Sutter announces he won't be back (completed)

Brent Sutter finally ended the weeks of speculation by announcing during a noon conference call today that he will not return as head coach of the Devils next season.

"My decision is that I've officially resigned as head coach of the New Jersey Devils effective today," he said.

As expected, Sutter, who will turn 47 on Wednesday, cited "personal and family reasons." Sutter had trouble with being away from his family in Red Deer, Alberta and his business concerns there. He owns a ranch and a major junior team -- the Western Hockey League's Red Deer Rebels -- there. The Rebels have missed the playoffs the last two seasons.

"It had to do with a lot of things back here in Red Deer," Sutter said. "There were circumstances that have occurred especially over the last year that has made it increasingly more difficult and I have to do the right thing and the right thing was to step back and evaluate everything and go through the process that I had to go through and then my decision came down to what it is."

Although it has been difficult being away from his family, Sutter said he doesn't regret agreeing to coach the Devils two years ago.

"I don't regret it at all," he said. "As far as the hockey side of it there and what I've learned from being around the people I've been around and been able to coach the players that I've coached, it was a great experience. I don't regret that at all. It was two years there and I got the chance to be around some great people and all of the players that I coached over that period of time were fantastic...But, with all of that being said, you still have to put things in the proper place."

Sutter has one year remaining on a three-year contract he signed when he was hired on July 13, 2007. In his two seasons with the Devils, he guided them to a 97-56-11 record. In 2008-09, the Devils won team-record 51 games and the Atlantic Division title despite losing goaltender Martin Brodeur for 50 games because of a torn biceps tendon. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the second year in a row, however, with a 4-3 loss to Carolina on April 28.

Sutter has been pondering his future since then. He said that the Game 7 loss to the Hurricanes, in which the Devils led 3-2 until giving up two goals in the final 80 seconds, was not a factor in his decision.

"That's why it was important to go through the process that I went through, to step back and not let the emotional level or anything like that get caught up into my decision making" he said. "The New Jersey Devils, I have nothing but a tremendous amount of respect for the entire organization right from the top to bottom. (GM) Mr. (Lou) Lamoriello, I respect him so, so much and the ownership and the players were great. The whole organization right through, the coaching staff, trainers, doctors, everybody there. It has nothing to do with any of that.

"There's times in life where you have to step back and evaluate things and prioritize some things and family has to become a big part of that and other things that are going on in your life. I've done that and this is the decision that I've made."

Sutter said Lamoriello did not try to talk him out of resigning.

"Lou was very respectful and he was very supportive through the whole process and the reason why is no one knows what I have back here. Only he he does," Sutter said. "He's been here. He's seen it. He understands. And that's why there was such a great understanding going into this when I took the position here because he saw what was here. He sees everything that's involved that involved my life around here. At this point, it's the right thing to do what I'm doing and Lou has been very supportive through it. That's another reason why I have such a tremendous amount of respect for him." 

When asked what he will do now, Sutter replied, "I'm getting back to my life here as far as being in the office on a daily basis here with the Rebels and working between there and the ranch and spending some time with my family. I'm getting back to my life here that I've neglected somewhat over the last couple of years."

Sutter bristled at the suggestion that some might consider him a quitter.

"Other people should fly out there and see what's here, then they wouldn't be speculating that," he said. "Personally, I could care less what other people think. The decision you make, only I know what's here. People out here won't say that (he's a quitter). People out there might say that, but people out here aren't going to say that because they know what I have here. I don't look at it that way at all.

"When it involves family and it involves personal things around your life that you thrown everything into and then ultimately you have to make a decision on something, it might not be the right decision for some people and that's fine, that's always out there. Yet, I don't at all look at it like I'm quitting on anything. I threw two years of my life (into it) and made a big commitment 3,000 miles away from where my life was and tried to do everything I possibly could to try to accomplish a goal there that we wanted to accomplish. But, by me doing that, my life has suffered in other areas and those areas to me are bigger than the game." 

Sutter believes the Devils still have a bright future ahead without him.

"The Devils' future is great," he said. "To me, it's not about one person. It's about the program in place and the structure that's within that program. It's in great hands there. It's alway been that way and that's what's so unique about the New Jersey Devils, is the culture there. You've got to Mr. Lamoriello and (owner) Mr. (Jeff) Vanderbeek and you have the people that are involved. Things always seem to work well and work out right when you've got great, great people and they certainly have that there. It's in great hands."

There has been speculation that Sutter will join his older brother, Darryl, in Calgary. Darryl Sutter is the general manager of the Flames and fired Mike Keenan as head coach on May 22.

Brent Sutter said again that the Flames' vacancy was not a factor in deciding his future with the Devils.

