Skating out of the limelight

For those who haven't heard yet, Calgary Flames GM Darryl Sutter was asked yesterday to step down from his position.  Ya kinda gotta feel for a guy that's 52 and out of a job, huh?

Calgary Herald December 29, 2010 9:33 AM
As the old year is set to bow out in a few days, so too is Flames general manager Darryl Sutter bowing out along with it.

Sutter's holiday-week departure may have come as a surprise, but it was a well-timed one. Given the Flames' less-than-dazzling performance of late, Sutter would have paid the ultimate price for it eventually, and it's best that it happened sooner, rather than later, while there's still time for the team to turn things around and have a shot at the playoffs.

The coups Sutter scored with the illustrious lineup of Miikka Kiprusoff, Dion Phaneuf, Robyn Regehr and Jarome Iginla have crumbled to dust -- he shed Phaneuf for the hugely disappointing Matt Stajan, while paying him $3.5 million US per season, and other pieces of the Phaneuf exit package -- Ian White and Jamal Mayers -- have already flown the Flames coop. (and then brought that joke Jokinen back)

The days of auld lang syne -- the Flames' glorious 2004 run for the Stanley Cup -- will never be forgot, as the song goes, but it didn't look like they were about to be repeated under Sutter's recent management.

Thinking back to that heady playoff season of 2004, we'll take a cup of kindness yet -- but look ahead to the team's new year. Fresh start, different face at the helm, and hope rekindled for the team.

Thank you, Darryl Sutter, for all you achieved for the Flames and their fans. We wish you well

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Skating+limelight/4035475/story.html#ixzz19WhwSXOC