Is Friction Growing Between Flames Players and Coach Sutter?

With the Calgary Flames mired in a losing streak, not scoring goals, and questions about team chemistry, some are looking back at recent comments made by head coach Darryl Sutter and wondering if his attempt at a joke during a recent media avail might be partially responsible, or at least a sign that things aren’t exactly ksoher in the Flames locker room.

For example, during a recent episode of Barnburner, a Flames Nation Podcast hosted by Dean “Boomer” Molberg, Ryan Pinder, and Rhett Warrener, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli was a guest and said directly that he’s heard the “taking a shi-” joke that Sutter told the media when they asked about Jonathan Huberdeau missing a couple of shifts during a recent game didn’t go over well. He explained that the players in the Flames’ locker room were not happy with their coach. While it’s not clear why part of it could be that Huberdeau is actually dealing with a legitimate foot injury now and that the coach might be have downplayed it has ruffled a few feathers.

Couple with the losing, that, of course, has led to other questions about how much this new version of the Calgary Flames is on the same page as their coach. Sutter was brought in exclusively because he’s a hard-nosed character that GM Brad Treliving felt was needed at a time the star players on the Flames’ roster weren’t stepping up. Those star players are now gone and new star players are in and things are off the rails a bit.

Is Sutter’s messaging growing tiresome? Does this new-look Flames group need a new voice in the room? It seems unlikely that the Flames make a switch, but Sutter’s recent compliments of the team and their work effort are out of the ordinary and perhaps a sign that he’s trying to make amends.

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