He ain't heavy, he's my head coach
Jean Lefebvre
June 20 2009 12:22PM

So it seems Brent Sutter will soon be introduced as the new head coach of the Calgary Flames. TSN reports that the two sides are working out the details but when it’s brothers on opposite sides of the bargaining table, what could possibly be left to settle? Who gets to sleep in the top bunk when the lads visit the ranch?
If this turns out to be true, nobody should be shocked. There was just something in the word choice and tone of Brent’s presser upon resigning from the New Jersey Devils that left the door wide open for exactly this turn of events. And in hindsight, Darryl Sutter’s “I’m the best man for the job” remark at his presser when he talked about Mike Keenan’s firing should have had “red herring” printed on it with 128-point Helvetica.
All that said, this is a little surprising (again, assuming it’s true). I honestly believed that Brent would stay away because he was of the opinion that no NHL organization was big enough for both of these particular Sutter brothers. It wasn’t that the siblings didn’t like each other, but all the visible evidence suggests that these two fellows are used to getting their own way and, well, the time has long passed for these two to settle their differences with wrestling matches on the parlour rug.
Two possibilities come to mind:
- Brent satisfies his power-tripping urges my running his junior hockey fiefdom in Red Deer and is willing to let others – first Lou Lamoriello and now potentially big brother Darryl – call the shots for his other hockey gig; or,
- The brothers have come to some sort of agreement on who gets authority on what in regards to Flames business.
If you’ll remember, one brother has already hired another to coach his team – a couple of years back, Brent handed the Red Deer reins over to Brian. Flames fans will hope this brother partnership turns out a tad better than that one.
Word is, Peter Laviolette is going to be retained as an "associate coach" as well.
worst kept secret since burke to toronto
Who Cares? This isn't Flames Nation!
"In other news, the sky is blue..."
I'm standing by my statement from a previous article that if *chough WHEN cough* the Flames get knocked out of the first round, they will get into a fistfight at the end-of-season presser.
Bob Cob wrote:
It's a big story. I'm guessing they won't post every Flames story on here, but a big one like this I don't mind.
Laviolette too??? Wow looks like they are trying to copy the Oilers.Who would have thought any team would copy anything the Oilers do.
In other news, Bertuzzi cannot understand why he hasn't been offered a contract......
In the words of the dearly departed Mr. Daniels- Flames (still) suck. Breaking Oilers news please.
Bob Cob wrote:
I do. A lot actually. Sutter and Laviolette is a huge tandem. Much more formidable than our own I would suggest. Jesus the Flames ought to be good this year.
Travis Dakin wrote:
What makes them more formidable than Quinn and Renney??? Just curious what you base that point on.
Maybe, but last time I checked the coaches don't actually play. My bigger concern is upgrading Oiler players to compete against flame players.
GUYS . . . Why not ease up a little? Just because something has been rumoured or speculated on for awhile doesn't mean you ignore it once it gets close to being a done deal.
It's like the Daum thing the other day. Sure, everybody assumed it was coming, but just because that's the case do I ignore it once it's done? The Sutter epic has moved along down a predictable road, but would you rather Jean just shrug his shoulders?
You either want us to sniff around or not. No?
Milli wrote:
I'm pretty sure he'll end up in Dallas or Toronto, playing for one of the only two guys in the NHL who can stand to be in the same room as him.
Mikey #2 wrote:
1)Sutter/Laviolette = Stanley cup ring 2)Quinn/Renney = not so much.
Your right. We just like to hear flames aquire player x, Oilers aquire player Y, who is infinitely better then player x. So much so the sobs of mr. sutter can be heard all the way from the lands of OilersNation.
@ Mikey #2:
The Laviolette thing is more rumor than anything. no real confirmation yet, so it may not be real.
Business and Family always mix well together. It will be like Jon and Kate plus 23 down in Cowtown. Family struggles we love to watch, fights and disagreements on National TV. It starts off lovey dovey with Jon and Kate...er...Darryl and Brent trying to do whats best for the kids...er...team. Then Kate/Darryl's overbearing presence and constant mishandling of the Cap pushes Jon/Brent into the arms of another woman/Red Deer Rebels, and the kids are left to fend for themselves. They try to work it out, but everyone knows its doomed to fail in the 1st round anyway.
