Bagging Bouwmeester

by James Duplacey

For someone who likes to avoid the spotlight, Darryl Sutter certainly knows how to steal the focus. Calgary were stoically silent on the first night of the 2009 Entry Draft, making only a minor move by exchanging selection spots with the New Jersey Devils – a transaction that was widely considered as a polite gesture of conciliation for the hiring of former Devils coach Brent Sutter as the new bench boss of the Stampede City squad. The Flames, who dropped down two pegs on the draft board as a result of the Devil deal, selected Swedish rearguard Tim Erixon – son of former NY Ranger winger Jan Erixon – with their first pick (23rd overall) in the 2009 lottery.

After that decidedly dull opening day of Draft Night ‘09, the Flames gm lit up the dance floor on Saturday. Sutter set tongues-a-wagging and mouths-a-drooling with the news he had acquired the negotiating rights to dominant defender Jay Bouwmeester, the coveted free agent who was set to hit the market when the signing frenzy began at noon on July 1st. The price Sutter paid for a commodity he may never actually own was reasonable, surrendering the rights to Jordan Leopold and a third round draft choice in the 2010 sweepstakes. Even the most skeptical scribes had to agree that Sutter had spun some draft floor magic and the Calgary conductor completed the web late Tuesday night by signing the bruising blueliner to a lengthy multi-year deal, believed to be in the vicinity of five years and $35 million. If that’s the area, it will be a profitable neighborhood for the former Florida rearguard. A fluid skater and sharp puck handler who plays with a obstinate edge, Bouwmeester brings poise and purpose to the table. Opposing forwards who dare enter Calgary’s kitchen will be met by a tenacious trio of trenchmen – the rugged Robin Regehr, the deft Dion Phaneuf and the bellicose Bouwmeester – that rank among the roughest, toughest and most belligerent in the league.

The arrival of Bouwmeester will cause some accounting headaches for the Flames front office boss. The club has almost $20 million in annual salary tied to the aforementioned defensive trifecta and another $25 million already guaranteed to essential names such as Jarome Iginla, Miikka Kiprusoff, Daymond Langkow, Craig Conroy and Cory Sarich. Sutter has already begun the paring process by sending Jim Vanderemeer and his $2.3 million salary to the Phoenix Coyotes. A veteran backup goaltender to spell Kipper, a net-filler to replace Mike Cammalleri and a fourth line plugger with grit and grime on his resume are still on the Sutter shopping list – if he can find room under a very tight cap for the missing pieces to his Stanley Cup puzzle.

Posted in Duane Sutter, Jay Bouwmeester, Ron Sutter, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Brotherly Love

by James Duplacey

The worst-kept secret in the Stampede City was confirmed today when Darryl Sutter stepped up to the podium and announced that brother Brent was the new bench boss of the Calgary Flames, signalling the official end of the Iron Mike regime and the commencement of the Sutter Steel era.  Ever since he resigned the coaching half of his double portfolio, the elder Sutter has been searching in vain for a replacement who could instill in his charges the same fire, brimstone and broth that he delivered during his tenure behind the bench. An inside the system replacement (Jim Playfair) failed to meet expectations, an outside source (Mike Keenan) was equally ineffective so an inside-the-family solution was the logical next step.

We know Brent Sutter brings solid credentials to the table. He piloted Team Canada to a pair of gold medal victories at the World Junior Championships, served a successful reign as pivot and front office boss of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels, a tour of duty that delivered a Memorial Cup to the Alberta community in 2001 and proved he could handle the pressures and media scrutiny of the NHL. What he hasn’t shown is the ability to advance a team beyond the first round of the NHL playoffs – a task he will have to accomplish to keep the Sutter name affiliated with the Flaming “C”.

Make no mistake, if brother Brent fails to keep Calgary in contention beyond the final day of the regular schedule, he will not be only Sutter to be shown to the exit door. By increasing the Sutter fraternity in the Flames front office system to four (brother Duane is the director of player personnel and brother Ron is a scout), gm Darryl Sutter placed his own neck in the noose. Sideline skeptics and showcase scribes have been vocal in their disapproval of Sutter’s work this past season – a campaign that saw the club allow a substantial lead in the Northwest Division standings evaporate so much the team had to struggle just to earn a ticket to the post-season dance. A slew of injuries, a decided decline on the defensive side of the sheet and mismanagement of the salary cap all combined to capsize the club, leaving the squad with an empty gas tank when they needed formidable fuel to overcome the run’n'gun Chicago Blackhawks, who simply out-skated, outhit and, ultimately, outscored the fizzling Flames.

The club also named Ryan McGill, Dave Lowry and Jamie McLennan as assistant coaches. However, in this family affair, the blame game starts and stops with the name Sutter. For the brothers, it will be all for won and won for all. Otherwise, all will be looking for employment in another city.

Posted in Duane Sutter, Red Deer Rebels, Ron Sutter, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »