March 4 morning skate quotes: Darryl Sutter

On how Adrian Kempe has handled the NHL’s physicality after moving up a level:
He’s handled the speed well. I think the strength and size is something that comes from within, not necessarily what you look at. [Reporter: To be a really good player with his size and his speed, does he need to be a really physical presence, too?] No, I don’t think we ask guys to go outside of what their skill sets are. I think he’s a fast player and he understands the game. There’s a big difference between ‘physical’ and ‘compete,’ and that’s one thing that’s not negotiable, is compete. It doesn’t matter if you’re 5’10 or 6’2. He’s not a big, strong guy, he’s a fast player, so he’s got to get in the areas where he goes against somebody who’s 20 pounds bigger. That’s the difference.

On whether Jarome Iginla’s lack of shots Thursday represents an acclimation process, or whether he’s not overly concerned:
Yeah, I haven’t looked at it. He’ll get his shots. I think you know, … but I think a lot of our local media don’t really understand the quality of player that Jarome was and still has the ability to do. I think it’s just a little bit refreshed. I think you’re talking about a great player. I mean, if this was another sport and a player like that came in at his age in this town, it would be a cavalcade of people around him. You’re talking about a guy who’s one of the greatest scorers in the history of the game, if you look at it.

On whether his family’s work ethic was instilled by his parents:
Yeah, I don’t think we had a choice – seven boys close in age, a lot of work, small farm. Work then play. There was clearly a teamwork part of it. I remember vividly growing up that we did it together and did it well and then you got more time to play ball, play hockey, play football. That’s what you did. If you think about it, it was a team. [Reporter: And then that then goes down to the next generation, as well?] Darn rights. All of it. I think our whole family, we’ve been really blessed as a family to have seven of us and they’re all really close together, and then it goes down, we take care of each other’s kids, too. There’s a lot of ‘em in the family, now, grandchildren, all of that, and it’s pretty much an open house. If you’re a Sutter, you’re a Sutter. You get taken care of.

On the break in the schedule after tonight’s game:
Well, obviously tomorrow’s a mandated day off, and we’ll get one good practice in. You’re not practicing winning right now. Anybody’s who’s got to practice winning right now is onto next year if you look at the schedule. We’re trying to get guys just healthy enough and fresh enough to play games. Tonight finishes a 10-in-17, so the schedule Is one that – obviously everybody’s talked about it. Every team’s talked about it, we’ve talked about it, everybody’s talked about it. It’s been a really difficult schedule for everybody not only because of the cramming of the games, but also because of the way the breaks come into it. I’ve said it lots. These guys are elite, elite athletes. Think about any other major sport. Does the best racehorse in the world take five days off and then go run a big race? He works out every morning. He does something. It’s not typical what’s gone on this year.

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