Quote:
Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames
Another potential reason to put down your pitchforks for another couple of weeks:
https://twitter.com/DarrenWHaynes/st...44802427977728
With our ridiculous schedule so far, there is a case to be made that the Flames haven't had enough on-ice practice with the new system yet (especially Monahan and Gaudreau).
In other words, I think it's still a little premature to judge how some of our young guys will do under this system. They've only known Hartley's structure-less breakaway or die system since entering the NHL so it takes a while to smack those bad habits out of them. The system has really helped our bottom-9 and even players like Engelland who just need to keep it simple. |
The Flames had a pretty brutal schedule, even more so knowing that they have a new coach, their top 2 players didn't have a training camp, and a lot of the opposition has been very strong.
The Flames best games of the year were against St Louis and Chicago on that mini road trip. I could see the semblance of a system there that actually worked really well. The transition game in those two games were amazing.
We also can't say that Gulutzan has not tried to mix things up. Monahan was on the 3rd line. Wideman has sat multiple games. Gio and Brodie are back together. When your top 3 guys are woefully underperforming, what can you do?
Gaudreau needs to be sat down and go back to the basics of hockey and learn a system. Teams know exactly how to defend him, teams prepare a gameplan specifically to defend against him, and he needs to adapt.
There are some good signs, just please please never ever play Grossman again.
***Grossman on waivers!****