BREAKING: Sutter Steps Down In Calgary

((HT: FAN590/Toronto))

Calgary Flames Executive VP and General Manager Darryl Sutter has stepped down from his role with the team. Assistant GM Jay Feaster will take over on an interim basis.

The Flames are struggling along with a 16-18-3 record and sit 14th in the Western Conference as of this very minute.

"Darryl has performed valuable service to the Calgary Flames organization for 8 years," said Flames President & CEO Ken King in a statement. "He was the leader that ignited a renaissance of Flames hockey, moving us from a non-playoff team to an organization that was viewed as a respected and popular contender each year. We thank Darryl for his leadership and his important contributions to re-establishing the Calgary Flames as a model franchise. As we enter the next phase of our growth in the NHL, we are restructuring our leadership and processes. We are pleased that Darryl has agreed to assist in an orderly transition and will provide his valuable guidance in the process. He remains dedicated to the success of the team he worked so hard to build."

More when we know more...

Sutter Introduces Sutter As Flames Coach

((HT: Calgary Sun/Steve Macfarlane))

Brent Sutter ((pictured with brother Darryl, thanks Sun Media)) will indeed be the next head coach of the Flames.

The announcement was made official late this afternoon, but it wasn't a very well-kept secret over the past few days.

Neither were the identities of his assistants, whose names have all been bandied about the last month.

Helping Sutter out this season will be former AHL affiliate head coach Ryan McGill, now ex-Calgary Hitmen head coach Dave Lowry, and former goalie Jamie McLennan, who will come down from his relatively undefined front-office job and take over full-time goaltending coach duties.

Sutter resigned June 9 before the final year on his three-year pact with the New Jersey Devils so he could be closer to his family just outside Red Deer, and the WHL Rebels he owns and operates.

Needing permission from Devils GM Lou Lamoriello to talk to his brother about filling the void left when Mike Keenan was fired late last month, Flames GM Darryl Sutter hammered out the final details of a contract over the weekend to bring Brent aboard, where he'll juggle the duties of an NHL head coach with his family life much closer to home.

"I know my family is happy about it," Brent said.

Permission was easy to come by, said Darryl.

"I called Lou and asked," he said simply of the June 12th conversation.

Lamoriello was understanding all the way through the process, according to Brent, who will be able to enjoy some of the perks of being close to home while also coaching in the NHL for a third season.

He says he won't be conflicted, and fully committed to the Flames.

"My full-time committment will be here," he said, adding he'd find a place in Calgary to reside during the season.

Darryl has no trepidation over his brother being under his employment, or the fact the assembled staff is so youthful on average.

"I coached them all," Darryl said.

"You can flip all their last names around and put the first names where you want. They're the very best people available."

Sutter Thinks He's The Man

((HT: CP))

Darryl Sutter ((pictured, thanks Jeff Vinnick/Getty)) says he's the best man right now to coach the Calgary Flames, but he's looking at other candidates before he makes his final decision.

Four days after the Flames announced the firing of Mike Keenan, Calgary's general manager told reporters he wants to have a new head coach in place by the NHL entry draft June 26-27 in Montreal.

"Right now I'm the best one," Sutter said when asked when he was in the running for the head-coaching job.

"All the best coaches in the league are under contract. There's three guys who are excellent. I won't tell you who they are, but then I'm fourth. If I find out at the end of the search that I think I'm the best candidate, then I am the coach."

Sutter joined the Flames as head coach Dec. 28, 2002 and added general manager to his job description less than four months later. He coached the Flames to the Stanley Cup final in 2004.
After the 2005-06 season, he stepped out from behind the bench and promoted Jim Playfair from assistant to head coach.

Playfair was moved to associate coach when Keenan came on board in 2007.

After four straight exits in the first round of playoffs, and the last two under Keenan, Sutter's next choice for a head coach will be critical.

Playfair has been offered the coaching job with the Flames' new AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, B.C.
Assistant coaches Rob Cookson and Rich Preston and goaltending coach David Marcoux will not be offered contract extensions when their deals expire June 30, Sutter said.

Goodbye Mike....

In a move that could only be characterized as "Not Shocking", the Calgary Flames have parted way with Head Coach Mike Keenan. Keenan, we believe...at least unofficially has now been fired by roughly half of the teams in the NHL. Interestingly enough, this time, he had some success, getting the Flames to the Playoffs, where they were summarily dumped by the Chicago Blackhawks.

((Mike Keenan/Courtesy AFP-Google.com))

The story, from The Canadian Press here .

Keenan's possible replacement, Flames GM, Darryl Sutter. However, apparently not everyone is thrilled with the idea of that.

Check out this story from the Calgary Herald here

Needless to say, it sounds like fun times out there in Calgary. For those who follow hockey, this one should be lots of fun.

((Darryl Sutter/Courtesy: Calgary Herald))


Check out some "Mic'd Up" video of Keenan from this past season.

((Courtesy of You Tube))