CP Poll of the week: What now?

[JiriHrdina]

With the Flames off another bad start, with 1 win in 5 games, including back to back losses to both the Canucks and Oilers, what should be done?

[Yeah_Baby]

I don't have the answers. I want to not over react, but I'm starting too. Sigh, this blows.

[HotHotHeat]

It's not that they're starting slow, it's that it appears they are an uncoached hockey team. My spellcheck is telling me uncoached isn't a word, so I guess the Flames just made up a new one.

The problem with blowing up the core of this team is the management will look stupid doing it. Actually, they already do. There are several players that could not play on this team doing extremely well elsewhere in the league. Trading any of the four core players on this team would do nothing to improve the teams performance.

Coaching and perhaps upper management is the only option. I like to think Sutter still has a handle on what this team needs in place to succeed, but the past season and this one is strongly challenging that. Maybe a clear house is the answer. Plenty of qualified GM's out there looking for work. Savard would be a great coach for this team, let him bring in who he wants and go. I'm just not sure Ken King wants that kind of pressure, nor the owners.

[Dion]

How about a choice for players not buying into the system?

[JiriHrdina]

^That's a reason - I'm looking for a step.

[Dion]

^ My mistake.

[Brick]

It's not that they're starting slow, it's that it appears they are an uncoached hockey team. My spellcheck is telling me uncoached isn't a word, so I guess the Flames just made up a new one.

The problem with blowing up the core of this team is the management will look stupid doing it. Actually, they already do. There are several players that could not play on this team doing extremely well elsewhere in the league. Trading any of the four core players on this team would do nothing to improve the teams performance.

Coaching and perhaps upper management is the only option. I like to think Sutter still has a handle on what this team needs in place to succeed, but the past season and this one is strongly challenging that. Maybe a clear house is the answer. Plenty of qualified GM's out there looking for work. Savard would be a great coach for this team, let him bring in who he wants and go. I'm just not sure Ken King wants that kind of pressure, nor the owners.

I wouldn't mind seeing John Tortorella. Passion is a good thing. Something needs to be done as far as coaching is concerned.

[Ro]

Can we add another choice? Something like:

Wait another 6-8 games before we hit the panic button, for real? I'm in favor of letting things sort themselves out, but if this continues into mid November, then something has to happen.

I don't really know how to phrase that exactly. But I can see a Darryl Sutter visit to the dressing room in the near future, and a firm message delivered to the players/coaches. After that, if things are still down in the dumper, then we make a major change.

[Yeah_Baby]

Can we add an option about becoming so frustrated with the question, all CP renounces our earthly possessions and go joins a monastery somewhere? Because really part of me whats to click all of those.

[ricoFlame]

start McE. Change for the sake of change rarely works, and quite frankly, this change can't hurt.

[Daradon]

I would get rid of the coaching staff except Playfair. Have Sutter as the #1 if he can handle it, if not, make Playfair the number 1.

AND start Curtis.

[automaton 3]

Give McElhinney a start and see how he does/how the team responds.

I'm really surprised that McE didn't get the start tonight.

If this keeps up for 2-3 more games I'm guessing we see a coaching change.

Since the Flames are right at the cap and would have to trade dollar for dollar or shed salary, a trade of any significance seems unlikely.

[kn]

Start McElhinney.

Given the way #34 has played, McE should have seen ice by now.

[JiriHrdina]

Can we add another choice? Something like:

Wait another 6-8 games before we hit the panic button, for real? I'm in favor of letting things sort themselves out, but if this continues into mid November, then something has to happen.

I don't really know how to phrase that exactly. But I can see a Darryl Sutter visit to the dressing room in the near future, and a firm message delivered to the players/coaches. After that, if things are still down in the dumper, then we make a major change.

Done.

[Ro]

Done.

OK, cool, I change my vote from "nothing" to that then.

[Machiavelli]

I said wait 6-8 games (for drastic measures), but I'd also like to see McElhinney get the start against Washington.

[flambers]

"Nothing".... making a trade in today's game is simply way to tough... it won't happen. As for Firing the Coaches... the Flames have already done this too much that won't help either... Their only option is keep working and wait for this team to gell....

[Flame On]

6-8, too early. A lot of people will feel awfully foolish if Kipper continues to steadily improve and the team tightens up defensively. It'll be a damn good team then.
1 win in five games with Kipper playing sub standard.
1 win in five games with Iginla playing like hell and having 1 GOAL!
1 win in five games with the team defense being completely lacking.
Those are all or mostly things that can only get better.

