Waiting for a good Darryl Sutter quote is a bit like fishing. You might sit on the boat for days and not catch anything, but when there’s a tug on the line, it can be a big catch… Of course, a big talking point over the past couple days has been whether players should be forced to wear helmets during pregame warmups. Edmonton’s Taylor Hall suffered a nasty cut this week when, sans helmet, he slipped and was sliced by a teammate. It’s a shooting-star controversy, one that will disappear in a few days, but it’s relevant to the Kings because, of late, almost all of them have been going through warmups without helmets. Sutter, known as a hard-nosed player during eight seasons as a forward for the Chicago Blackhawks, was asked about Hall’s accident and players going without helmets and came up with this gem…
SUTTER: “They can wear wigs and sunglasses. I don’t care, as long as they’re ready. It doesn’t bother me, one way or the other. … It’s isolated, once a year, and it happened to be one of the game’s great young players.’’
Safe to say, Sutter won’t be asking the players to put helmets on any time soon…
SUTTER: “I still like the players having an identity. I do. I think that’s still really important in the game. I think it’s important that you grandfather the (face) shields in, because the kids grow up with the shields. But I still think that identity, and people seeing the players, I still think there’s something there to that. And I like that. Quite honest, as hard as we push them to be ready and prepared, for some of those guys, it’s a cool thing for them, because it’s the only time they get to do it. Even in practice, the first thing you do as a coach, when you step on the ice, you tell them to do their straps up. Same thing you tell your children. `Do your straps up.’ So it’s the same thing. It’s the only time. It’s 16, 18 minutes. I would hate to deny them of that. I know there’s team rules and things like that, and if it came from an ownership, management standpoint, then fine, but from a coaching standpoint, I’m kind of uncomfortable with that.’’
In recent games, the only Kings wearing helmets in warmups (other than the two goalies) have been Dustin Brown, Andrei Loktionov and Slava Voynov. If any King would have second thoughts, it would probably be Willie Mitchell, who has been outspoken about player protection since he suffered a major concussion two seasons ago, but Mitchell said the Kings don’t plan to change anything.
MITCHELL: “It’s like back in the old days. To be honest with you, when you’re out there without protection, I think everyone is more cautious about the things you’re doing. Before, guys felt invincible. It’s like driving around in a big, huge Hummer, as opposed to a small Euro-sized car. You feel invincible in the Hummer. It’s the same thing with hockey, I think. I’m a traditionalist that way. I’ve always said that the shoulder pads have gotten too big, and that’s why you have all these head injuries. Before, you could hit hard but you couldn’t hit super, super hard, because you didn’t have enough gear on and you would separate your shoulder.
“So it’s the same thing with the helmets. I think when you’re out there like that, guys are so cautious that they don’t have it on, so they have that respect for each other, so you don’t see that stuff happen. We’ve had a pretty good record without the lids, that’s for sure. It’s kind of something that guys talked about one day and said, `Hey, we’ve got to get a little bit of swagger back into our game.’ It wasn’t so much about anything else, except, `Hey, we’re a good team, let’s get that swagger.’ Not cocky. I don’t like using `cocky,’ because you carry yourself in an arrogant way when you’re cocky, but swagger is a confidence. No lids, and we’ve had a pretty good record since, so we’ll be sticking with it.’’
Back to Sutter, he’s no stranger to major head injuries. During the 1983-84 season, he was hit by a slap shot from teammate Doug Wilson. Sutter fractured his left cheekbone and had damage to his eye, but missed only 18 games.
SUTTER: “I got a football (face mask) from Mike Ditka, from the Bears. That was before all this new Plexiglass and all this stuff. I either had to get Joe Girardi’s catching mask or something from the Bears. It was either the Cubs or the Bears. That’s what I got. That was hard.
“You had a handful of guys that didn’t wear helmets on your team, so anything you did that (required) face protection, you were improvising, because you didn’t have it. You didn’t have access to it. Very seldom did anybody ever put a… I can’t remember if there was ever, there might have been a European player coming over that had a shield, but if somebody was hurt, usually they wore a screen or a football (grill).’’
It was suggested to Sutter that playing with the oversized face grill must have made it difficult to play the puck.
