The Calgary Flames have fallen hard over the last two seasons or so, and after eight years of leadership from Darryl Sutter, the organization will have a new general manager.
Calgary Shakeup: Darryl Sutter Out, Jay Feaster In As Flames General Manager
The team announced Tuesday that Sutter would be stepping down from his post as GM, and that former Tampa Bay Lightning GM Jay Feaster, who had been serving as an Assistant GM in Calgary, would take over. Team President and CEO Ken King had this to say in a statement:
“Darryl has performed valuable service to the Calgary Flames organization for 8 years. He was the leader that ignited a renaissance of Flames hockey, moving us from a non-playoff team to an organization that was viewed as a respected and popular contender each year. We thank Darryl for his leadership and his important contributions to re-establishing the Calgary Flames as a model franchise. As we enter the next phase of our growth in the NHL, we are restructuring our leadership and processes. We are pleased that Darryl has agreed to assist in an orderly transition and will provide his valuable guidance in the process. He remains dedicated to the success of the team he worked so hard to build”.
Feaster will serve as Acting GM for the rest of the season. It’s unclear whether or not he will retain that role beyond the end of the current year.
Fans in Calgary haven’t been happy with Sutter for some time, and while the his reign certainly brought some success, including a Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2004, but that’s not what people will remember.
Here’s our Flames blog, Matchsticks & Gasoline:
Sutter’s tenure has been marked by both good and bad. The team made the playoffs in five consecutive seasons under his management after nearly a decade of futility, but will most likely be remembered for his panicked moves with his cap heavy, veteran laden team stumbling down the stretch last season, eventually missing the post-season and sparking more intense calls for his disposal.
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