Grace Sutter, the woman who quietly battled breast cancer last year away from the public eye.

"They caught it in time," she said Friday, talking publicly for the first time about her ordeal.

"I feel I've been blessed. And my family's been blessed, because I'm still here."

"When that kind of thing happens with anyone in your family--and this time, it happened to be mom --and you're 3,000 miles away, it's a very stressful situation," Brent said Friday from Red Deer. "It was really difficult not being here to help her through it."

"It's just another thing that I haven't talked about," Brent said. "Another reason. It wasn't easy for me, at all.


"I understand there's criticism," Brent said. "But when it comes to health issues with anyone--especially in your family--it's very concerning.

"I was down there and 3,000 miles away in New Jersey. I never had the opportunity to get back here when my mom was going through everything and that certainly bothered me, too."


http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Sutters+rally+cancer+cause/1740342/story.html

oh snap

I guess we can credit him for not bailing mid year ?

Doesn't change my feelings much.

Yes - and that's all it would have taken, was a simply "family medical reasons" and none of the criticism would have been flying, but instead it was played out as just Brent taking his usual end-of-season decision making period and then everything else that unfolded including his convenient finding of a new position.

If he'd led with this even in a more subtle manner, he could have avoided a whole lot of negative press.

I think letting us trade up 3 spots for a late third did more.

I agree that if they just said "family medical reasons," and left it at that, it would have made things a lot better.

It definitely makes leaving the team while under contract more understandable. I still have issues with the fact that he coached the end of the season (and the playoffs) like he didn't want to be here.

IMO, family comes before work no matter how many fans your job has.

I'm surprised Lou didnt insist Brent take some time off to take care of the family stuff,
Sorta like Larry Robinson when he had the "headaches"

and yeah........if this illness was brought out to the public (Devs fans)during the season and or afterwards, I'm sure we wouldnt have bashed Brent like we all did.

EbJtYqBYCV8

EbJtYqBYCV8

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:biglaugh:

it doesn't change anyone's opinions except maybe for the most insane. it's done and passed, both that situation and his situation here. there's nothing else I can say lest be considered "unclassy".

He's the office pariah, a preppy freak and nobody likes him.

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Genius.

he's still fugly

Nope

I'm sorry that happened, but uh, it says battlED as in, it passed. So, if it's over, what does him moving on to Calgary have to do with it anymore? Especially since their travel schedule is arguably worse than ours is.

Oh, right, it's not 3,000 miles away, now it's more like 75. Gotcha. I mean, there's no pressure or stress to succeed in Calgary that will detract from his family or businesses therein. Nah, none...

Eh, I was over it after they let us get Josefson.

Brent who? Cancer just don't go away in can come back at any time. Family first right Brent?:sarcasm:

It would if he just went back to Red Deer like he said he was going to. This doesn't clear up the blatant tampering that took place.

So why didn't he just say it was a medical issue with his family instead of beating around the bush for a month?

any parent would rather their child pursue their dream if possible, correct?

i cant imagine the Sutter Matriarch would have such issues considering what she did for her boys earlier in her life.

doesnt change a thing, IMO. he handled his move to Calgary badly.

I think letting us trade up 3 spots for a late third did more.

Just curious,
What is the usual going rate for moving up in that spot in the 1st round?

Just curious,
What is the usual going rate for moving up in that spot in the 1st round?

Well last year, we moved down two spots and got a 2nd round pick. Then we moved down 1 spot and got a 2009 3rd round pick.

In the words of Artie Lange

"Whaa"

Well last year, we moved down two spots and got a 2nd round pick. Then we moved down 1 spot and got a 2009 3rd round pick.

Nice!

Yes - and that's all it would have taken, was a simply "family medical reasons" and none of the criticism would have been flying, but instead it was played out as just Brent taking his usual end-of-season decision making period and then everything else that unfolded including his convenient finding of a new position.

If he'd led with this even in a more subtle manner, he could have avoided a whole lot of negative press.

I agree with this and would like to add that what makes him a pariah isn't just that he left but that he then almost immediately was involved in becoming the Flames head coach. Lou granted permission on June 12 - a whopping 3 days after the resignation on June 9. THAT is why Brent is persona non grata. He wasn't straight with the fans about his reasons for leaving and it very well looks like he just wanted get out of his contract just to be in Calgary - namely because he did just that. Other circumstances like this coming to light really don't change my bad feelings for Brent Sutter.

Yes, he's gone and such - but remember that fans still give Gretzky hell for his Mickey Mouse comment. I still think Brent's going to get a deserved tongue-lashing from the fans.