sutter’s coaching style work today? Those who know him best think so
New York Times
The Darryl Sutter shakeup: Can the Flames’ new coach right the ship?
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