Darryl Sutter wins 700th game as an NHL head coach

With the Calgary Flames’ victory over Colorado on Thursday night, Darryl Sutter has won his 700th regular season game as a National Hockey League head coach. With the win, Sutter has moved into a tie with Mike Babcock for 10th all time in regular season wins.

Sutter has been coaching in the NHL since the 1992-93 season where he started with the Chicago Blackhawks (1992-1995). He’s had stops in San Jose (1997-2003), Los Angeles (2011-2017), and two stints with Calgary (2002-2006, 2020-present).

Wins by team are as follows: Chicago – 110, San Jose – 192, Los Angeles – 225, Calgary – 173.

While the 700 regular season wins are most certainly an impressive achievement the highlight of his coaching career is most certainly his two Stanley Cup wins with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014. He’s made the finals three times, the other appearance being with Calgary in 2004.

Speaking after the game, Sutter conceded the achievement’s significance: “It means a lot. It means I coached four good teams.”

Last season (2021-22) was the first time a Sutter team earned 50 regular season wins – which helped result in Sutter grabbing his first ever Jack Adams Award for coach of the year.

Next on the list for Sutter – and possibly within reach this season – would be Peter Laviolette (active with Washington) at 717 and Alain Vigneault at 722.