NHL

Sutter claims Flames weren’t in plans after leaving Devils

Brent Sutter left the Devils with a year to go on his contract to go home, not to coach the Calgary Flames.

But there he’ll be tomorrow, coaching the Flames against teh Devils.

“It [coaching in New Jersey] became difficult because of other people, people more important than the game. Did I expect to be in Calgary after I resigned? No, I did not,” Sutter told The Post.

Sutter caused a commotion after last season when he ditched the Devils after a disappointing season and tough Game 7 playoff loss to the Hurricanes. It was though at the time he already had a deal in place with the Flames, where his brother Darryl is GM, the report says.

The decision particularly irked owner Jeff Vanderbeek.

At the time, before Brent Sutter was hired by Calgary, Lou Lamoriello said, “Although disappointed, we respect the reasons for Brent’s decision.”

“It doesn’t bother me because there was no truth to it. I know what took place. People can have opinions. Am I going to fight that? No,” Sutter said. “When I left New Jersey I was perfectly fine going back to the farm and helping out with the [Red Deer Rebels] junior team. That’s what I was going to do.”

Sutter is looked at somewhat harshly by Devils fans, but he said he was comfortable with his decision.

“I had to make a decision about what was right for others around me, and I never will regret that, never,” Sutter said. “Until you’ve been through it, no one should ever speak about it.”