The previous item alluded to Darryl Sutter’s connection to San Jose, and his frequent trips back here as a member of the Calgary organization. There was a direct tie there. Sutter was fired by San Jose (and by Dean Lombardi) 24 games into the 2002-03 season, but was quickly grabbed by the Flames, whom he led to a 19-18-8-1 record as a midseason replacement. Now, Sutter is in that situation again, having taken over for Terry Murray 33 games into the season. After today’s skate, Sutter was asked about once again taking charge of a team nearly halfway through a season.
SUTTER: “The toughest part is that you are new to the group, for the most part. You know a handful of guys. The only advantage you have in it is, if you have some experience with the league. You might not know (players) personally, you pretty much know what kind of players they are, so you try to get something to happen right away. This is a different situation than the last time I did it. I was going to a team that was basically out of it. They were in a total sort of re-start. This, we’re trying to do it a little bit quicker, and you believe that it is a good group, so you’re trying to get them to believe it. You put in what you can, to help them along the way.’’
Sutter also spoke about his challenges in his first game…
SUTTER: “I told the players, after, that they were a lot better last night than I was. The toughest part, when you’re in your first couple games, you just want to focus on your own guys. So it puts a little more onus on your staff that’s on the bench with you, to help you along the way. Names, numbers, after a while it just becomes automatic and you don’t have to look at it. But last night, there were times when I found myself looking to see who was there. That’s something you know you’ll get better at in a hurry. I told them, Mike Richards and Brad Richardson, if you guys are ever out there on the ice together, that’s your fault. [laughs]’’
I know we joked around with this about Bob Miller but now imagine of Brad Richards would have also signed here. Sutter would be very lost then.
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Dominick Reply:
December 23rd, 2011 at 4:24 pm
@EASportsMgt, He’d have to put them on the ice together, and go by Brad 1, Brad 2, and Mike.
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wavesinair Reply:
December 23rd, 2011 at 4:31 pm
@Dominick,
“go by” meaning those would be the names on their jerseys. lol. A few years down the road, there’s a jersey in the rafters at staples that says, “Mike.”
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Dominick Reply:
December 23rd, 2011 at 6:15 pm
@wavesinair, He could yell out “hey #10! Stay on the left side, and Just feed 19 the puck while 15 looks for rebounds”.
I truly wasn’t sure how I would like Sutter, but I like him. He seems like he shoots straight, and doesn’t try to sweeten how his statements sound. We fans smell BS a mile away so I welcome him and look for good things ahead.
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wavesinair Reply:
December 23rd, 2011 at 4:29 pm
@Pili,
The yelling this is way overblown. The biggest difference between Murray and Sutter, IMO, is that with Sutter you know where you stand (and I love that in a leader) whereas Murray played head games. I’ll take a straight-shooting yeller over a quite game-player any day.
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CB14 Reply:
December 23rd, 2011 at 4:40 pm
@wavesinair, You mean the type of head games where you sit a goalie on a 3 game shutout streak after announcing pre-season that you’re going to ride the hot goalie? Yeah, I didn’t like those types of head games either.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
December 23rd, 2011 at 5:21 pm
@wavesinair,
Yeah, a guy that you can shake his hand and know he’ll abide by it, just like the real olden days.
The best difference? Murray was a micro manager, Sutter seems to trust his players more and just delegate accordingly. I never liked micro managers. Dealt with a few at work in the past.
Agree with you totally. I’ll take the straight shooter any day!
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wavesinair Reply:
December 23rd, 2011 at 5:30 pm
@Kingsfanone,
I think Murray was a ‘handshake’ guy too. Very honorable guy by all accounts. I never really understood the ‘micro-manager’ tag. Not that it isn’t true, I just felt like he was too lax, which isn’t micro at all. I actually think Sutter is more of a micro kind of guy than Murray. But maybe I just don’t define it the same way as everyone else.
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 23rd, 2011 at 5:32 pm
@Pili, @Waves,
Couldn’t resist…
This picture: http://goo.gl/HS4hj
This song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0UcQDUR-fU
Peace out, Darryl!
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Sutter shows his emotions unlike Murray who I think found that to be a weakness. I think this is just the change we needed.
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Boston is on fire, but I got a feeling they are peaking too early. Geez 4 zip already in their game in the first period.
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pnm Reply:
December 23rd, 2011 at 5:03 pm
@KC23, I’ve mentioned Boston a few times on this blog. I just love the way those guys play hockey. There are no superstars or elite name players, but they get the job done as a team. And their coaching staff gets it! The Kings have the potential to be the same type of team… maybe even better imho. They just need to work hard together as a team and make a few coaching tweaks (which includes the release of JK).
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Kingsfanone Reply:
December 23rd, 2011 at 5:28 pm
@pnm,
Agree with your take of Kompon. Best for the team for the time being to keep him, tho, until Sutter learns the team better.
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Love the fact Sutter can make a joke about himself…seems to have a balance between hard nose and good guy…
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