Lamoriello expects Sutter to be back next season

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said this morning that he has no reason to believe that Brent Sutter won't be back as his head coach next season.

He also made it clear that he wants Sutter to come back.

"There should be no discussion on this," Lamoriello told me today. "I have no knowledge of anything. You have to speak to Brent about this. Even to get into discussions about this makes no sense."

Although Sutter has admitted to being home sick, he has said repeatedly that he makes decisions about his future after every season and this one is no different. That said, he has not commited to coming back next season either.

He has one more season remaining on his contract.

To Lamoriello, however, the discussion is a moot one.

"There's no questions from me," Lamoriello said.

Lamoriello said he hasn't thought about discussing Sutter's future with him, yet. Everyone in the organization is still dealing with the shocking end of Tuesday's Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Hurricanes, in which the Devils gave up two goals in the final 80 seconds to turn a 3-2 lead into a 4-3 defeat.

"We haven't even spoken since last night," Lamoriello said of Sutter. "No one is even thinking of anything other than what transpired last night. To even get into any discussions about anything, it's not on the mind today. Today is just regrouping."

I'll have more on what Lamoriello said about Tuesday night's loss and the little he said about looking to the future in a few minutes in a separate post.

***

In case you missed it, Zach Parise was not voted as one of the finalists for the Hart Trophy. The three finalists are Washington's Alex Ovechkin, Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin and Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk.

It's hard to argue with that trio.

Comments

[Jeff]

Sutter got outcoached..he can go. Reverted back to matching lines. Lamoriello had a terrible signing year. Players did the best they could being hamstrung by the Coach and GM.

[Shimmy]

This coach can not come back....past 2 years have been 2 worst playoff defeats of alll time! I cant move, this is the worst day of my life.

[Jeff]

Here what "transpired" Lou. The Devils played not to loose and tried to hang on this entire series by insisting on matching and not featureing Parise, Zajac. Maurice outcoached your guy by using tv time outs to continue to put Stahl out and keep Zach on the bench. Your D was under constant attack. Even the 1-0 game was 44 shots. This team attempted to hang on for dear life and couldn't once with .02 and then again in the last 1:45.

[pando20rules]

Shimmmy,

No offense, but you haven't been around Devils hockey that long if you think the last TWO years are the worst of all time. This year, for sure, is #1 on the list, but losses to Ottawa and Pittsburgh in 1998 and 1999 far outweigh the loss last year, not to mention 1994.

[Jeff]

Also what transpired was that all of your signings in the last 2 years have been busts. Zubrus, Rolston, Holik, Havlid. What's transpired is the game has past the "our checkers will beat your scorers" mentality.

[RG]

Ok lou, time to revamp our d. Jay bo sounds great right now. And can we please draft a goalie? Thank you tg for keeping us updated all year.

[Shimmy]

pando20rules,

sorry, but when you open a brand new long anticipated arena, and have it shut down for the summer by a Rangers 5 game series win, with ranger fans acting like they just won the cup, i know 94 was awful, yes i was around, but you can not tell me that 08 and 09 ended horribly, and worst all time..

[Scratch28]

Lou needs to stop recycling old Devils. You can't look to the past of your franchise to solve your present problems. No more Holiks, Mogilnys, Rolstons etc etc...and to those of you out there calling for Niedermayer, especially no Nieds!!! The guy didn't want to be here...good riddins!
We need to start looking at YOUNG talent, guys with youth, speed, drive and determination on their side.
Enough with the dinosaurs trying to con Lou out of one last fat contract so they can lay back and finish out their days relaxing in NJ (Rolston).
DEFINITELY get a goalie that we can depend on and that can grow with us (Not Clemmer)
And get a coach that has the balls to tell Brodeur when to play and when to sit. I'm tired of the goalie telling the coaching staff what to do.

[DCdevil]

he needs to hold someone accountable for these 2 seasons...Or should we hold lou accountable? hmmm...One thing is for sure, I cant even function today...I think I actually stopped at a green light because I was thinking about last nights game.

