Toffoli began his NHL career playing for Sutter with the Los Angeles Kings, winning the Stanley Cup in 2014. He'll see him Tuesday to get a refresher, but he already knows what to expect and what's expected.
Asked when he needed to arrive for a 10 a.m. meeting, Toffoli said with a laugh, "I'll probably be the first one there."
Smart man. Smart move.
The Flames have established themselves as contenders in their first full season since Sutter, their coach from 2002-06 and general manager from 2003-10, took over behind the bench again March 11, 2021.
In terms of points percentage, the best measure due to COVID-19 schedule disruptions this season, the Flames (26-13-6) are first in the Pacific Division and third in the Western Conference at .644.
They're eighth offensively (3.33 goals per game) and second defensively (2.40 goals against per game).
"We've got a long ways to go yet, but you do take your cues from the team," GM Brad Treliving said. "The players have done their job. It was time for me to do mine, and part of that is giving them some help."
RELATED: [Flames acquire Toffoli from Canadiens | NHL Trade Tracker]
Toffoli will make his Calgary debut Tuesday when the Flames host the Columbus Blue Jackets (9 p.m. ET; SNW, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
The 2022 Trade Deadline isn't until March 21, five weeks away. But if you find a player you want at a price you're willing to pay, why wait?
When every team in the NHL is trying to maneuver at once, accidents happen.
"It's like rush-hour traffic," Treliving said. "It's five lanes merging into one, the closer you get to it, so if you can get out in front of it, that's the preference of mine."
When teams add players late in the regular season, they have little time to adjust before the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"I'm under the strong belief that the sooner you can make trades
, a first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and a fifth-rounder in the 2023 NHL Draft. (If the first-rounder is in the top 10, the Flames have the option of sending the Canadiens their first-rounder in 2023 and a fourth-rounder in 2024 instead).
Toffoli adds offense, and he's proven he can do it in the playoffs. He has scored 23-31 goals in a season five times. He scored 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 26 playoff games when the Kings won the Cup in 2014 and 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 22 postseason games when the Canadiens made the Stanley Cup Final last season.
"I think everybody's fired up," goalie Jacob Markstrom said. "Everybody knows what kind of player he is. He's a goal-scorer everywhere he goes, and I'm happy because he usually always scores on me, and he's been doing it his whole career."
