Sutter still mum on his future

Devils Brent Sutter would not speak today about whether he intends to come back for a third season with the team.

'I'm not talking about myself," he said. "You guys have heard a bunch of stuff out there that are rumors and I told you at that time and I'm saying it again: I evaluate myself at the end of the year and there's a process I go through to do that and it takes time and I'm going to use time to my advantage and think through everything properly and whatever decision is made will be the decision made.

"I've done that every year since I started coaching in 1999 and I'll continue to do so moving forwards. But this is not a time to discuss that whatsoever. To be quite honest, I'll still thinking about what transpired here less than 48 hours ago. There's a process you go through with that. It's been the most difficult thing that's ever happened to me in my hockey career as a player or a coach. So, that's where I'm at.

"I'm not trying to be disrespectful to anybody or anything. It's just that it's not something that I've given it much time at this point time."

The 2008-09 Devils got together for the final time today for a team photo and exit physicals.They were eliminated from the playoffs with a 4-3 loss to Carolina in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Tuesday night,

They led 3-2 in that game before the Hurricanes scored twice in the final 1:20.

Sutter's future has been in question because he hasn't said he will definitely come back next season. He has one more season left on his contract.

"I knew that question was going to be asked," Sutter said. "But I don't want (the media) to take it disrespectful that I can't answer it for you because I'm not in that stage right now."

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello told me Wednesday that he wants Sutter to return and expects him to do so. Lamoriello was far less firm about that today, though.

"The quickness of everything that's transprired -- has it been 48 hours yet? -- you usually take a step back and look at yourself first is what I try and do and then sit down and go through all of the other tangible situations and there are several," Lamoriello said. "There has been no timetable."

When asked if there is a possibility that Sutter will not be back, Lamoriello replied, 'I really don't want to get into any of that here. You had a conversation with Brent. I don't think this is the time to get into anything that's personal."

Sutter also wouldn't answer questions about whether he thinks the team needs personnel changes.

"We're less than 48 hours away from, to me, the most devastating loss I've ever had as a coach or a player," Sutter said. "I don't think it's a time to even go there with that, There's a process that you have to go through and making sure everyone is in the right frame of mind and whatever decisions are made moving forward, you're not making them through emotion."

Comments

[pando20rules]

pretty much the answers you would expect Sutter to give

any player feedback TG? I would imagine there's more coming!

[Bobby]

TG,

care to speculate on his tone of voice today if he's thinking one way or another, or was he behaviorally clear that he doesn't know himself?

A guy like that, I'd like to think he honors that final year and tries to overcome this disaster into next season.

[Frank Rizzo]

He'll be back. Bank on it.

[Tull]

Masterson finalists were announced- Clemmer didn't make the cut unfortunately :(

missed you today TG!

[Tull]

Masterson finalists were announced & Clemmer, unfortunately, didn't make the cut :(

missed you today TG!

[Maxwell]

'It's been the most difficult thing that's ever happened to me in my hockey career as a player or a coach.'

That's pretty devastating - especially since Sutter's been around for a guys who's been in/around the NHL for almost 30 years (drafted in 1980). I was thinking that it was the biggest loss/choke show to occur in a Game 7 in NHL history. I know that's not something you want to think about, but it's reality.

It may hurt more today than it did yesterday. I guess that's what happens when the whiskey runs out...

[TG]

I will have a lot more coming. I'm in the process of going through it right now.

[TG]

I'll post this again later, but right now the only Devils going to World Championships are Patrik Elias (Czech Republic), Johnny Oduya (Sweden) and Travis Zajac (Canada). The U.S. roster is apparently full, so there is no room Zach Parise or any of the other American-born players. Parise said he talked to officials from Team USA yesterday and they told him they have no room for him. He was disappointed.

I'll have more on that later.

[TG]

Sutter gave no indication one way or the other, mostly because he wouldn't talk about it.

[Frank Rizzo]

Brent is not jumping ship after that absolute disaster. Worst thing he has ever experienced. He would regret it forever. He'll make at least 1 more shot at making it right.

[Scratch]

Wow, sounds like there may be a real possibility that he won't be back...idk, I'm not putting any money on him

[A Local Fan]

TG you do a great job.

Is there any Devils fan that is really worried if Brent stays or goes? The guy played Madden and Pando more than Parise and Elias in a game 7. I like his aggressive system as well but it seems like the team abandoned it at times.

Lou is the guy that should go though. The salary cap has put a dent in the armor of the great Lamoriello. We aren't drafting as well and star players leave every year and are replaced by junk like Rolston and Zubrus.

[Tull]

thank you TG!

i can imagine the guys wld really want to just jump into another series to get over the pain of this one... bummer for Zach, et al.

[yo39602]

I think he will be back. Too bad about Parise though. He really deserves it.

[pando20rules]

surprising that Elias is playing in the WC......I guess that groin injury wasn't hampering him at all

[theking72]

Elias should be home resting he played like s%&* in the playoffs and we all speculated that he is injured

[Scratch]

ALF, you're the one that should go...you were good to laugh at for a while but no one is laughing anymore, you don't deserve a say here and no one values or respects your opinion. get off this thread, get off this blog, and get off this planet.

[AJ]

Brent won't leave during this offseason. This loss left a bad taste in his mouth, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him come back and try and erase the nightmare that was Game 7.

[A Local Fan]

Not trying to be funny. I'm venting of this disgrace of a team that I root for, so mind your own business.

LOU MUST GO!!!

[Jason]

If he doesn't leave on his own, he should be fired.

[Jeff M]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AnxDprfwctFTWKWscx6.NGl7vLYF?slug=ap-stunnedsharks&prov=ap&type=lgns

Interesting discussion on the Sharks GM - wish we could see this fire from Lou.

[DCdevil]

at least wilson recognized an apology was in order.

[Topshlf]

I hope Sutter goes back to Red Deer. I can't stand another year of Die On Us Zubust as our 2nd line center, especially when we could have had a guy like Rolston there.

Like I said before, the only satisfaction I got from the other night's disgrace of loss, was watching Sutter sniffle like a little girl during that press conference. If our 2nd line had just a little more "O" and were able to get us a goal or two more, we might be talking about stopoing Alexander the Great.

Instead, he played Zubust between Patty and Gio and look where that got us? Please leave Sutter...

[Strac]

Wat do you want Sutter to do with the second line. He tried Rolston there and nothing happned? He can't do anything more about it. Also the Pando-Madden-Shanny line was one of the best lines out there the other night too. Surprised about Parise too, the US coach seemed to want him on the roster.

[Scott E]

TG - ditto all the other comments. Thanks for the behind-the-scenes look that you've been giving us, both now and throughout the entire season!

I'll respect Sutter's choice to take his time before deciding whether or not he's going to come back; I just hope, if he chooses not to return, he gives Lou enough advance notice so he can find another coach (unless it automatically goes to John MacLean, as people suspected before Sutter was hired)