[Maxwell]

TG - "Lamoriello said he has thought about discussing Sutter's future with him, yet."

I think you mean 'hasn't', right?

You're the man!

[TG]

I've got some news that's going to disappoint some of you. Bouwmeester is not signing with the Devils.

The word is he wants to play in Canada in a hockey market after feeling like he was in a place where no one cared about hockey in Florida.

I know this won't stop some of you from asking about him every day or some people from creating rumors, but don't get your hopes up.

The Devils should still inquire and let him say, 'no', but will need to have a more realistic plan for July 1 because that one probably won't pan out.

[Jason]

OH MY GOD...WHY?

[Jason]

A better question is...Does Vanderbeek expect Lou back next season?

[Tull]

thank you TG- good to know!
no offense to JBo but he has yet to play in the playoffs. if i'm breaking the bank, i want it for a proven winner. i'll take no one from San Jose either ;)

[Jeff]

Lou should retire...the game has changed

[JD]

I hate to say this, but to me Lou is the problem and it is time for him to hang it up. He has not adopted his philosophy post-lockout and in the new salary cap era. He has not had one good free agent signing that has worked out..MMM's, Holik, Rolston, and Zubrus all are terrible busts. Resigning Pando for $2.5 million, and White for 6 years at $3 million. The Havelid trade. All of these decisions were awful and the reason we can longer compete in the playoffs. Yes he found a gem in Oduya, but that is the exception here. I will be the first to thank Lou for all he has done for the franchise, but he just does not get it anymore and it is time for him to move on.

[JPL]

Look for Lemaire behind the bench next season.

Sutter was out coached. He did nothing to try and spark the PP. He insisted on matching lines and the expense of our skill players and did not make in game adjustments. He had zero creativity. He played the same game against the Canes all season and came out on the short side. Outside of Game 1 it was quite clear to see he was out of his league. Again I am not saying he's a bad coach but just not the right coach for this team any more.

[Stunned and Disgusted Devils Fan]

TG,

Our crowd last night was awesome and gave 110% support, I think you should acknowledge that, especially when the media loves to make note of when we don't sellout or are quiet. I find it funny that the Devils sold out 4 games and Carolina did not sellout any games but the media calls their fans "great".

[SS]

BRING BACK JACQUES LEMAIRE!!!!!!!!

[modnarm]

Bring back Lemaire and play a system that worked in the OLD NHL. u guys want change cuz its the NEW nhl now.. yet want a coach that uses that trap!? !

[SS]

i was kinda joking but w/e...something needs to change...

[MikeR]

Shimmmy and Pando20rules

The worse loss ever was in 2001 when the Devil's could have closed out back-to-back Stanley Cups and lost two straight to Brodeur's childhood idol, Patrick Roy. Frankly, with the exception of 2003, the Devil's haven't looked good come playoff time. Can't say Brodeur was tired this time. Big disappointment.

[Matt]

Sutter...Go Home

[Sergei]

So what's next for ol TG? Vacation?

[Mike from East Rutherford]

Honestly, who's better off...the Islanders, Rangers, or Devils? Definitely the Islanders, they get rewarded for their bad season with an excellent draft pick. We, on the other hand, have nothing to show for it.

We need to make some moves. Not sure of the numbers, but perhaps a complete juggle in the lineup...other than Zajac and Parise, all other players in our lineup are expendible.

Build around a core defenseman...Phaneuf would be nice. Or, trade for a top-rate center...Thorton or LeCavalier...it's going to be tough to get rid of our "spare parts," but we need to give the Devils fans something to believe in. Our gambles the past six seasons have yielded poor results, hence let's try going back to the well and doing it over again...

Can't sell out an arena with a bad club Lou. Put together a team that goes two or three rounds, and certainly, you will do better as an organization. Stop living on your past successes...