Today, the Calgary Flames bid farewell to Darryl Sutter, an iconic coach to the team. Yes, I used the word "iconic" because he is the icon of coaches in Calgary. He poured his heart and soul into this team, everything he had. We must still give him the respect he deserves for being a pillar of the NHL. If you were to have a picture of what the Calgary Flames embody in spirit, it would be a picture of Darryl Sutter. It is time to see him go, but today I am as happy as I am sad to see this occasion happen.
The Flames had to take action after a disappointing season. It was clear that changes were necessary and sacrifices had to be made. Somebody had to pay the piper. Darryl's reliance on veterans over younger players had to be fixed. The Flames were an old, slow team, and I understand that.
What does this mean for the Calgary Flames' future? It means the organization is taking a step in the right direction. They are getting younger. It also means they are letting the players direct what this organization does. It happens in every team sooner or later—the players do not get along with the coach and the players will not play with the coach, and then the freeze-out happens. They stop listening to the coach and stop working for him. When that happens, nobody wins. This is precisely what was happening in Calgary. When the players stop playing for the coach, you either have to fire the coach or make a whole bunch of trades. It's a lot easier to fire the coach.
Now that the Calgary Flames have moved on, it's time to consider who their next coach will be. That's right; it's time to play GM. Who would you hire as the new coach of the Calgary Flames? Usually, when I play this game, I end up having foot-in-mouth disease. That's okay, as long as I don't have foot fungus. But I digress. On to my picks or best options as coach of the Calgary Flames.
Mitch Love
Mitch Love, coach of the Calgary Wranglers, should be at the top of your list when considering potential coaches. Mitch was Coach of the Year for the last two seasons in the AHL. He is highly successful and highly respected among his players. He is a good "player's coach." He is fair, and players know what is expected of them.
Bruce Boudreau
Bruce is one of the most successful coaches out there. He knows the game and surrounds himself with successful people. Boudreau is one of the best motivators out there. He gets the players to do what he wants but makes it look like it's what they want. With Bruce there, he is in charge. The players will not be allowed to run the roost.
Peter Laviolette
He is the sexy name out there. Peter might be the big name the Flames need. He is an offensive coach, and his style of play aligns with Huberdough's skill set. The Flames need an offensive coach to bring the best out of these players and get them to perform. Laviolette might be what the doctor ordered for the Calgary Flames.
As for General Manager, the Calgary Flames' leading candidate is Conroy. His biggest advocate is Mr. Iggy. (I, for one, would love to have Jarome in one of our management positions, if that is in the cards.)
