Quote:
Originally Posted by sa226
There's a quote from somebody that says something along the lines of "A coaches job is the toughest when the team is winning"
These comebacks are damned fun, but the trend of being outplayed for more than half the game needs to stop. I say trend, because good teams find ways to win even when their game isn't up to snuff. But the Flames' play has been trending down a bit. Other teams are starting to get their games together and are starting the equalize the Flames' hard work and youthful enthusiasm.
To me this next part of the season is crunch time. The team needs to get a bit healthier and take its game to another level.
If Hartley can get this bunch to find another gear, he should be the runaway favorite.
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This is why, despite having good success with so many kids in the lineup, we need guys like Raymond, Backlund, Colborne, Stajan and to a lesser extent Jones, back from injury. The young guys are playing with a lot of youthful exuberance and passion but they will likely start to hit a wall, whether it be opposing players no longer taking them lightly or fatigue. As much as it sucks to send Ferland, Baerstchi, Knight and especially Granlund back to the farm, we need our established guys back. However, I wouldn't be upset if Treliving made a trade to open a spot. Granlund has very quietly done a phenomenal job. He might not have the defensive acumen that Backlund has yet, but he is an NHL player, no question. I wouldn't be opposed to a Backlund trade to get a solid Dman.