Should the coach,GG, be brought back?

[Strange Brew]

I think GG is Ok and want him to have another year. But there are certain things that trouble me.

Calgary hired him after every other coaching vacancy was filled. He was simply not an in demand coach and there's little doubt (in my mind) he wouldn't be a head coach on any other team in the NHL. But if we're smarter than everyone else then I guess who cares.

The team did improve this year, no doubt. But our record outside of the gimmick rounds (3 on 3 and shootout) was sub .500. The only playoff team with such a distinction. We saw that in the playoffs when the team couldn't win a close game

That's not all on the coach whatsoever. But this team still has work to do to to rise above mediocre.

[cannon7]

I don't want him back. Hope there's better options so we don't have to.

[ResAlien]

Yeah I hope we create a coaching carousel where we're always searching for the next great thing instead of getting any sort of stability. The 17 point gain he made with this team was pure dumb luck and we should kick him out of the door as soon as possible.

[FlamesAddiction]

I would give him another year. I think any time you hire a coach, unless they totally lose the room, they deserve at least 2 or 3 seasons to gain traction.

I'm not a big fan of Gulutzan, but I am also tired of seeing steps backward because of constantly hiring and firing coaches.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Yeah I hope we create a coaching carousel where we're always searching for the next great thing instead of getting any sort of stability. The 17 point gain he made with this team was pure dumb luck and we should kick him out of the door as soon as possible.

I heard he doesn't talk to the players before games.

I also heard he doesn't change his lines.

Plus, the use of timeouts.

Also, he has more hair than I do so obviously I have to hate him.

[polak]

Give him another season and see if he can keep this team in the playoffs.

I am seriously concerned with how this team played this year. Despite the good record after the start they were still streaky which it makes hard to figure out which Flames are the real Flames and how GG actually performed. He made some really weird personnel decisions this year and his playoff performance, well, it speaks for itself.

[kukkudo]

Bring him back unless one of the top teams let go one of there coaches.

[Roof-Daddy]

Guy drastically improved this team in just about every facet including the underlying stats that all suggest it wasn't a fluke like 2014/15.

Also, the way his team played in the playoffs they should at worst be tied 2-2 in the series right now. Most unfair sweep I've ever seen.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Delgar

Perception matters. I agree with Vlad in that I certainly didn't like him to start, although I've warmed up to him. For the first half of the season it seemed to me he projected no signs of actually caring. That could be seen as being cool-as-a-cucumber like Kiprusoff, but it can also be seen as being arrogant or out of touch.

Good god. Who cares? I mean, beyond the fans or the media does anyone on the team actually give a rat's ass about Gulutzan's demeanour when he is on camera? This is just stupid.

It may not be the right thing to think of GG because of how he rubs some people the wrong way, and it may even seem immature, but its real and GG will have to work on his public persona if he wants to last past next season.

Flat out NO. There is nothing wrong with Gulutzan's public persona, and I am certain that team management and ownership is totally unconcerned about whether or not fans like his comments to reporters, or whether or not he freaks out on the bench when things don't go his way. All they care about is winning, and Gulutzan at the bare minimum has earned the benefit of the doubt by the team's dramatically improved performance this year.

I'm all for bringing him back and I think he'll improve next season, not just in how he coaches but how he presents himself.

You should probably get over your first impressions because Gulutzan does not work for you.

[Spinach]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

There's a lot of acceptance and excuses for mediocrity in this thread.

Or maybe some of us realize that even the Lords of Luck, the mighty Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs (just to use random examples), took years to become powerhouses that made it all the way to game 5 of the first round.
Making the playoffs in the middle of a rebuild is a bonus. Let's don't confuse lack of surprise for acceptance or rationalization.

[calgaryboy]

YES without any hesitation. Love the way we played all season after that horrible start. Just composed, great structured hockey team. And it can only be better next season with some stabilitiy! This sweep was so unfair.......will have a bad taste in my mouth for months....probably till Oct! Go Flames!

[Mass_nerder]

It's funny that we spent the last 10 years laughing at the oilers for their ridiculous coaching carousel, and some people here are more than happy for the flames to jump on.
Team stability plays a huge factor in franchise success, imo, so dumping coaches after a (good) year is really going to mess with stability.

[LouCypher]

Keep most the coaching the same, find out if any members of the coaching staff aren't going to be able to grow adapt and improve going forward.Need to stay the course, build on the positives and learn from the negatives. When the team just keeps cycling through people without letting them learn from mistakes and grow from them it's really hard to establish any kind of consistency. That being said I expect strides forward next year.

[GreenLantern2814]

It would be amazing to give Darryl Sutter our defense.

Ive been hard on GG all year, but of course he deserves to be back.

[socalwingfan]

The real question is - has Sigalet been fired yet? He and Cameron both can be let go as far as I'm concerned - but especially Sigalet

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by Flamescuprun2018

Lets stop debating BTs renewal. It is 99.99% likely. GG back next year is 99.9% likely.

Probably? What gives me pause is that Elliotte Friedman has laid down a couple of hints. I personally think he is pretty trustworthy and not one to throw out baseless rumours. A poster on this site also hinted that ownership is not enamoured with Treliving.

Guess we'll see soon...

[Backlunds_socks]

Originally Posted by socalwingfan

The real question is - has Sigalet been fired yet? He and Cameron both can be let go as far as I'm concerned - but especially Sigalet

Is retaining the goalie coach the head coach's decision or GMs?

[Strange Brew]

Let's be honest. Most everyone who doesn't want him back disagreed with the hire in the first place and simply wants a do over.

Whether you liked the hire or not, it just makes no sense to start all over again. Again. It would take an elite coach coming available to make me think otherwise.

Some would say that's Darryl Sutter (who I love). But its such a polarizing topic I doubt you could have a rational discussion here.

[Zulu29]

The only coach I'd like for the team to look at replacing is Sigalet. Outside of that I was pretty happy with our special teams and I thought once the team bought into GG's system they were noticeably better than years previous.

[dissentowner]

You bring him back and you don't even think twice about it. This is a young coach who builds a strong bond with his players. He has mentored under some great coaches and is tight with Babcock whom he looks up to. He is a really smart guy who employs a very good system. Yes the team struggled out of the gate but it was a new system and once they stuck to it they were one of the best teams in the NHL. It is a no brainer.