SUTTER: “Guys like me, it was just hard anyways. I probably would have been better blindfolded.’’
Sutter is just flat out pure gold. He doesn’t say much but, when he does, he continues to impress. I’m sure he’s won this team over in a very short time.
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LBlocal Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:29 pm
http://sports.cbsimg.net/u/photos/hockey/img16564558.jpg gKg!
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Mik3ysfv Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:25 pm
@LBlocal, aewsome. My new wallpaper.
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He is funny. (and he knows it) Just a very understated delivery. Not Eddie Murphy or Richard Pryor!
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mash-ola Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
@Purple Ghost, Steven Wright, perhaps?
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Forum Gold Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
@Purple Ghost, I was thinking Yogi Berra. Hockey is 90% percent mental and 50% putting the puck in the net. GO KINGS GO!!!
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Gee, I thought we were going to hear a reason for Sutter’s ugly suits.
I like the guy, but can Jim Fox or someone in LA please give the man some fashion tips. Some of those paid suits are horrifying.
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RobBordsen Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:06 pm
@RobBordsen, I meant “plaid” suits.
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Mik3ysfv Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
@RobBordsen, Jim has his own Jacket…..
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purple and gold Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:13 pm
@RobBordsen, I like the additional character they bring behind the bench. Why be like everyone else when you can be Darryl Sutter?
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
@RobBordsen, THANK YOU! The brown plaid one looks like it came out of a trunk at a garage sale. But, it makes Sutter just that much more likeable. No one else in the world could pull off that look.
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Steve W Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:49 pm
@40YearKingsFan, How about Don Cherry, his wardrobe is atrocious.
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AZ King Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
@RobBordsen,
The man spends more time thinking about hockey than fashion. I don’t see any problem with that.
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Shakes Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
@RobBordsen,
I feel like 90% of it could be solved by not wearing a dark, oddly colored shirt, with like a multi-colored tie. Heck if they just stuck with plain white or blue shirts and a weird tie they’d look ok. If they had a weird shirt but no tied they’d look ok…but not both! NOT BOTH!
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simonsez Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
@RobBordsen,
I like to think that Sutter is such a hipster that he’s wearing the plaid suits ironically. Regardless, I like his style and the fact he’s not just wearing the same boring suits everyone else wears.
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letswinthecup2012 Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
@RobBordsen,
i dig the earthy tones
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Forum Gold Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
@letswinthecup2012, So Figueroa. GO KINGS GO!!!
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Joey No-No Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
@RobBordsen, As long as the KINGS keep playing like they are, DS can be dressed like a drag-queen for all I care. The only clothes I care about are the LA Jerseys!
GO KINGS GO!
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408kingsfan Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
@RobBordsen, The suite seems to be lucky, for hockey games anyway
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KC23 Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:53 pm
@RobBordsen, IMHO, those suits are so bad, they are cool. Don’t change a thing Mr. Sutter.
If things start going good, I bet some smart Kings super fan is going to come up with a T-Shirt with King’s logo, that is painted like one of Sutter’s uglyest plad jackets. How cool would that be?
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KC23 Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
@KC23, Oh, and on the back reads “This ain’t baseball”
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KingsGuy Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:57 pm
@RobBordsen, He’s been wearing some better suits, but notice same tie.
I actually like the old school plad/checkered blazer look. He’s a hipster!
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wavesinair Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
@RobBordsen,
I thought the same thing -that this post was going to be about his suits. My girlfriend remarked that they don’t just LOOK like they’re from the 70′s but that the probably ARE!
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Oh man! I thought he was actually going to be asked about that brown plaid jacket he’s worn for about 3 or 4 games so far!
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Jay Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
@40YearKingsFan, I was thinking the same thing. That thing looks hideous.. but whatever works right? Don’t change anything.
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:59 pm
@Jay, Right! I hope he unleashes the big bad brown plaid on Calgary again tonight. It should be ready, he had a day to get it dry cleaned.
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Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
@40YearKingsFan,
I must be the only one who’s a fan of Sutter’s suits. Let’s get Rich into one of those beauties on a game day! What do you say, Hammer?? Is there any plaid in your future?
