The circle of life goes around with loss of one hockey great, return of another
Life goes on.
It's something people who have lost somebody dear say; it couldn't be more true, yet sometimes seems so unwelcome when expressed. But when you wake up to the news of Walter Gretzky' death and the return of Darryl Sutter behind the Calgary Flames bench at the same time, it's what you deal with.
To people of Wayne Gretzky's generation, Walter Gretzky was everybody's hockey dad. To those of us who had the privilege of enjoying a special relationship with No. 99 over the years, Walter almost felt like our dad, too.
That, I believe, was especially felt by almost the entire population of Edmonton who lived through the Gretzky era. There are hundreds of people in this city who had the opportunity to meet Walter. There wasn't a guy in the hockey world as easy to meet as he was.
Walter gave so many of his traits to his superstar son, and without intention, became a celebrity himself by just being himself. He also gave so much of himself to the game and causes associated with the game.
Today should be a day to stop the world of sport and celebrate that. But life goes on. And hockey goes on.
Today's fans are focused on the fact their beloved Oilers just lost three straight games to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who then turned around and lost to the Vancouver Canucks.
Meanwhile, prior to playing the Oilers here Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada, the Flames announced Sutter's return behind the bench.
To lose three to Toronto by the combined count of 13-1, watch the Canucks beat the Leafs 3-1, see Winnipeg win in Montreal with the Canadiens getting a loser point, and Calgary replace Geoff Ward with Sutter amounts to a very loud wake-up call for the Oilers.
The Calgary coaching change definitely should have an effect on Edmonton.
“You're going to get a Calgary team that's playing with lots of energy, lots of jump and lots of intensity,” said Connor Mcdavid.
“Sutter is a coach who has coached for a long time and had lots of success, and I'm sure he's going to want to make his mark right away on a very good Calgary team.”
The Oilers entered the series against the Leafs with an opportunity to pull even for first place. Now they're 10 points back of Toronto, three back of Winnipeg, and only two ahead of Montreal, four ahead of Calgary, and just six in front of the Canucks.
A few days back, I reminisced about the year Sutter convinced the Flames that, if they won their games against Edmonton, they would make the playoffs. The Flames owned the Oilers all season and made the playoffs. Edmonton didn't. And that was basically the difference.
Well, the situation going into Saturday's fourth meeting of 10 this season isn't that much different.
Sutter, who returns to Calgary with 634 wins over 18 seasons as an NHL head coach, has been working as a consultant with the Anaheim Ducks. He's been doing the job from his Viking area ranch, so there's no quarantine or travel time involved. He was in a position to light a fire under the Flames immediately, but chose to delay his arrival until Monday because of things he had to do involving the NHL'S COVID-19 protocol, and other things he had to “clear up at the farm.” Assistant coach Ryan Huska will run things from the bench on Saturday, but everybody on the ice knows their new boss will be sitting 137 kilometres to the east, watching and evaluating.
If it will take 66 points to make the playoffs in the Canadian division, he'll need the Flames to go 21-11 the rest of the way. Calgary is home for 12 of their next 18 contests, including two in midmarch against the Oilers.
Sutter, who coached the Los Angeles Kings from 2011-17 and won Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014, was previously coach of the Flames. He compiled a 107-7315-15 record there before moving into the role of general manager for seven seasons.
Sutter is taking over an 11-11-2 team that's been up and down like a toilet seat, especially of late. In their past four starts, all against Ottawa, Calgary lost 6-1, won 6-3, lost 5-1 and won 7-3.
Sutter's history is definitely old school. There's no fuzzy wuzzy player's pal involved here. What you see with the Edmonton area rancher is what you get. He still shovels manure in his barn and he still believes in accountability and hard work from everybody in the lineup. Everybody knows exactly where he sits every day of the season when Sutter is coach.
“This change was required,” said Flames GM Brad Treliving. “This team needs Darryl and what he can bring.”
During a Zoom call, Sutter spoke of the close relationship he had with late owners Doc Seaman and Harley Hotchkiss and how he has “unfinished business. It's like I have a debt to pay to those guys. We're going to win a Stanley Cup for them.”
This already compelling pandemic inspired Canadian division season just got more compelling.
Sutter is a coach who has coached for a long time and had lots of success, and I'm sure he's going to want to make his mark right away on a very good Calgary team.