"I just want to get this out right now that that has zero impact on my decision-making here. None," he said. "There's been all of these rumors here before Edmonton had named their coaching staff. The reason why that's all out there is because it's an hour and 15 minutes from my farm and my ranch. It's totally irrelevant."

Sutter didn't rule out the idea of being able to coach in the NHL and maintain his businesses in Red Deer in the future, though.

"Absolutely under the right circumstances you could possibly make that work," he said. "Red Deer is just one bit of it, one piece of the pie. The whole situation has been unique from the get-go and Mr. Lamoriello and I both knew that. It is what it is."

Sutter avoided discussing whether he was interested in the Flames' job.

"I haven't even thought about it as far as whether I have interest in it or not," he said. "The way it works now is the Calgary Flames, any team that wants to talk to me in the National Hockey League, has to have permission and has to get the permission from Mr. Lamoriello and the New Jersey Devils. I'm fully aware of it and I fully understand that and I fully respect that. But that had no bearing at all on my decision-making. And if that occurs (if the Flames express interest and get permission to speak to him), it's like anything else, you always look at it  But that's up to Mr. Lamoriello and other circumstances. That has nothing to do with me at all."

When I asked Lamoriello if any team had asked permission to talk to Sutter, he said, "The body is still warm."

Neither Sutter nor Lamoriello would discuss Sutter's contract. According to NHL bylaws, once a team grants permission to another team to speak to a coach that is under contract, there is no compenstion involved. The team can try to entice the other team (the Devils) to grant them permission, however, by offering compensation.

Other things Sutter talked about today:

Will he continue to work for the Devils in any capacity?

"That hasn't even been discussed," he said. "I've resigned my poisition as head coach and if there's anything that I can help Lou with, if he needs help anything else that may be there for him, it's always open."

Why did it take so long to make his decision when he's had these feelings for a while?

"I wouldn't exactlty say these are the feelings I've had for a long time," he said. "There's a process that you go through that it's a big decision that I had to make that either I was going to go back and I was going to coach the Devils or I wasn't. To be quite honest, my decision at this point in time wasn't the decision that I had six weeks ago or seven weeks ago. There's a process that I wanted to go through and I stayed around New Jersey for quite some time after just to be by myself and think things through properly before I came back here (to Red Deer). Then, when I came back here I spent time with my family and I spent time at the office with the people there and evaluated everything there with the Rebels' office. There's decisions that need to be made on that side of it, too. You go through all of that and this past week we brought in all of our prospects. I needed to sit down with them and sit down with their parents .There's things you've got to do and I just wanted to make sure that I never looked back on it and regretted it. The decision is what it is and I don't regret it. It's the right thing to do and to be quite honest I had a decent sleep last night for the first time in seven weeks."

On how the team pulled together after Martin Brodeur was injured:

"It's a special group of players there and I have nothing but the utmost respect for all of them. I know there's tough things you go through and tough times you go through as players and coaches, but I have a great amount of respect for everyone there and it's hard-working group and we took great strides this year. But, at the end of the day, our team there is measured on wanting to win the Stanley Cup. That was our focus this year. It was getting to the dance and being able to do it and we never accomplished that and in that way it was very disappointing. Yet, when you look at your regular season, you have a 51-win season and you still finished in the top four or five teams in goals-against, which we've taken an tremendous amount of pride there in doing. Yet, at the end of the day,it was still disappointing because we never accomplished what we wanted to accomplish. Did we go through some tough times that we responded to adversity very well? Absolutely and that's a credit to the players."

{More coming. I will update this post with more quotes as I transcibe them}

Comments

[John B]

Good luck to Brent. He was a good coach here and I know Lamoriello is sorry to lose him. Is it Johnny Mac's time?

[Vishal]

Bye Brent, thanks for two years.

Now that this is over.....Lou, who you got?

[HF]

thanks for nothing brent quitter...

[JerryG]

No Johnny Mac here yet. Let him prove his ability as a head coach in Trenton or Lowell first. Don't set the guy up for failure. Being the boss is a LOT different than being second in command.

[McJags]

Meh, no big deal now. Do players really want a coach who has to evaluate every year if he wants to coach them.

Please no to J-Mac and please talk Scott Stevens into at least an assistant position.

[Scott C]

Good Riddance!!!!

[Matt]

Stop dissing on Brent, we wanted him gone, let him go in peace.

[dannyd]

I definately don't want Lemaire, and I'm not thrilled with the idea of promoting Johnny Mac. As others have said I would rather clean house and let the new coach pick his assistants (though TG says it's unlikely Lou would allow that...why????)

