‘He’s not a hypocrite’: Sutter’s assistants discuss his keys to coaching success

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Perhaps Ryan Huska had already viewed post-game press footage.

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Or he just knows his boss very, very well.

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This was a historic stage for Calgary Flames skipper Darryl Sutter, who joined an exclusive coaching club as he celebrated his 700th career regular-season win and also ranked in the top 10 on the all-time NHL winning list.

“I would guess Darryl would probably tell you that 700 is because he coached good teams, good players, good organizations,” said Huska, an assistant to Sutter’s staff at the Saddledome. “And that it had nothing to do with him.”

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Close.

Only Sutter didn’t say that much.

“It means a lot,” he said after a season-opener success story against the Colorado Avalanche. “That means I coached four good teams.”

Of course, the guy in charge and pushing the buttons deserves more than a little credit.

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“I think they go hand in hand,” Huska nodded. “There’s a standard he holds his teams and organizations accountable to and that’s one of the main reasons I think it’s always hard to play against his teams and that gives him all those chances, those 700 Winning games along the way.”

Sutter is only the 11th coach in NHL history to have surpassed that particular bar. There’s hockey hall-of-famers in his rear-view mirror, and has been for a while.

He made it 701 by being on the lucky side with a 4-3 score in Saturday’s Battle of Alberta. In doing so, he hooked Mike Babcock on the all-time win tally.

“It’s pretty incredible when you think about it,” said Paul Baxter, Sutter’s assistant coach at two previous stints, of the latest milestone. “To grow with the game and not give up any of the aspects of the character that he excels at is something I find very special.

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“He’s not a hypocrite. It’s one of the reasons his teams are rivals because Darryl has never been a hypocrite and he’s a fantastic leader. I think you see that a lot with his teams – they play for real money.”

The Flames, little known for storming out of the gates during the “look forward to meeting you” stages of a new season, start 2-0 for the first time since 2009.

Of course, Sutter doesn’t want to slow down.

The Jolly Rancher is notorious for its sophisticated style and attention to detail. While others sometimes gloss over it, especially for public consumption, he rarely saves even a grain.

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As Baxter, who coached against Sutter in the International Hockey League and then went by his side for a total of six seasons in Chicago and San Jose, put it, “Darryl doesn’t talk much, but he says a lot.”

That’s what workhorse defense attorney Rasmus Andersson wanted to point out last week when he told reporters: “The thing about Darryl is that he’s being honest with you. If you can’t handle the truth, you suck.”

When the Flames spoke of the farm to Sutter in March 2021, some wondered if the game had passed him, if his hard-line approach was too dated.

He certainly proved otherwise. At 64, he just signed a multi-year extension. By the time that deal closes, he should have 800+ wins on his resume. The ultimate goal, of course, is his third Stanley Cup ring.

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“People always say, ‘Oh, Darryl is old-fashioned,'” Flames associate coach Kirk Muller said. “Yes, he’s basically old-fashioned about some things, but he’s open-minded about the game. There are certain things that don’t change. He’s not trying to reinvent the wheel. But he’s also receptive to saying, ‘OK, there are some new things you need to build into the team,’ and I think he has the ability to say, ‘OK, here’s the group of guys that we have . We need to make some adjustments to be successful.” I think that’s one thing that not enough people realize. Yes, he’s old school, but he’s not stubborn either. As an employee, if you have an idea, he’ll say, “Bring it up and if it makes sense, I’ll take it.”

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“And when you watch us train, it’s always quick, short exercises. That’s not old-fashioned. Everything he does is geared towards saving energy for players. We’re never out there more than 45 minutes. So he understands today’s players with old-school foundations. I think that’s a strength.”

One of many strengths.

“The way he sees the game live, it’s almost like he has the ability to see it in slow motion,” Huska marveled. “In that respect, he’s on a different level than anyone I know. He just has the ability to see where everyone is and what’s going on without having to watch videos. He knows what’s happening and can make adjustments and changes on the fly.”

“I’ve never seen anyone behind the bench who’s able to grasp every little thing that’s going on,” reiterated Baxter, a household name to Calgary fans thanks to two stints in the Saddledome — first as a player, later as an assistant coach. “Whether it’s on the bench or on the ice, he’s a master at recognizing what’s happening and what’s needed.”

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The Flames will look to continue their winning streak at the start of the season in tango with the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday (7pm, Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan).

Sutter will be shooting for #702.

“He always says: ‘Life is more important than ice hockey,'” emphasized Müller. “I think that’s how they grew up as a family on the farm. And I think every player that plays for him… He pushes them hard and whatnot, but at the end of the day, for whatever reason, he might be their first call. I think that speaks volumes.”

THE 700 CLUB

The NHL’s all-time winners among head coaches…

Scotty Bowman, 1.244
Joël Quenneville, 969
Barry defiance, 914
Ken Hitchcock, 849
Lindy Ruff, 782
Al Arbour, 782
Paul Moritz, 777
Alain Vigneault, 722
Peter Laviolette, 718
Darryl Sutter, 701
Mike Babcock, 700

* Before Sunday’s action around the NHL

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