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Friday, May 4, 2001
Brian Sutter gets 'Hawks post
Associated Press
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CHICAGO – Brian Sutter accepted a tough assignment
Thursday: make the Chicago Blackhawks a contending hockey team
again and do it with a style that puts fans back in the seats.
"It's a sports city where the fans want to see an honest effort
for an honest dollar," Sutter said after taking a three-year
contract to become Chicago's sixth coach since 1995.
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Tue, May 2
Former Blackhawk and ESPN NHL analyst Darren Pang thinks Chicago made a good move hiring Sutter but wonders exactly whose decision it was.
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"You want them to buy a beer and enjoy it and not throw it down
on the floor."
Sagging attendance and unhappy fans are byproducts for the
Blackhawks after missing the playoffs four straight years.
"Last year they didn't like the style of play," owner Bill
Wirtz said Thursday.
Alpo Suhonen was forced out by a heart condition in March, seven
games short of finishing his first season. His style was finesse
and sometimes his locker room was complacent.
"It didn't work. Guys had a little too much freedom. You didn't
get rewarded when you played better and didn't get demoted or
spanked when you didn't do well," said star Tony Amonte.
Amonte said that will all change with Sutter, whose brother,
Darryl, coached the Blackhawks from 1992-95.
"No more country club," Amonte said.
|  | | Brian Sutter was hired to bring back the toughness Chicagoans expect from their teams. |
Sutter fit general manager Mike Smith's criteria. He doesn't
scream to get his point across but he does command attention.
"I'm not a hollering guy," said Sutter, embarking on his
fourth NHL head coaching job. "I'm a no-nonsense guy and I don't
ride fences. I make a decision after I talk to a lot of people. I'm
going to ask a lot of myself. I can't be afraid to do the wrong
thing."
Sutter's leadership stood out. Smith also interviewed Bryan
Murray, Terry Murray and Denis Savard, who will remain as an
assistant.
"It came clear that in terms of leadership, Brian was prepared
to accept the leadership role of the team as we prepare to
rebuild," Smith said.
"Every coach has his own style. Turns out Brian's style is
quite a bit different than Alpo's but that wasn't a factor. We need
an experienced coach who can command respect."
The Blackhawks and the large hockey-oriented Sutter family are
well connected. Darryl played in Chicago before becoming coach and
brothers Brent, Duane and Rich were also players with the
Blackhawks.
"I knew that if I was going to come back to work, as far as
hockey was concerned, this was one tremendous place to come,"
Sutter said.
"I'm not making any promises. We have to establish the
mentality that this is one of the toughest buildings to come in and
play in. That's first and foremost. Our level or the bar of
expectations has to be raised."
Sutter said the Blackhawks need to improve their supporting cast
for Amonte, Alex Zhamnov and Eric Daze and utilize their team
speed.
"It's no good dwelling on yesterday. The key is to surround
yourself with the best people you can find," he said. "There is a
good base here that other teams would like to get. We've got to
crank it up again."
Sutter has 10 years experience as an NHL coach with the St.
Louis Blues, Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames. His career record is
360-319-103 and his teams made the playoffs seven times.
Sutter was fired a year ago by Calgary after missing the
playoffs all three years with the Flames. He coached the Blues from
1988-92 and the Bruins from 1992-95. He spent his 12-year playing
career with St. Louis.
Al MacAdam, who along with Savard ran the team after Suhohen's
departure with seven games left this season, will also stay with
the team as an assistant.
Amonte said it's been difficult dealing with so many coaches the
last several years since Darryl Sutter left. Craig Hartsburg, Dirk
Graham, Lorne Molleken, Bob Pulford and Suhonen followed.
"You want a guy to step in and stay a while and build the
team," Amonte said. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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