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CSharp · 12-09-2014, 03:43 PM

I kind of beg to differ in opinion on why the Flames are more successful this year than the previous 2 seasons, even though the goaltending hasn't been much of an issue even when Kipper was still here. It's been the puck possession in the offensive zone and blowing through neutral ice that's causing the other team's defence to back up and running around in their own zone. Flames has also been hemmed in their own zones by good teams like the Ducks and Hawks, but you can see that their puck possession games have improved dramatically with the younger guys like Jooris, Gaudreau, Ferland, Granlund, Bouma, and Byron. Add in veterans with good offensive hockey minds (like Hudler), it's providing more scoring to counter those 3rd period goals that result in tied games and winners in OT. Goaltending is probably a third of the story for this year's Flames success thus far. I just think a player like Gaudreau is showing why he's so integral to the rebuild of this Flames team.

Also, I think the coaching from Hartley has been awesome since he took over the bench. Letting the defencemen go deep in the offensive zone adds so much more dimension to the game than just sitting at the point waiting to defend. That last year's brawl with Vancouver - that was brilliant coaching. His team responded from that point onwards.

12-09-2014, 03:43 PM	#20
CSharp Franchise Player Join Date: Jul 2009 Exp:	I kind of beg to differ in opinion on why the Flames are more successful this year than the previous 2 seasons, even though the goaltending hasn't been much of an issue even when Kipper was still here. It's been the puck possession in the offensive zone and blowing through neutral ice that's causing the other team's defence to back up and running around in their own zone. Flames has also been hemmed in their own zones by good teams like the Ducks and Hawks, but you can see that their puck possession games have improved dramatically with the younger guys like Jooris, Gaudreau, Ferland, Granlund, Bouma, and Byron. Add in veterans with good offensive hockey minds (like Hudler), it's providing more scoring to counter those 3rd period goals that result in tied games and winners in OT. Goaltending is probably a third of the story for this year's Flames success thus far. I just think a player like Gaudreau is showing why he's so integral to the rebuild of this Flames team. Also, I think the coaching from Hartley has been awesome since he took over the bench. Letting the defencemen go deep in the offensive zone adds so much more dimension to the game than just sitting at the point waiting to defend. That last year's brawl with Vancouver - that was brilliant coaching. His team responded from that point onwards.