Think it's best for all for Sutter to retire. 2 of the last players he had say to come in, were Ehrhoff and Versteeg. On Ehrhoff, he said "I am most familiar with Christian, when he was running the Canucks powerplay and he was (fill in the blank - cannot recall exact words, but was glowing comment) and Versteeg? "Versteeg was involved with Brent and ? (2 sutter family boys) at their hockey camp and took it over" (something like that, along with him being a farm boy up there)
It shows you when he has input, it is outdated and he is more comfortable - maybe even emphatic - about getting players he
knows something about, or a family member knowing them.
Well, Ehrhoff is not the same player that ran the Canucks PP 3 or 4
years ago. How much film did they watch of him on the Penguins last year?
These comments tell a lot and should not be just laughed or blown off; he said these things...he does not say much,
yet said these things, which tells you it's his MO and he's too rigid with what players are brought in. Should coaches have a say? Of course. But he seems to be too rigid.
He would favor someone he or someone he knows that knows them, over players he may know nothing about. Being familiar with a player is a good thing and culture / the room is very important, but if you're favoring such players over players that are better players, it's a HUGE detriment
to the team and on ice performance and results. I am sure he was happy to bring Scuderi back, but Rob was done when he left here a few years ago. "he's respected in the room". Big deal. Robitaille was respected in the room. Let's bring him back too.
It seems DL has laid the law down, that things are going to change - and that means with personnel too...it will probably not mesh with Sutter perhaps having less of a say WHAT players are brought in.
This MUST be done. Wonder how many players who DL was looking at that DS did not want. ? I am sure some may mention 'no King or coach was familiar or knew Gaborik' - well there's a world class player with no known issues (except injuries) and who would say no to getting him, when the Kings dearly needed some offense. Some speculating here, but we have all see how rigid he is. Has he gotten results and is a good coach? Sure. Am I appreciative for his great contributions and bringing 2 Cups here? Of course! I just believe it's time for a change for all parties.
With the cap situation and lack of A prospects ready - Gravel, Dowd, Kempe, Mersch, and Forbort are all B+ prospects, with one or more capable of becoming real solid NHL players and it's time to bring in Gravel and Dowd FULLTIME and perhaps 1 of the others. Gravel is solid and smart...makes fast decisions and seems capable. Dowd looked good and has energy and looked more effective than most of the bottom 6ers. Good overall player. It may be time to sign a no name Euro (like that Cze defenseman playing in the KHL, what's his name?) or getting an emerging player (like McNabb)
from another team. I am sure Sutter would be down on that and would rather have a solid vet that he may know more about, but the cap and team needs are not going to allow getting 4+ million types out there. It is what it is.
