Sutter coached the Flames (50-21-11) to the Pacific Division title in his first full season after being hired March 5, 2021. Their 111 points were sixth-best in the NHL this season and rank second in Calgary/Atlanta Flames history behind the 117 by the 1989 Stanley Cup champions. Calgary went from 19th last season to sixth this season in goals per game (2.77; 3.55) and improved from 16th to third in goals-against per game (2.86; 2.51).
The 63-year-old was presented the award by his older brother Brian, himself a winner of the award in 1990-91 after guiding the St. Louis Blues to 47 wins and a second-place finish in the Norris Division.
"That's a long time ago and I think back to]*
Sutter is in his second stint with the Flames, serving as coach from 2002-06. He was a finalist for the Jack Adams in 2003-04, when he led Calgary to a third-place finish in the Northwest Division and its first Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance in eight seasons. He guided the Flames to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final that season, losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
When he was hired last season, Sutter said he had "unfinished business" in Calgary.
"The reason I came back, I said this lots, I watched the team lots, watched the [Edmonton] Oilers and Calgary lots ... [I] thought the Flames were falling behind in terms of what was going on in the division and what was going on in the League," Sutter said after he was named a Jack Adams finalist. "That was the biggest reason I came back.
"I've been fortunate to be in the places I've been with the owners and types of teams you'd like to see have success. You get to the point where you can, not pick and choose, but don't have to go through the process to take that position."
Sutter is the second Flames coach to win the award (Bob Hartley; 2014-15).
"Real good coach and obviously the coaching staff as well has been really good," Calgary forward Elias Lindholm said. "We're all excited for them and [Sutter] to be named to that prize or award. It's good to see that the organization is doing pretty well."
Andrew Brunette of the Florida Panthers and Gerard Gallant of the New York Rangers were the other finalists for the award.
