 Despite a victory over the Buffalo Sabres after Christmas , and with the team still mired in 14th place in the Western Conference , General Manager and Executive Vice President Darryl Sutter announced his resignation from both positions on December 28 , exactly eight years after he was hired by the team to become its coach in 2002 . The move was not entirely Sutter 's decision , as he was asked by the organization to step aside . The decision came as a shock to many fans , even as it was believed to be inevitable following the team 's decline in recent seasons . Jay Feaster assumed control of the team , serving as acting general manager . 
