Former NHL coach and broadcaster Don Cherry in his 2014 book ranked Sutter as the 17th most successful NHL head coach. Cherry describes Sutter as an inspirational figure who is capable of motivating inferiorly skilled teams into overcoming more talented opponents. Sutter's philosophy starts with strong goaltending, team defense and two-way forwards. Sutter led several teams which relied on strong goaltending including the late-1990s San Jose Sharks behind Mike Vernon and Evgeni Nabokov, his acquisition of an untested Miikka Kiprusoff for the Calgary Flames who went on to help the Flames to the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals and later win the Vezina Trophy and William M. Jennings Trophy. Finally in Los Angeles Conn Smythe Trophy winning Jonathan Quick helped the Kings with two Stanley Cups.