Darryl Sutter is now Kings’ all-time winning coach
By Jamaal Artis
Darryl Sutter now has the most wins of any LA Kings coach.
The Los Angeles Kings ended a three game losing streak, as they got back their all-world goalie in Jonathan Quick, and Jeff Carter continued his quiet quest for league MVP with a goal and two assists. All these things happened during Saturday’s afternoon Freeway Face-off between the Kings and the Anaheim Ducks — a milestone was reached as well.
Darryl Sutter became the Kings’ all-time winning coach. And much like all his other wins there was probably little fan fare coming from Sutter himself.
In his own way as always Sutter deflected from taking on any praise or making the accomplishment about himself. In his tenure with the Kings for Sutter it’s always about the team and not himself.
Despite his reticence, Sutter is very deserving of praise, in the Kings franchise history you could argue his importance ranks as high as other all-time greats. Before Sutter started his tenure with the Kings, the franchise had a core of young talent but little glory.
It’s been a little over five years since Kings general manager Dean Lombardi called his old friend Sutter off his farm to see if the 2011-12 Kings season could be turned around. All Sutter has done since then is 216 regular season games to go with his franchise record 42 playoff game wins.
For a team more used to mediocrity in their 50 year history, the Kings were transformed into an elite team by the arrival of Sutter back in 2011. His terse post game style mirrors the go about your business mentality that the Kings have, and there big hitting grind it out style is reminiscent of the style of play Sutter employed as an NHL player.
No one can argue Sutter’s place as the King greatest coach. The wins and obviously postseason success with Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014 cement the legend that Sutter has become in his years in Los Angeles, and for that he deserves all of the praise.