Some like it hot, including Brent Sutter if reports out of Calgary are correct.
Sutter recently resigned as head coach of the New Jersey Devils with one to three years remaining on his contract, and is apparently on the verge of signing on as bench boss of the Calgary Flames.
He wasn’t talking Sunday — at least on the record — and while the Red Deer Rebels president and owner did not confirm that he will indeed sign with the Flames in short order, he wasn’t denying the rumours, either.
“I don’t want to be disrespectful to anybody, but I can’t say much right now,” Sutter said Sunday night.
“My preference is to not make a comment.”
If Sutter has in fact agreed to take over behind the Calgary bench, then his older brother — Flames GM Darryl — has received permission from New Jersey GM Lou Lamoriello to talk to the former Devils coach.
Speculation that Sutter would resurface with the Flames was rampant upon his resignation from the Devils. His coaching staff in Calgary would likely include Ryan McGill, the former Kootenay Ice mentor who last season coached the Quad City Flames, Calgary’s AHl affiliate.
Flames scout Ron Sutter and Calgary Hitmen head coach Dave Lowry have also been mentioned as possible assistant coach candidates. Mike Keenan was fired after serving two years as the Flames bench boss and his assistants — Rich Preston, Rob Cookson and David Marcoux — will all see their contracts expire at the end of June.
The reports out of Calgary suggested Sutter would be officially named as Flames head coach as early as today, but any announcement will likely be made Tuesday, prior to the Flames coaching staff and management leaving for Montreal for the NHL entry draft slated for Friday and Saturday.
Sutter’s record with the Devils was 97-56-11 and the club qualfied for the playoffs both years.
However, the Devils were also bounced from the post-season race in the first round each of the last two springs.