Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter’s reaction to Jakob Pelletier’s National League career opener in January angered many, and it seems the big boss behind the bench wanted things to go his own way.
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The player will in all likelihood have to do more to convince Sutter, who recently dropped him from the squad and remains skeptical of him; The Quebecer was particularly boisterous on Tuesday as the Flames lost to the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3.
That decision has also prompted journalist Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff website to revisit Sutter’s famous reaction after his protégé’s first game earlier in the calendar year. After Pelletier’s debut, who had played less than seven minutes in a matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the coach mentioned that he was “21 years old and has a long way to go.” Most notably, he had answered a question by wondering what number the hockey player wore.
However, the controversy began before that, behind the scenes. “The other players on the team wanted to know if he was going to play his first game or not because they wanted his parents [aient le temps de se rendre sur les lieux] and can participate. But Darryl didn’t answer them. Eventually, one of them had to go to the arena floor to ask him, “What are we doing? This young man is here, will he start today or not? If so, be polite enough to tell him he’s going to play. so his parents can watch his first game live,'” Seravalli told the Barn Burner podcast.
“After that he said yes and it was like he was like, ‘Oh, you made me play that youngster, so I’m going to publicly control the whole thing. I’ll let everyone know it’s my decision.” That was his answer, said the journalist. What was happening behind the scenes confused everyone.”
Pelletier, now 22, and his teammates take on the Winnipeg Jets Wednesday night in a game that will decide the outcome of the playoff race. After not playing since March 20, he has seven points in 23 games with Calgary.