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Brent Sutter, Flames part ways

Niklas Backstrom, Jarome Iginla

Calgary Flames head coach Brent Sutter, top centre, looks out from the bench behind, left to right, Matt Stajan, Jarome Iginla, Brendan Morrison, Tom Kostopoulos, during third period NHL hockey action against the Minnesota Wild in Calgary, Alta., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010. The Minnesota Wild beat the Calgary Flames 3-1. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press - Jeff McIntosh)

AP

The Calgary Flames will need to hire a new head coach by the start of next season.

By “mutual agreement,” Brent Sutter and the club have parted ways.

“Brent Sutter and I met and discussed a number of issues regarding the hockey team and the future,” said Flames GM Jay Feaster in a release. “Brent and I explored many options and ultimately determined that it is best to proceed in different directions. Brent is a great person and an excellent hockey coach. On behalf of the Calgary Flames, we sincerely appreciate his hard work, dedication and commitment to our organization, and we wish him every success.”

Sutter was hired on June 23, 2009, and failed to lead the Flames to the playoffs in the three seasons he was behind the bench.

The contract of assistant coach Dave Lowry won’t be renewed either.

As for Sutter’s future in the NHL, his brother Darryl offered this opinion: “If he wants to coach in the NHL, he’ll coach in the NHL. Simple as that.”

Feaster on state of Flames: “It’s clear we have to make changes”