CALGARY, Alberta – Playing the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs could not have been a tougher draw for the Calgary Flames. Although the Flames pushed them to six games it was always the Blackhawk’s series to lose. The skill, speed, and scoring ability, of the Chicago forwards posed a stark contrast to the older, bigger, slower forwards of the Flames. Players like Todd Bertuzzi and Jarome Iginla, while possessing good passing skills and great puckhandling abilities, were not able to get the needed scoring to match up with the ‘Hawks and in the final analysis, the first round playoff loss cost Mike Keenean his coaching job. GM Darryl Sutter has always preferred a certain type of player, an experienced tough guy who can score and make room for himself on the ice. However, with the advent of the salary cap, one thing has become a certainty, teams will get younger as the demand for older, higher paid, proven veteran’s will continue to drop. Bertuzzi has most likely played his last game in the flaming “C” jersey and the jury is still out on a couple other free agent’s. With the future coach of the Flames not yet announced, it is assumed by many that Sutter will name himself to that position unless he can get permission from New Jersey Devils GM, Lou Lamoriello, to hire his brother Brent Sutter. The younger Sutter resigned his coaching position with the Devils shortly after the end of their playoff run, ostensibly, due to family reasons. What will Sutter (or the Sutter brothers) be looking for in the upcoming draft? The Flames kept their first rounder this year opting to give the Phoenix Coyotes the 2010 first round pick to complete the Olli Jokinen trade. They must believe that a strong potential candidate will be available at the 20th pick.
Landon Ferraro
