Darryl Sutter To Return As Kings Head Coach

By Emily Redenbach
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Updated: May 12, 2016

The Kings have confirmed at least one more piece of their strategy to run for the Cup again next season; they’ve secured head coach Darryl Sutter to helm the team. Sutter, who came to the Kings late in the 2012 regular season, coached them to the franchise’s first ever Stanley Cup that same year. The following season they made it to the Western Conference Finals but were bested in 5 games by the eventual Stanley Cup Champions. Next season in 2014 the Kings had an even greater Stanley Cup run, with Sutter leading them to once again raise that glorious Cup.

Sutter’s success seemingly ended there; in 2015 the Kings failed to make the post season and despite being the second team to clinch a playoff birth, were the second team to be eliminated. Some have judged Sutter’s lack of confidence in rookies and mismanagement of vital assets as one of the reasons the Kings failed this season. GM Dean Lombardi has faith that Sutter is the man he hired in 2012, however.

“Darryl has an offer on the table,” Lombardi said. “I think there’s an offer that’s certainly respectable. I don’t think this is about money. It’s, are we ready to do this? That issue of where we’re going and where we are is always out there. It’s a different challenge.

“You want to hear what our game plan is. It’s not different than when I first hired him.”

Lombardi, who has come under fire in recent seasons for making personnel decision based on family loyalty rather than strictly business, is confident that Sutter is the man who can bring the Kings back to glory. He’s recently been spotted at the Kings AHL affiliate’s playoff games – the Ontario Reign are currently battling the Ducks AHL affiliate in the second round in their quest for the Calder Cup – possibly scouting the talent that may end up on his roster next season, as the Kings look to make some changes.

If nothing else, the return of Daryl also means the return of his beloved son Chris, who lights up the Dance Cam at every home game. Welcome back boys.

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