Flames GM Darryl Sutter has dug the Flames a hole that could be Hell to get out of.
CALGARY — When the inevitable happens in Calgary and a management shift takes place with a rebuild quick to follow, the list of GM Daryl Sutter’s mortal sins will be no longer or shorter than any other GM, whose time has run its course.
Trading Dion Phaneuf will be at or near the top of that list. Partially for the fact that he was traded at all and partially because of what little was recouped in return.
What began with acquiring a mostly ineffective Olli Jokinen, in a deal that ensured Mike Cammalleri would hit the UFA market after the 2008-09 season, is ending with the struggling Flames in 14th place in the West and with a roster that shows little upside.
Trade Phaneuf? Fine, trade Phaneuf.
But in return the Flames got centre Matt Stajan and winger Niklas Hagman, two second-line players who are useful on a championship caliber team, but sadly more of the same on a Flames roster that remains offensively challenged despite quality scorers like Jarome Iginla and Rene Bourque.
Jokinen was brought back as a UFA in the summer, prompting the delicious Calgary Herald headline: "You Must Be Jokinen?!?" Ales Kotalik rides out a career on a no-trade deal, owed $3 million this season and next. Jay Bouwmeester, brought in to replace Phaneuf, takes up $6.7 million in cap room (for the next three seasons after this) and returns about 30 points per season with limited physical play.
Defenceman Steve Staios — pried off the Edmonton Oilers roster last March, at the price of this summer’s third-round draft pick — moves in and out of the press box throughout the young season, as a $2.7 million 37-year-old healthy scratch.
Players like Stajan and Hagman — who both shone in Thursday’s 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs — have simply not lived up to billing here, pouring gas on the Fire Sutter campaign.
"It’s been a little tough," said Hagman, who had a goal and an assist. "Last year our goal was the playoffs and we didn’t get there. This year, we’ve had a bit of a slow start."
"Myself, I know I can play better. But there are still a lot of games left."
As for Stajan, he is being asked to do for Calgary what Daymond Langkow once did, before suffering a career threatening neck injury last season, from which he has not returned.
It’s no fault of Stajan, but he is simply not the same player.
The problem is what Stajan lacks in defensive play and overall physicality, he has not made up in offence. He spent the past two games as a healthy scratch and has just one goal in his past 43 games.
And what’s the kicker? Sutter gave Stajan a four-year, $14 million deal over the summer.
"To defend myself, everyone looks at the goals," said Stajan, who is second on the Flames with 16 assists (one helper Thursday) to go with one goal. "Yeah, I’d love to score more goals but my plus-minus has been better (plus-5) and my points have been on pace. Everyone just looks at the one negative."
Even his head coach Brent Sutter shut Stajan down two games ago and you could only imagine the conversation he had with his brother over that decision.
"He has had different opportunities to play with different guys, top-end players," Brent Sutter said. "We’re in a situation where we need to win games and we need everyone playing well."
"Matt and I have had different discussions in the last few days about his level of play and where it needs to be. What he brings to the table and how he has to be effective for our team to have success."
In the end, individual criticism is fuelled by the fact the team has floundered.
They say a rising tide raises all boats, but a sinking ship gets everyone wet. So the fact the Maple Leafs (and Edmonton Oilers) are tied for second youngest teams in the league, with an average age of 26.3 isn’t lost on Flames fans, who see a 14th place club with an average age of over 30 years.
Calgary will have just one pick in the Top 10 or so selections at the 2011 draft, after dealing away their second- and third-round choices.
Other than that, everything’s going along swimmingly here in Calgary, where assistant GM Jay Feaster waits in the wings to inherit the GM job in Calgary and the mess that goes with it.
