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Sutter has ‘tremendous’ respect for Lamoriello, Devils

John Down, Calgary Herald January 10, 2012

Another game against the New Jersey Devils holds no special meaning for former coach Brent Sutter.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for (GM) Lou (Lamoriello) and that organization,” said the Calgary Flames bench boss, following Monday morning’s practice at the Saddledome.

“I learned a tremendous amount there in two years and Lou was great to work with and for, tremendous support, tremendous hockey man. He was a father-type to you and I have nothing but great things to say about my experience in New Jersey.”

Sutter coached the Devils for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons before taking a year away from the game. He hired on as the Flames head coach in 2009.

With his Devils days just more water under the bridge, Sutter is more concerned on devising a game plan against the team that stands fifth in the Eastern Conference and has a couple of talent-laden forward lines

Seven players have 10 or more goals, including proven snipers Patrik Elias (14), Zach Parise (14) and Ilya Kovalchuk (15). Rookie Adam Henrique also has 15, along with David Clarkson.

They also bring in a couple of tough goalies in Martin Brodeur and Johan Hedberg and the league’s most lethal penalty killers — a leading nine short-handed goals.

Once renowned for their trap system and low-scoring games under former coach Jacques Lemaire, the Devils have shifted to a more offensive style under coach Peter DeBoer.

“They’ve got some top-end guys, like Parise, Kovalchuk, Elias and obviously their goalie, Marty, if the plays,” said Sutter. “They’ve got some quality players you have to be aware of when they’re on the ice, but their system is a little different than what they played the last half of last year.

“Pete is a different coach than Jacques. They’re pressing a little bit more . . . more pressure in their game and they’ve got some good players. They’ve had a pretty good first half, so we have to make sure our game is where it needs to be.”

Precious patience

Rookie centre/winger Paul Byron hasn’t scored since being recalled from the Abbotsford Heaton on Dec. 19 after batting in a couple of goals during his first recall in early November.

Is the five-foot-seven, 155-pounder getting a little antsy?

“Maybe sometimes,” he confessed. “I try not to think about it too much. When you do, you start putting added pressure on yourself and I think I have a job here that doesn’t revolve around scoring goals.

“It’s providing energy, finishing checks, skating hard, making smart decisions and that’s what I’m really focused on. I think the goals will start coming, hopefully the sooner the better.”

What century?

Sutter admitted he never even had a thought about Saturday’s victory over the Minnesota Wild being his 100th as coach of the Flames, what with so much hoopla surrounding the 1,000-game silver stick to Olli Jokinen, Lance Bouma notching his first NHL goal and Jarome Iginla rattling in his 500th goal.

“It never crossed my mind,” smiled Sutter. “I never even thought about it. But I wish there was an extra 50 or 60 (wins) and we would have made the playoffs the last two years and be in a different spot than we are today.

“But it’s the way it is.”

Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
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