2023-05-05 14:33:11
It seems it wasn’t just the Calgary media that Darryl Sutter was at loggerheads. Apparently, the announcement of his dismissal would have made the case for several Flames color holders.
This was reported by Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff site. According to the information he gleaned through the Bettman circuit, players who had demanded a transaction or who were thinking of doing so would have reconsidered their decision knowing that Sutter would not be back.
The journalist says that even during their end-of-season one-on-one meeting, players allegedly told Brad Treliving, then general manager of the team, and Don Maloney, president of hockey operations, that they would not be back. if Sutter took a seat behind the bench once more.
Trevliving has since left his post. According to the official version, the two parties cut ties by mutual agreement. His contract expired on June 30.
It’s the opposite for Sutter, who still has two years left on his contract at an annual salary of $4 million.
Departures that can be explained
The comments collected by Seravalli echo the statement made by Maloney when announcing the dismissal of Sutter.
“I interviewed 25 players, coaches, coaching staff and coaching staff. I have had discussions with the agents who represent key players on our team. In light of these interviews, I have seen that we need a new voice to guide us into the future,” he said.
We may understand better why, last summer, Johnny Gaudreau chose to take advantage of his autonomy to join the Columbus Blue Jackets and why Matthew Tkachuk expressed the wish to change air.
All this following a season of 111 points, the second most productive in franchise history.
Profitable for Huberdeau
Moreover, Jonathan Huberdeau, who made the opposite way from Florida, experienced a drastic drop in production, going from 115 to 55 points.
Blaming only the coach would be a little too easy, but one can hypothesize that there lies part of the explanation.
“It didn’t really click between Darryl and me. There were several reasons. The point difference is huge. And the style of play he wanted to impose did not fit with mine, said the Quebec striker on BPM Sports radio earlier this week. Counting on a new coach will increase my game and my confidence.
A natural left winger, Huberdeau has been called upon to play on the right wing for most of the season. He doesn’t seem to have been able to adjust.
Maloney will have his work cut out to find a general manager and a head coach. However, this wind of change might help convince Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, Mikael Backlund, Tyler Toffoli, Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov, eligible for contract extensions, to stay in Stampede town.
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