A Look At Calgary’s Performance Under Sutter

The Calgary Flames have been under Darryl Sutter’s thumb for the last two weeks. The firing of Geoff Ward ( 11-11-2) came as a surprise to none. Have the Flames turned it around under new coaching or are they still the same team? 

Prior to Sutter’s arrival, the team looked sluggish and uninterested during games. They were giving up nearly 5 goals two or three times a week and couldn’t string together two wins if it saved their life. Sutter came in and immediately played hardball. 

Their first practice was spent doing bag skates and conditioning work. There was a sense of discipline that had been absent for a year and a half. It was clear that the team wanted to win and were looking forward to this new chapter.

Sam Bennett, who has been a subject of trade rumors since earlier this season, came out and said it “feels like a fresh start.” and he’ll be able to find a role again. 

If it wasn’t clear before it is clear now that there was animosity between Bennett and Ward. For what reason, we don’t know. 

When you look at the Flames and their core, you think of Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk, Sean Monahan, Mark Giordano, and maybe Elias Lindholm. Most of these players have not seen proficient coaching in their entire career. People have called for Brad Treliving to blown up the core and start a rebuild. There were talks of it being a goaltending issue or maybe a coaching change would do the team some good. While I do believe it is mainly the ladder, the team has to be held responsible. 

The Flames beat Toronto 4-3 Friday night. While they’re playing Darryl Sutter hockey, what needs to change?

Sutter has said that the team plays great 5v5 hockey. The team currently has 62 even-strength goals, Andrew Mangiapane leads the team with 7.  Their power-play unit is only performing at 20.9% while there are teams in the division like Toronto playing at nearly 30%. There is room for this team to improve. Numbers don’t lie. Sutter likes numbers and embraced them. That’s why he’s a winner. Noah Hanifin was next to invisible on the powerplay last year. Sutter has slotted him in a few times now and he looks like a different player. 

I do think we have seen a drastic improvement in the team. They’re not taking those avoidable penalties that we saw far too often dating back to the bubble. Their game feels tighter and Johnny isn’t out there doing dump and chases every single night. 

Besides that 7-3 loss to Edmonton, Flames hockey under Darryl Sutter has improved. We’re seeing it with zone entries and limiting their opponents’ shots. Players like Noah Hanifin and Josh Levio have snapped out of their funks and are playing up to expectation. 

The Flames are currently out of a playoff spot and this may be an unpopular opinion here but I don’t think this team deserves to be there. They have bigger issues to take care of before they go on a cup run. Ideally, Calgary will avoid another early playoff exit and take a look at what it’s going to take it to the next level- which seems to be an ongoing conversation. 

Calgary takes on the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at the Scotiabank Arena.