Of course how a coach looks is important.
Maybe not the brand of their suits, but confidence, body language, positivity/negativity at the right times.
They are there to be leaders a team, some who are only 18 years old.
Their demeanor has influence.
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I'm bored so I went back and looked at the first 20 games over the last 10 years.
2005/06: 11-7-2 but we're 4-7-2 after 13 games before a good 8 game win streak. Darryl was still the coach so there was no new system to learn. Ended the season 46-25-11 good for 1st in the division and the number 3 seed. Beaten by Anaheim in 7 games behind stellar goaltending.
2006/07: 10-8-2 but after the first 11 games the record was abysmal 3-7-1. Playfair's first year as HC but his system didn't change much from Darryl's so not a lot of time needed to learn. Ended the year 43-29-10 limping into the playoffs with 4 straight losses (as the 8th seed) and would've been easily dispatched if it weren't for Kipper, losing in 6 games to Detroit.
2007/08: 8-9-3 and Keenan's first year but he didn't really have a system so not a lot of adjustment time needed. Finished 42-30-10, 7th in division, losing to San Jose in the first round in 7 games.
2008/09: 11-8-1 start for Keenan's 2nd year. Finished 46-30-6 barely missing out on home ice advantage as the 5th seed, versus the early beginnings of Chicago's dynasty. Lost in 6 games, losing the last 2 badly.
2009/10: 12-6-2, great start for the dreaded "Butter" years. Ended up 40-32-10 missing the playoffs in 10th place in the west.
2010/11: 8-11-1 but started well the first 9 at 6-3. Ended up with a record of 41-29-12, again good for 10th in the conference, missing the playoffs.
2011/12: Identical to the previous year at 8-11-1, but floated near .500 for the first 13 games 6-6-1. Missing the playoffs again this time in 9th.
2012/13: The lockout shortened season Sony game 20 the season was half done and despite yet another new coach and system went an okay 8-8-4. Ended 13th in the west, 19-25-4 starting the rebuild by shipping off Iggy and JBo.
2013/14: First post-Iggy season and a bad first 20 with a record of 6-11-3. Ended 35-40-7, outside the playoffs in 13th place.
2014/15: God, what a fun season. Started 12-6-2, rode Johnny-Mony-Hudler, solid goaltending and great contributions from the D to the playoffs and kicked Vancouver out in 6.
2015/16: Bob's last season and the goaltending absolutely tanked. Started the year 7-12-1 finishing 35-40-7, 10 points out of the wild card.
tl;dr = Flames have a history of being bad early. In the years they made the playoffs they were able to turn it around. The first twenty game average record for seasons they made and didn't make the playoffs are very similar. Made = 10-8-2. Missed = 8-9-2. Moreover, they never had a record over .500 in the first 10 games of every recent season they made the playoffs and every year they had a good start (except 2014/15) they finished terribly. Got to give it to at least around game 15 to see what kind of team they will be. Early results aren't good, but they weren't good in a lot of other years too, still time to turn it around. A good showing against the Blues would calm this place down a bit.
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"Illusions Michael, tricks are something a wh*re does for money ....... or cocaine"
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This is all falling into place my children. Soviet Mike will parachute in around Christmas, and he will release the kraken. I see Monahan winding up with 46 goals, and 34 + 64 for Gaudreau. It will be a magical time. It's not a matter of if but when.
Until the players stop missing passes, turning over the puck, giving up weak goals and other brain farts its pretty hard to evaluate Gulutzan's system. I would like to see the players start executing a bit better for more than one period before throwing the coach and his system under the bus.
