Sutter Plays Fair

One of the most difficult challenges of being successful is knowing when you have done enough, and it is heartening to see that Calgary Flames coach/GM Darryl Sutter understands this quite well. Sutter will be handing over head coaching duties to his capable protege Jim Playfair today and will concentrate rightly on managing the franchise. He has done an admirable job in both roles but, the fact remains, he was working two full time jobs, either of which have shown to be too much for most men to handle one at a time. Thus, except for temporary situations, the era of the NHL coach/GM is over in the NHL, and anyone who tries to do it from now on is an arrogant idiot in over his head.

Wayne Gretzky should take note the next time he attempts to both coach an NHL club while managing an Olympic team.

Speaking of the Olympics, the Flames will also announce the arrival of Wayne Fleming to the coaching staff. Fleming was a key contributor to past Olympic hockey programs, including
the 2002 gold medal team, and is considered one of the brightest and most innovative minds in the game. There isn't a single franchise in the league who wouldn't be delighted to have this man on their payroll and Calgary is quite lucky to have him.

Donovan, Simon and Leopold out. Tanguay, Friesen, Zyuzin, McLennan and Fleming in. This team is shaping up well.