“Lost my confidence,” Jonathan Huberdeau opens up about players’ FRACTURING relationship with former Flames coach Darryl Sutter
Jonathan Huberdeau reveals how tense the locker room situation was under their former head coach Darryl Sutter which resulted in missed playoff run.
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Jonathan Huberdeau and Darryl Sutter [Image Credit: Twitter/Yardbarker]
Calgary Flames alternate captain Jonathan Huberdeau reveals that he and former head coach Darryl Sutter “didn’t really click” following the forward’s $84 million signup. This season the Flames failed to make the playoffs. On Monday the organization fired Sutter adding one more name to their let-go list.
Earlier, GM Brad Treliving also walked out as he had issues with Sutter’s coaching methods and with the higher-ups in the franchise. Now with Sutter out of the picture, the Huberdeau revealed how tense the atmosphere was in Calgary under his control.
This 2022-23 season, Sutter has come into controversies several times as fans blasted the coach for his methods and planning of the player’s position. Furthermore, the fans even demanded they fire Sutter and hire Bruce Boudreau instead.
Related: Darryl Sutter under SCRUTINY as fans demand Bruce Boudreau to replace Flames coach
Jonathan Huberdeau states Darryl Sutter’s method of coaching put players at disadvantage
The Flames may be looking to change the team before the regular-season starts. According to Jonathan Huberdeau, Darryl Sutter didn’t put “players in a position to succeed”, expressing his disappointment as the forward failed to bring out his full potential under him.
Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar were added to the Flames lineup following Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau’s trade. This season, Huberdeau’s offensive power dropped down to a surprising more than 50 percent recording only 40 assists and 55 points.
The forward is hopeful that the new head coach can help him bring out the absolute best after the previous failed season. He said the style Sutter wanted Huberdeau to play “didn’t fit my style of game”. He goes on to say that “this year was a lot harder mentally. I lost my confidence, my swagger.”
Huberdeau went on to address the January 2023 issue, where Sutter openly mocked rookie player Jakob Pelletier. Although, the former head coach praised him in the locker room, Huberdeau questions if this move was necessary. He asked what need was there to openly blast a rookie player’s confidence in front of a press conference but then go on to praise him in secret.
Flames President of Hockey Operations Don Maloney said that after hearing everything from the staff and the players it was clear that the team “need a new voice to guide us forward”. He stated that the players have been “very, very frustrated with the season” as they believed they had a good team to go into the playoffs, but couldn’t.
In February, Huberdeau’s agent Allan Walsh took to Twitter to blast the coach saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result”. “Also, negativity sucks the joy right out of players.”
Maloney said that Sutter is undoubtedly a very sharp man with a “good hockey mind” but his demanding type of coaching method is not working for the organization, “his time had expired with us”. He will soon be updating about the new GM and head coach hoping they’ll bring a positive mindset and atmosphere to Calgary this season.
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