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
@Lanny McDonald’s ‘Stache, Think he’s got kind of a retro thing going that might catch on? I think it was @Wavesinar or @Variable that was suggesting a “Sutter Suit Suite night”. How funny would that be to have everyone dressed in old plaid suit jackets?
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Forum Gold Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
@40YearKingsFan, Jack Kent Cooke would have loved it. GO KINGS GO!!!
LAK1ngs Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
@40YearKingsFan,
I’m sure there are many scary sport coats in Thrift Stores all over So Csl.
370455vinSD Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:40 pm
@40YearKingsFan, If that happens I am in. We should just start calling him Herb Tarlek.
Mik3ysfv Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
@Lanny McDonald’s ‘Stache, nah, mee too. Reminds me of my Dad’s threads in the ’70′s. Kind of Slapshot-ish.
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I want to see the wigs and sunglasses!
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KC23 Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
@VBunker72, I would laugh my behind off if they did that. Last year tribute to Smyth was fantastic.
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Bring out the Ryan Smyth mullets and the Hollywood sunglasses for the warmup tonight!
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Cynic Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
@BluLiner, +1. Absolutely.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 4:37 pm
@BluLiner, that’s right along the lines of what I was thinking.
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Buster Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 8:30 pm
@BluLiner,
Something’s telling me #2 might be the instigator on this one.
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I think his fashion sense too is sort of an ‘in-between’ compared to Don Cherry. Not the Don Cherry of today (god forbid) but Grapes when he was coaching. He sort of has that same quirkyness in the way he speaks.
I used to watch the Devs a lot when I first arrived in ny, and his brother was just too drab. My God, I mean you wonder what the heck the story was. I mistakenly confused the two so when the rumor was a hiring of Sutter I thought…. oh oh. But it turns out that we got the more amusing one.
That said….. as long as he stays behind the bench, I’m fine with that based on the early returns. As long as he doesn’t get into the front office. What was that? Dion Phaneuf and Freddy Sjostrom to the Leafs for Ian White (?), Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman and Jamal Mayers?
Sometimes posters make up stuff on this site….. but I didn’t make that up. I promise. You can do a search for it yourself.
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Mik3ysfv Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
@number 6, yeah, but we Had Sam the disasterMcMaster. Game, set, match.
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number 6 Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 3:12 pm
@Mik3ysfv,
Yes indeed my friend. That said, I’m not champing at the bit to find someone who is ‘just a little bit better than Sam the Bam, you can have my…… draft choice, man’.
Truth be told I can’t even remember what he did. I just remember that I didn’t like it.
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KC23 Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:56 pm
@number 6, Sutter is much cooler than Cherry. Cherry tries too hard while Sutter comes by his horrid plad sports jacket naturally.
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number 6 Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 3:13 pm
@KC23,
Now That IS funny….. you know why?? Cause it’s true.
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Hi and I think Sutter is from the old school, and that is the way men used to be dressed, and yes who care’s if same old thing he’s not alone for sure, so if its works I say too who cares?
Anyhow it would be nice to see wigs, but no sun glasses, as for sure hard to see the staples ice then.
Go Kings Go!
Keep going strong!
K=Kool I=Ice N=Nice G=Go S=Stanley Cup
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Mikefromearth Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 6:03 pm
@Gail Weber,
“K=Kool I=Ice N=Nice G=Go S=Stanley Cup”
Gold.
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Polyester plaid is making a comeback
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Was Luc Robitaille one of the first guys to wear a half shield? He was the first guy I personally remember.
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I wonder if Sutter’s off-season collection is from these guys http://www.loudmouthgolf.com
Even Jim Fox wouldn’t be seen in one of their jackets, but then again…maybe?
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I think Sutter needs to keep wearing what he’s been wearing. even the ugly green shirt. whatever it is, it’s WORKING. I’d even be ok with him upping the ante a little and wearing some Herb Brooks pants from the early 80s.
I am honestly ASTONISHED with how well this coaching change has worked thus far. I guess that’s why I’m a fan and they’re the pros*
*well, in fairness had the players played like pros every night we’d probably still be hanging around with TM
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I agree with Sutter in that the more protection the players wear the more serious the injuries tend to be. The football sized shoulder pads need to go.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
@Osaka,
Agreed! As well as the bulletproof plastic.
