Keenan Fired
by Kent Wilson on May 22, 2009 3:33 PM PDT
28 comments
I have to admit I didn't see this coming. My ambivalence towards Keenan notwithstanding, there's some strong arguments to me be made that many of the Flames failings this season weren't of his doing.
"Our team did not meet expectations,” Flames General Manager Darryl Sutter said in a statement. ''Following detailed evaluation over the past three weeks, and taking into consideration all factors affecting our season ending result, we believe this is a necessary change required to allow our team to continue toward our objective of winning the Stanley Cup."
Said Sutter during the announcement today. The good news for me in the wake of the firing is there's a better chance the goaltending will handled properly next year and Bertuzzi will probably not be re-signed now that his #1 fan is no longer the bench boss. Heck, maybe the PP will improve as well.
Looks like it's going to be wholesale changes for the Flames coaching staff this summer. The question now is...who's the replacement?
First names that spring to mind are Brent Sutter or Ryan McGill. Any other possibilities?
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I am so relieved
This also means Sutter is on thin ice, so time for him to finally do it right or go away.
I feel the opposite way. I’m not giving Sutter a free pass or anything by saying this, but I feel that nothing can go right when a GM’s hockey decisions are influenced by owner pressure. At the worst the wrong decision is made, at the best the decision is made to be a spectacle in the media (see: Oilers, Edmonton).
Why would Brent Sutter’s name come to mind? He’s got another year on his contract with New Jersey and has already denied Calgary and Edmonton rumors to the press earlier this month.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The Devils SBN Blog
“I hear the same rumors you do and I say I’m under contract with the New Jersey Devils,” Sutter said. “I haven’t even thought about that. My decision here is deciding whether I want to go back to New Jersey and be as far away from things as I have been the last couple of years. That includes both the businesses I’m involved in here and also the family situation.”
That has to be the limpest “denial” I’ve ever heard.
How is it limp? He’s stating that the decision is either the Devils or not the Devils. No Calgary, no Edmonton, etc.
By the way, here’s Star Ledger reporter Rich Chere in his post about the Keenan firing:
Brent Sutter told the Calgary Herald he hadn’t spoken to Darryl regarding the Flames’ situation and made it clear he is under contract to the Devils. GM Lou Lamoriello would surely allow Sutter to leave if he chose, but he would ask for significant compensation from the Flames.
For the record, Brent Sutter has told me he did not want to coach the Flames, so close to home, in the past. He also said he was not interested in working for Darryl.
I’d like to highlight that should Calgary really want Sutter and should Sutter really want to leave, Calgary is going really, really pay New Jersey for it.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The Devils SBN Blog
by John Fischer on May 22, 2009 7:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Marc Crawford
I’ve heard he’s available,
Maybe Pat Quinn? Tom Renney? any other former Canuck bench bosses?
I think the fact the firing has happened now and not 2-3 weeks ago tells us that something has changed – it shouldn’t take 3 weeks to evaluate Keenan’s job. So, did someone recently become available?
Maybe Sutter likes the look of Lemaire?
Otherwise I think Brent Sutter and possibly Pat Quinn. We know Quinn wants a job, he seems like a Sutter kind of guy.
If you read Lowetide, he does an analysis on Quinn (the Oilers are looking for a new coach too, after all). The impression I get is that Quinn and Keenan are similar – not known for implementing systems, leans on veterans a lot, etc. It even seems that Quinn is a worse player manager than Keenan – he has historically rolled his three D pairings evenly and seemingly without regard to who’s on the ice for the opposition.
All that is to say, if Flames fans didn’t like Keenan, I doubt they’ll like Quinn.
Firstly, I think Flames fans were mostly mixed on Keenan’s effectiveness, I have never detected a great swing of confidence or dispair in his abilities among Flames fans I have talked with. Secondly, what Flames fans think is irrelevant in regards to potential coaching candidates because Flames fans aren’t in charge of coach hirings.
Finally, was it really a rational and logical decision to hire Keenan in the first place? I think the answer to that question then answers whether or not Quinn is in the mix of potential candidates.
Oh I agree. I am just saying, those who didn’t like Keenan (and are thus happy today) will be in for a lengthy case of deja vu if Quinn is hired.
I have a fanshot about it above this article.
by Kent Wilson on May 23, 2009 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions
From a commenter at Lowetide’s blog, original source “a Calgary fan”.
“TSN leaked the story and Sutter had to issue a press release. At no point was it his intention for it to come out today as per Peter Maher, Rob Kerr and a bunch of media types in the know. Sutter had a press conference apparently planned for Tuesday where he would announce it.”
Keenan
Welcome Dave Lowry!!!!
BTW, How many coaches is it going to take before Sutter and King realize the best coach for this team is Darryl Sutter?
Ryan McGill
I worked with Coach McGill the past two years in Quad Cities and sat across the ice in the penatly box for every home game. He and Scott Allen had little to work with in terms of “top prospects”, yet several players were called up each year and most made contributions. After every shift, they had some sort of feedback for the line coming off the ice (didn’t see tha from most opposing coaches). My take was that he was widely respected by the players (maybe not liked by all, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing). Fairly typical hockey coach demeanor, especially guys who played in the NHL: he would let officials know when he thought they screwed up, but would move on. He was always very professional and friendly in our nightly interactions and I think he is probably going to at least get a shot as an assistant in Calgary.
Thanks for the firsthand account Dave. I’ve heard a lot fo good things about McGill and there’s been visible development in some of the Flames less-than-sure thing prospects the last few years as well, which is suggestive of strong coaching. Some speculate he’ll be an assistant to Sutter should Darryl take to the bench again.
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