Quote:
Originally Posted by Dion
|
There really is a point to what he says, especially when he brings up Chicago and LA. I think of it this way.
The teams that have done really well CONSISTENTLY have what I define as 'culture'. Now, every player that comes in and out of the locker room in Calgary all say the same thing - who wonderful everyone is and how tight-knit this group is. That is not really what I am talking about.
I am talking about how a solid group of teams in this league - LA, Chicago, Detroit and New Jersey all come to mind - that can bring in players from different teams and make them work within that 'system' that they have. It stops mattering so much who is on the team, but everyone still plays the way that the team expects and is known for, regardless of time and personnel.
New Jersey for me is the tops on the list. Lemaire came in, and for better or worse, changed that team into a (boring) defensive juggernaut that they have maintained through most coaches and players coming and going (though I wouldn't argue if someone pointed out that in the last year or two, it has changed a bit - but you know what I mean).
Since the 90's, that team has essentially played the same way. Detroit is so well known for this as well. Once Yzerman listened to Bowman and played a strong 200ft game, that team has been following suit every since. Name a star on that team, and you can bet your house that the stare plays a 200ft game. Those that don't, are weeded out. Players go there, and they instantly 'get it'.
I think it is really difficult to start that. Takes time. Lots of perseverance. I hope the Flames get it. There are (and have always been) way too many defensive breakdowns on this team in every year outside the Darryl Sutter years (and the lone Playfair year, though less so).
I can't say that Gulutzan will or won't get this on track, but regardless of the immediate results, this team needs some culture. The only culture that I can point to on this team is the lack of consistency. Feaster made a mention of this, that this team was 'sick' or something to that nature. Hartley patched some stuff up, and we rode a wave into the playoffs by just having a strong 'hard working' culture. That was great, but now it is hard-working + a system that becomes ingrained as a culture, where everyone buys in, and everyone is held accountable to it.
This is what I HOPE we are seeing as the implementation of it. Hope it works.