King denies Keenan’s meddling claim
Calgary Flames president Ken King refuses to be drawn into a spitting match with former coach Mike Keenan.
“I’m just surprised he hasn’t been able to get past it,’’ was King’s only response.
Three years after being relieved of his coaching duties here, after maintaining a diligent silence with Calgary-based media, keen an wenton Calgary radio wednesday and blamed ownership and higher management, naming murray edwards and king, for his dismissal, absolving his old buddy, Gm-at-the-time, Darryl Sutter.
The idea that Sutter would’ve been bullied against his better judgment into anything of that nature seems unlikely. The only part of Keenan’s dissatisfaction so long after the fact that raised eyebrows was the accusation of upper-stratosphere meddling in managerial affairs, something that has been speculated in other forums.
King on Thursday denied he or anyone in ownership has limited current GM Jay Feaster in any way; handcuffing him from remounting a flagging franchise in the way he sees fit.
“We have a consensus situation in this business,’’ said King, prior to the Flames’ second last game of any playoff-less season. “The experts are the experts. It’s the nature of the business that you’re going to have proposals brought forward, concepts discussed, and then decisions made. Good back and forth communication is important. My role is to keep the owners apprised of activies. Jay’s role is to keep me apprised. There hasn’t been any fractiousness, any contentiousness.
“The reason Jay Feaster is our general manager is because he’s an expert in that job. So was Darryl Sutter. So was Craig Button. That’s why we hired them. But it’s silly to think in any business that all aspects don’t come under scrutiny.’’