[Hockey News]

Jim Playfair didn't seem like a man expecting the axe.

The head coach of the Calgary Flames spoke with ease and humour for a long time Tuesday as his players were put through medicals and meetings before starting their summer. One of many questions in Calgary on the heels of the Flames' first-round exit from the playoffs in six games to the Detroit Red Wings was, did Playfair do a good enough job in his first year as head coach?

Both daily newspapers posted that question prominently in Tuesday's editions.

General manager Darryl Sutter is expected to address it publicly Wednesday.

Playfair sounded like he expected to be back behind the bench next season.

"Seriously, I wish the season started tomorrow morning," he said. "You know you're going to do a better job. It's like 'let's go.' That's the excitement of wanting to correct anything you did wrong."

Flames head coach Jim Playfair upbeat after disappointing season

[Hockey News]

CALGARY (CP) - General manager Darryl Sutter says the Flames can do better.

Sutter slammed the door Wednesday on questions about head coach Jim Playfair and player contracts. The GM was more forthcoming on his team's season in which the Flames posted a 43-29-10 record and lost in the first round of the playoffs.

"I'm not going to say we had a great year and I'm not going to say we had a bad year. I think it's OK," Sutter said during a news conference. "The philosophy of this organization since I came here is OK is not OK."

The burning question in Calgary, even before the Flames lost in double overtime of Game 6 to Detroit on Sunday, was: had Playfair done a good enough job in his first year as head coach?

The man who chose Playfair to replace him behind the bench did not answer it.

Sutter silent on coach and player contacts, but says Flames can be better

[Lefty Noob]

Not exactly a ringing endorsement for Playfair. Will he stay or will he go?

[ThePundit]

Did they ever fire him?

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

Did they ever fire him?

Doesn't look it, not yet anyway. Playfair is still listed as their head coach.

[blueandwhite]

I did not expect that. But they were disappointed. Funny, though, how it falls on the coach first. the team did not mesh as well as expected - although they gave one final kick vs. detroit - suppose that's a coach's domain.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

I did not expect that. But they were disappointed. Funny, though, how it falls on the coach first. the team did not mesh as well as expected - although they gave one final kick vs. detroit - suppose that's a coach's domain.

So you think they should have replaced him, blue?

[blueandwhite]

You know, he's had one season as head coach - I'd think, give him another shot and let's see - it takes time. But what do I know?
He's dedicated to the Flames, he's been an assistant for years. I don't really agree with the 'blame the coach' theory. If Vigneault had a bad year this year with the Canucks, i would have hated to see them get rid of him.
But it's the way they seem to do things. Either get rid of the coach or the gm. Doesn't always fix things.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

But it's the way they seem to do things. Either get rid of the coach or the gm. Doesn't always fix things.

Looks like the Flame might realize that considering they haven't pulled the trigger on him yet. You're right, sometimes patience is rewarded, and I think this could well be one of those cases. For the record, I'm never in favor of firing a playoff coach. If he's getting you there, he's going his job.

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Looks like the Flame might realize that considering they haven't pulled the trigger on him yet. You're right, sometimes patience is rewarded, and I think this could well be one of those cases. For the record, I'm never in favor of firing a playoff coach. If he's getting you there, he's going his job.

You mean like Byron Scott getting fired after going to the championship round 2 years in a row? Now that was a joke.