[Pagal4321]

Wait 6-8 AT LEAST to see how this team responds to it's slow start. We've consistently started slow for what, four years now? This should at least give people faith that this team CAN turn it around.
Whether they do or not is a whole different issue.
But making a knee-jerk move would not help this team in the long run.

[Mike Oxlong]

Time to switch up the coaching staff.

The last year Sutter coached we won the NW division and were a Kristian Huselius post away from winning our series against the Ducks and going to the 2nd round. Since then with both Playfair and Keenan we have underacheived both in the regular season and playoffs.

I used to think Playfair had some value as a teaching coach but after seeing the defensive struggles of the team over the last couple years I am beginning to wonder.

I think Keenan was a mistake to hire right from the beginning. I know the players don't like playing for him and I don't think he brings anything to the team. Preston's struggles coaching special teams have been discussed at length on here.

I think we have the players to be a good team. Maybe not serious cup contenders but far better than the results we have seen over the last 2 season and early into this one.

We need a new message and a new system. Time to really shake things up.

[Dion]

Browsing these forums quickly gives one a glimpse that there's a lot of gloom and doom going on. Threads have been created questioning a number of things from wether Kiprusoff is the next Turek to another suggesting we should be looking at the coaching staff. Don't get me wrong, i'm just as frustrated with the Flames play as the next guy. I just don't think this is the time to be pushing the panic button.

On paper i think we have a very good hockey team. The first period of last nights game gave us a glimpse of how good we can be. It works when the players are following the system the coaches installed. The fact that they struggle for the most part indicates to me they have trouble handling adversity. Three quick goals by the Oilers and the wheels come off. A fragile team that's suffering a lack of confidence.

Give the team 6 to 8 weeks to work out thier confidence problems.

[alltherage]

Start McE!

[browna]

The results really should be viewable on this one...

[Phanuthier]

I voted 'do nothing' but my option would have to be pick up at No 3 defenseman with footspeed, which IMO is dearly lacking. I'm not really sure what there is to offer besides some marginal prospects right now.

The results really should be viewable on this one...
why?

[REDVAN]

I wanted to vote nothing, or maybe even wait a few games, but I ended up voting to start McElhinney because the guy can't do any harm and might surprise us all. Plus it's an immediate attempt at fixing the skid. It's only a few games, but how much lee-way should fans give, should the coaching give, before it's too late!

[J pold]

I think you start Mcelhinney.

I was disappointed he didn't start in Edmonton.

[FanIn80]

I don't know if Keenan needs to be fired, but I sick an tired of the line juggling.

I get that I'm not a hockey coach. I know I don't know anything about line matching... but I do know a bit about chemistry, and I also know that teams that win have lines that play together long enough to get used to each other.

For the love of God... make two lines and leave them alone. I don't care who is on them, just make them and leave them. That way, if we still suck, we can blame it on the players. Right now, it feels like I'm watching a different team every night, because I never know who the heck is going to be playing with anyone else.

With so many new players in the top 6, how are they supposed to play together when they're not allowed to play together?

So there you go. Pick the lines, and leave them alone. If, by the end of November, we're still in the bottom of the conference, we'll know it's time to make some trades.

The way things are right now, though, I've had enough of Keenen and Playfair and any other coach that uses 18 line combinations in one period.


Edit: Btw, I picked "Start Mcelhinney" because there isn't an option for "Tell Keenan to Make up his Mind."

[The Fonz]

Start McElhinney. This teams need a bit of a shakeup, but nothing major. Give Kipper a break and let McElhinney start a couple, then throw Kipper back in and we'll see where we're at.

[tussery]

As much as I dislike Keenan it is a little too early to be jumping on the fire your coaching staff bandwagon. I think keeping it as simple as starting McElhinney may help the team out at this point. Of course I would have started him Saturday.

[ok, ok,....I get it]

it may be a big hole to climb out off but you got to let it run another few games, 15 games in.....and we still suck........then it's ass kicking time

[Locke]

Start McE!

Can that heat-o-meter go any lower? If not, I'd start thinking about another level.

I can see this situation getting worse before it gets better. Lets not forget, they did this to themselves last season too and it took a miraculous road trip to get them back to hovering around .500. Take that roadtrip away and you see a Flames team that misses the playoffs.

Something has to happen, but what that something is I couldnt tell you. I'm inclined to agree with the 'Start Curtis' crowd because it might make the defense pay attention, but I voted 'wait 6-8 games.'

The caveat there is that after another 8 games at this level of performance, it just might be too late.