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Osaka Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
@Kingsfanone, All the protection is meant to prevent injury, but I think it may have a reverse effect to some extent. I am not for doing away with helmets, but with all the head injuries in the NHL now it appears they don’t help the players. When the players used to play without helmets they played the game differently. We didn’t know what we do now about head injuries back then so there is no way to compare data, but I wonder if the players are better off with helmets?
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LittleRhody Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
@Osaka, I have said the very same thing about the NFl. Take off their helmets and I seriously doubt you will see very many head to head collisions.
The only thing that concerns me about removing helmets in the NHL is not so much the hits to the head by other players, but when a player falls (for whatever reason, a clean hit, loses an edge, etc.) and hits his head on the ice.
Kingsfanone Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 4:55 pm
@Osaka,
Yes, agreed. I am more concerned with the shoulder and arm pads covered in plastic armor. Leg armor is fine for shot blocking, but arm and shoulder armor let’s them lead hits with them.
The other problem is the players accepting change.
Osaka Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 5:06 pm
@LittleRhody, Your right, they tackle differently in rugby. I also agree about players hitting their heads on the ice.
@Kingsfanone, Just look at the shoulder pads Gretzky use to wear, can’t go flying in with a shoulder hit wearing those. I agree shoulder pads and elbow pads need to be looked at.
In the 70s and 80s Bob Miller never met a synthetic fiber he didn’t like. His polyester suits and ties from that era make Darryl look like a Polo model. Now thankfully Jim and Bob have people to pick their wardrobes and they look more Wall Street than Main Street.
Sutter is like a classic car. His charm is in his authenticity.
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Not requiring players to wear helmets at all times is a tragedy. The NHL and NHLPA should insist on protecting the players at all costs. What sense does it make to put life and limb at risk for warmups. How many of you have been out playing hockey warming up with pucks flying all over the place? It’s not a matter of if but when, someone is going to get killed. Anyone remember the reason why the basec oaches in baseball wear helmets on the field now? If not, it’s because a minor league base coach got a foul ball of the side of his head and it killed him. I sure hope it doesn’t take this type of tragedy to occur for the geniuses that run the NHL and NHLPA to finally enforce wearing helmets at all time. USA Hockey requires everyone on ice at all times to wear helmets – coaches included.
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Osaka Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
@yetiman_oc, Really? This wasn’t a hockey injury, it was an accident. This could happen to anyone at a public skating session at the ice rink. Should figure skaters wear helmets? Ice dancers should wear goalie equipment? This was a freak accident. Accidents happen when you live life, can’t avoid them.
A matter of WHEN someone will die? Really? Just a tap overdramatic aren’t we? What is the rate of serious injury during warmups? I think the odds are better being struck by lightning twice. You kind of lose credibility making your point when make such a ridiculous overblown statement.
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yetiman_oc Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 6:33 pm
@Osaka, Tell that to the family of the baseball coach who died or the family of the young girl who died in Columbus after being hit by a puck. Do you think the NHL overreacted by putting up nets at every arena?
I’m not sure if you play hockey or not but it is very dangerous out there with 18 people shooting pucks that are flying around ricocheting off the goal, glass and players. No need to wait for a serious injury or death to do the obvious and require everyone on the ice to wear a helmet and face shield (full).
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Osaka Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 7:01 pm
@yetiman_oc,
I’ve played for over 30 years.
What would a fan getting hit by a puck have to do with players warming up? Was that guy out there warming up with the team? If not their is zero relevance.
yetiman_oc Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:17 pm
@Osaka sorry didn’t mean to confuse you. I brought up the girl being killed to illustrate that A. A puck to the head can kill a person and B. it took a tragedy like that to get the NHL to require every arena to install netting. Prior to that you had people such as you saying that a serious injury was unlikely and the net would ruin the fans view.
Since you are a fellow hockey player, I know you know how much a puck to any part of your unprotected body hurts like hell. You also know that with 18 pucks and sticks flying around during warmups, getting hit by one of them is a very real possibility.
Wigs and sunglasses…classic! Reminded me of Mullet Night.
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I really think it would go a long way for the Kings players to wear wigs and sunglesses to the next practice. I think we all need to loosen up a bit. And it surely would bring some player/ coach bonding.
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