@ Mikey #2: When your associate coach has a ring as a head coach well, you're pretty much doing alright.
Kent wrote:
If it's not true then good. If it is then bad.
Goes to show how the NHL coaching landscape is changing when guys like Laviolette and Renney are taking associate coaching positions.
And then the league investigates the goslins/ sutters for exploiting the kids/ players by forcing them to work on the family farm on off days. Sidenote: Phaneuf is mistaken as livestock and never seen again.
ronaldr wrote:
BWAHAHAHA
How is Sutter's situation any different from Heatley's? They both quit on their teams so they could relocate to where they want to go. Dollars to doughnuts Heatley ends up in Clowntown now. Fits the script anyways..
ronaldr wrote:
How long after he's missing before Elisha Cuthbert dates another meathead with skates?
Good point. So where is the wizard of oz, er, burke, with his righteous indignation of this crime against his "moral" code. Must be no rumours of him coming to the oilers.
Oh Flamers.....can't wait to watch episodes of "family fued" on sportsnet this year.
@ Archaeologuy
After?
@ ronaldr:
I just assumed it would take as long as it takes for another player to walk in front of her.
*wishes he hadnt have quit hockey when he was 11 because practice made his knees sweat*
Archaeologuy wrote:
I play hockey.
@ Travis Dakin:
That's all it takes Travis. That's all it takes.
@ Archaeologuy: Thank God.
ooo! ooo! ooo! I play hockey too. Hello miss cuthbert Oh, you actually touched that swamp creature that dresses in red!?!...ummm...Penicillin please...hurry!
Mikey #2 wrote:
Wow, not really surprised but this just confirms that Calgary really does like their "sloppy seconds."
@ Mikey #2: He seems to want to criticize the Oilers is why the post was made.
Mikey #2 wrote:
The guy you quoted seems like a Flames fan who posted in this thread so he could criticize the Oilers. Why else did he criticize the Oilers hiring Quinn/Renney? Quinn won a gold medal at the Olympics which neither Sutter nor Laviolette have. Considering the Laviolette is just a rumour and nothing more. If I were Laviolette I wouldn't sign on as an associate coach. Renney only accepted the associate coach with because it was with Quinn. He woudldn't have done it with anyone else.
@ Jasmine: No I've bled Copper/Orange and blue since 1980. Don't you ever say something like that again! HAHA
I didnt' criticize Quinn and Renney. I simply stated that a pairing of Sutter and Laviolette, to me, is a better option than Quinn and Renney. But having said that, I honestly believe that the tandem of Quinn and Renney will match up very favourably to ANY other team in the league. An Olympic Gold Medal is not the Stanley Cup.
Archaeologuy wrote:
I don't know, money might be a factor, too.
Meet me in the back room in fifteen minutes, Travis.
Elisha Cuthbert wrote:
...and Travis; watch out for terrorists and cougars. This girl is a magnet for them.
Mikey #2 wrote:
I bet Brent knows Iginla is NOT a center.
I too thought Cuthbert was hot then I had the image of her and the Mongoloid getting it on. My feelingd for her are now dead.. :(
Chris wrote:
Ahaha
can't these posts be relegated to a side frame or at least have an option to disable them for actual Oilers fans? Its obvious that Wanye is a Flames/Canucks fan at heart but why should the rest of us have to suffer? .. Oh, and.. I fully expect this post to be ignored like all the rest of em.
son of a bitch.
@ alphah.: I see you. I hear you. I feel you.
Elisha Cuthbert wrote:
You didn't show up. Friggin tease.
Lefebvre wrote:
I assumed the same thing. I'm pretty surprised they are going to do this, and I'm not sure it will turn out well if they do.
@ Travis Dakin: I meant the other back room.
I assume this means the Hitmen will be instructed to roll over for the Rebels.
The Rebels are bad.......The Hitmen would have to trade alot of players away for them to be able to lose to the Rebs! @ The Menace:
Elisha Cuthbert wrote:
I don't like going in through that door....