Flames Recall Brett Sutter - UPDATED
Kent Wilson
March 23 2010 10:18AM
Flames announced today that Darryl's son Brett has been recalled from the Abbotsford Heat. That obviously means a couple of things:
1.) Daymond Langkow is down for the count after his scary neck injury the other day.
2.) Brian McGrattan's days as a Flame are all but finished.
The first bit of news is bad. Really bad. Langkow's couting numbers aside, his unit has consistently been on the right side of scoring chance counts ever since the great mid-season rebuild. He was probably the steadiest forward presence up front in terms of "two-way" hockey and the club will desperately miss his contributions down the stretch*.
*(That said, his inability to win a face-off won't be missed).
The good news is the Flames have decided to forgoe the dancing bear routine by dressing McGrattan. I've claimed for awhile now that enforcers are an anachronism in the NHL and their contributions are of little no value. The fact that Calgary has decided to recall a mediocre prospect rather than dress him indicates the Sutters might (finally) agree with me.
And, yes, Brett Sutter isn't all that exciting recall. In his previous NHL stints, he's proven to be a hard worker and a tenacious forechecker with decent defensive sensibilities. That said, 22 year olds offensive results at the AHL level are completely underwhelming (19 goals, 39 points in 212 games) and lag behind other fringe NHLers in the Flames system such as David Van Der Gulik and Jason Jaffray (currently 1-2 on the Heat in scoring). While it's somewhat surprising that Sutter got the call ahead of those two guys, it may just be an issue of needing a natural center to fill the void down the middle.
UPDATE -
Via Inside the Flames, Sutter explains that Sutter's prowess on the PK is the reason he was recalled:
"He's been one of their top players down there," said Flames coach Brent Sutter. "And we need someone who can kill some penalties, too. We've lost three penalty killers here . . . and we need someone who can cover some minutes on that side of it. He's one of their best down there."
To which I say "fair enough".
It proves my point, the easiest way to make the Flames is if your last name is Sutter.
funny. i wrote my post over at mine (http://www.hitthepost.ca) about twenty minutes too soon, it seems....
it says much of the same stuff as yours, though. except now i have to go write a paragraph on why brett sutter gets the nod over DVDG.
And while you were commenting here, I was commenting there.
LOL... and while you were responding to my comment here, i was responding to your comment there. :) <3
I'm not so sure that the Flames have decided to forgoe the dancing bear routine for next year (McGrattan or other). I think it makes some sense to carry a guy of that ilk up until about trade deadline day (or there abouts). Granted, it would be nice if said tough guy could play some hockey. In any case, I still think the Flames may carry a "heavy" next year (unless they can add a decent player that can fight - a la David Clarkson).
I'm certain they will, assuming Sutter is still in charge. Every year, he signs some hired goon. Every year, the goon is proven to be either detrimental or useless.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
Word is that Kerr said the line-up is...
Bourque - Stajan - Iginla Hagman - Backlund - Kotalik Dawes - Conroy - Moss Sutter - Nystrom - Mayers
I hope that Sutter doesn't employ the "2nd line gets the hardest minutes" tactic he's been using lately. Sans Higgins (Any word on when/if he's back?) and Langkow that 2nd line will get murdered taking on that kind of workload.
Yeah, Im certain Backlund et al will be sheltered this evening. Sutter's been pretty particular on that point and it's at least one area where he and I are in complete agreement.
Expect the tough stuff to land on Iginla and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Conroy.
1. i think it's hilarious that brent felt the need to justify the call up of young brett. did this ever happen when mickis was called up ?
2. i made the point over at mine that the big club needed a call up to to "add a bit of reinforcement in areas where the flames will need it (ie: defensively)." i presumed, here, that dvdg would be the best guy (*ahem* most experienced) but admitted that "i can't honestly say that i know whether or not DVDG is any better than young brett this year."
if brett's stats are better, then that is INDEED fair enough....
MORE SUTTERS! MORE!
HANG THOSE WHO SPEAK OF LESS!
@Wanye
Wow. A Martin Prince reference. Kudos.
And mad respect to you for picking up on it.
Hey - we are getting along!
*backs out of demiltarized zone back to North Korea"
And will continue to as long as you keep dropping obscure Simpson references.
DVDG IS HEADS AND TAILS ABOVE SUTTER IN THE PENALTY KILL. GUESS IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR NAME! WHAT A JOKE!!!
i would wonder very seriously whether or not that's the case (i suggested as much over at my site) so i have to ask: is this accurate info ??? where are you getting this from ???
also ? i thought that young brett had a decent game, but i've ALWYAYS been a big fan of dvdg....