from Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun,

When Sutter took over as GM, adding to his coaching duties, he could do no wrong, and it paid off. He took a team which was a laughingstock, having missed the playoffs seven consecutive seasons, and coached it to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals during that miracle 2004 run.

He acquired goalie Miikka Kiprusoff for a second-round draft choice, the first of a few astute trades which paid dividends during his first couple of years at the helm.

For that, Sutter deserves all kinds of credit to this day.

(In fact, the Flames should have made a point of honouring him when Sutter returned to the Saddledome as coach of the Kings for the first time last season, but they didn't. The Tampa Bay Lightning did it for Feaster when he was returned there while with the Flames.)

However, the combination of bad drafting, dealt-away second-round picks and trades which blew up in his face during Sutter's reign of error has left the Flames where they are, a sub-mediocre squad looking for miracles to make the playoffs.

The Flames should have more of their first-round draft choices from Sutter's time making their mark these days.

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