As for who the new coach should be, I don't really know. Laviolette seems like the best option but I'm not over enthused with that idea. Pat Burns would be perfect, but that can't happen, sadly. I would love to see Stevens just step in as coach, but that is a reeeeal long shot, I think.

[embo slice]

I am more than happy with this news...we have hope for next year now....and I think this does explain why the team didn't "show up" at times...bye bye brent, I won't miss you at all

[Noam N. Kogen]

One of Ted Nolan, Peter Laviolette, or Bob Hartley should work well for the Devils. Nolan gets the most out of his players, Laviolette and Hartley have both won Stanley Cups.

I definitely don't want Mike Keenan or Jacques Lemaire, both of whom have had their best days long ago.

I share everyone's curiousity as to whom Lamoriello will pick to be his next head coach.

[Brodie30]

I wish he went one more year. The team probably benefited from him with a tweak in offensive philosophy. Hopefully the team doesn't take a step back.

[Sergei]

Ya because fans really miss coaches

[Ortugg44]

Yay can we get a coach that doesn't get home sick this time?

[mike d]

Bring in Mike Haviland, Blackhawks asst. coach

[V]

Bye Brent! I thought you were going to be something special and one day take over as GM for Lou..wow I was off. I want a committed coach who 100% wants to be here so glad he left since his heart was not in it. I dont see how JOhnny Mac has shown anything that would make some think he should get the job. Doesnt he run our PP?? which is a joke! I also dont want to go backwards with Lemaire or some old Devils coach. I lean towards Laviolete. I would not be surprised with Gainey as Lou loves the Montreal guys. But he may be too passive and we need to keep the up tempo offense we have been building over the years. Take care Brent..enjoy your family. Sorry it did not work out for the long term.

[David]

By losing in game seven to Carolina in 80 seconds when having the lead by two goals, could they step back anymore. Theyre defense was terrible! A few shining moments, but there needs to be a drastic over haul. Sutter wasnt the answer, obviously! So dont let the door hit you in the @ss on the way out bud! Bring Back Scotty to get toughness!

[Pete]

Anyone who continues the offensive style will work fine. But I agree with everyone else, PLEASE DEAR GOD DO NOT HIRE JACQUES LEMAIRE! We need to take a step forward, not a step backward.

[MK]

GOOD RIDENCE

[bobo]

TSN is reporting that "the NHL doesn't permit for compensation so if Lamoriello were to grant permission, he would be doing so knowing he would be freeing Sutter of his contractual obligations in New Jersey.
That scenario, were it to play out, would pave the way for Sutter to coach in Calgary.
At the end of the day, it's Lamoriello who holds the cards on whether Brent Sutter is a candidate in Calgary."

Which means the Devils get nothing if he signs with the Flames

[Falcone]

I don't think Mac's going to get the nod. I'm not opposed to it, but just don't think it'll happen. Who we get, we have no idea, bc that's how Lou works. But I think he'll bring someone in before free agency to show to the players this is the coach we've got and the direction we're going in.

If we don't get a coach before free agency, look for a lot of players to not sign with us bc they don't know which direction we'd be going in.

[troy]

We all know Lou, and he will step back from the situation, and then make his decision.Know Lou though, I would say he already has someone in mind, and I think it will be either Laviolette or Carboneau.Lou loves the Montreal connection, and that's why Guy will be considered.With that said, Lou must make a chose of the style we are to play, the up-tempo that we need to play, or a defensive retro style that's system is more productive then the sum of it's parts.john Mac maybe the right choose, as he did see the results,(and knows the up-tempo system)that Brent brought here.We need to play an up-tempo style, to compete, and we have the personnel to win with this style.it also, is a style that will bring free-agents here.(And we need a centre and D-man).
My personal feeling is, Lou may see how Pat Burns' health is, before hiring Laviolette.

[Jeff O.]

Lou will sign someone within the next week, hopefully. He needs to. My vote (right now) is Laviolette, but that could change. Patrick Roy anyone? Hahahaha, just kidding. Seriously, though, I hope whoever the next coach is keeps the offensive style and actually acts like a human being. You know, like showing emotion every once in a while. It was painful to watch Sutter give interviews. I'm pretty sure I caught myself falling asleep during some of them. I liked the system Sutter tried to implement, but that's where it ended with me and seemingly everyone else here. Keep the offensive style and bring in some emotion, Lou!

[MattP]

Anyone who thinks that is any chance at all that Burns will even be considered might need to get their head examined...

[Unknown]

A more positive note...

We won The Cup 6 years ago today!!

[Grofe]

Carboneau, Laviolette, Crawford, Kirk Muller, Nolan, McClean. In that order.