Darryl Sutter isn’t going anywhere.
To cap off one of their most exciting off-seasons in recent memory, the Calgary Flames decided to lock up their bench boss for the foreseeable future, agreeing to terms with reigning Jack Adams winner Darryl Sutter on a multi-year contract extension.
The specifics of the deal, such as its length or financial details, have not been revealed.
It’s hard to argue against Sutter’s worthiness of an extended commitment after just how well his second tenure in Calgary has gone thus far.
The Flames improved dramatically under Sutter’s tutelage in his first full season back with the team in 2021-22, finishing fifth overall in the NHL standings with a 50-21-11 record and 111 points.
Pretty much every single star player on Calgary’s roster last season put up career-best numbers with Sutter at the helm, as Johnny Gaudreau earned Hart Trophy buzz with 40 goals and 115 points, Matthew Tkachuk blossomed with 42 goals and 104 points, and Elias Lindholm enjoyed a nice season with 42 goals and 82 points of his own.
After spending years floating in the dreaded middle of the NHL’s standings, the Flames emerged as legitimate contenders throughout the regular season last year, turning that momentum into a first-round series win over the Dallas Stars before falling short in five games to their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Oilers.
Nevertheless, the Flames have an extremely bright future ahead of them, one that would likely not be possible without Sutter’s presence. The veteran bench boss endowed the organization with a steadiness that it had lacked for so many years prior to his arrival, and the Flames put up the results to show for it.
In total, Sutter enters this season with a 172-109-15-26 record as Flames head coach, sitting second overall in franchise wins behind Bob Johnson.
