| Last updated at 2:10 AM on 23/12/07 |
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New Jersey Devils coach Brent Sutter hasn’t changed his coaching style.
— Photo by The Associated Press |
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NHL. Sutter proves quick study as New Jersey Devils’ coachBy Jim Matheson 
JIM MATHESON
CanWest News Service
Hockey is littered with coaches who were big deals when they ran a junior bench, but couldn’t make the transition to dealing every day with NHL men, not kids, but Brent Sutter isn’t like every other former junior coach.
First off, he’s a Sutter.
No shortcuts allowed, ever.
Secondly, he played 1,111 NHL games. He carried the Stanley Cup two times on Long Island. He’s also played for two of the six NHL coaches who’ve won at least 600 games — Al Arbour and Mike Keenan. That’s an education, and players notice.
So when Sutter finally took New Jersey general manager Lou Lamoriello up on his offer to coach the Devils this summer, after riding the buses as the owner/GM/coach of the Western Hockey League’s Red Deer Rebels, he knew this was the right time and place. And there hasn’t been much of a learning curve.
But, Sutter had nothing more to prove in junior hockey. He was undefeated as coach of Canada’s world junior team through two gold-medal winning tournaments. His hockey building was full in Red Deer every night and he knew he could keep the franchise in the family by turning over the coaching to his older brother Brian.
“It’s like anything in life … it’s all about timing,” said Sutter, who was coaching his son Brandon, who’s playing for Canada’s world junior squad. He left his family at home in Red Deer, which has been hard.
“Mr. Lamoriello and I had been in discussions over the last couple of years. I got to know him well and he got to know me. Knowing the way the organization was run, was important, too … it just seemed to be the right time to leave,” he said.
“I’d coached Brandon for two years and he’s a great kid to coach, but he got drafted (in the first round by Carolina) and he’ll be moving on soon. I felt it was time for Brandon to hear a different opinion from a different coach, somebody who wasn’t his dad. He’ll have to get used to that in the next year or two (when he turns pro).
“I obviously miss him and all my kids (he has three) because they’re not there with me in New Jersey … I don’t think you ever get used to not being around your family,” he said.
The NHL schedule-maker did him a huge favour, scheduling a Western swing to Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary around Christmas. He’ll be home to celebrate it.
“It’s amazing how it worked out, but believe me, I had nothing to do with it,” said Sutter.
Brent laughed off the suggestion he’s had to change to coach at the NHL level.
“Why can’t you talk to NHLers like junior hockey players?” chuckled Sutter. “We’re dealing with professionals who are at this level instead of kids who are dreaming of getting here. But at the end of the day, I only believe on one thing: accountability with your play. If I don’t like what I see, I should have every right to voice my displeasure.”
Devils goalie Marty Brodeur has had a half-dozen coaches, so he’s got a better feel for coaches than just about anybody in New Jersey.
“We didn’t get off to a good start as a team so we found out about Brent’s character right away and how he hates losing,” said Brodeur. “We thought, ‘Oh, he’s tough,’ but once we started winning, it got easier and we can understand where he’s coming from a little better.”
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