Feud emerges in Flames’ dressing room at the worst time…

The Calgary Flames are holding on to the last Wild-card spot in the Western conference after several fans expected them to make it all the way to the Stanley Cup final this summer.

There is a clear issue within the group and, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, it might all come from head coach Darryl Sutter.

It became clear that Sutter’s tough love approach might be getting out of hand over the weekend when, asked about rookie Jakob Pelletier’s NHL debut on Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sutter was immensely disrespectful to the young player.

This all prompted Friedman to reveal a feud taking place admits the Flames with Sutter being the main culprit, explaining how the head coach and his approach have brought down the players in Calgary.

“I just think this year that group is really struggling with his approach…I think those Flames’ players they feel that it’s been relentless and I think it has affected some of them. I just think that the mood needs to lighten just a little in Calgary”.

The way Sutter treated Pelletier was almost a sneak peak at what may be happening in the dressing room with the feeling amongst reporters in Calgary that Flames’ players did not appreciate the whole ordeal with Pelletier. Daily Face-Off’s Mike McKenna said:

“Darryl’s as old-school as they get. Your coach doesn’t have to be your best friend. But you don’t forget these things. The person who talked to me just couldn’t stand that. These are important moments. The dismissiveness toward Pelletier, to me, it comes across as Sutter thinks it’s a joke.”

And it feels like the entire room is voicing its frustration and is having an impact on the Flames, their push to the postseason and when they sit in the standings…

Not sure Sutter will apologize, but will he realize he needs to make a change to get control of his room again?

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