[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

ER addressed the problems with your thinking on this nicely, but I wanted to point out that your description of the Flames breakout is nothing like the Oilers not giving the puck to McDavid. Unlike the Oilers, the Flames have other very useful players beyond their top scoring forward.

Part of their struggles early on, and it showed with Gaudreau's slow start as well, was the fact that he never got the puck. The last game was an excellent example of what can happen when you get your best players the puck. They have improved, but there is still work to do, I still think they are predictable as hell on the breakout. The best offense they generate is off the transition when they are scrambling and not reliant on systems at that point.

It is because they are controlling the puck better and distributing it more efficiently and accurately. The Flames have continued to have flashes of exactly this throughout the past dozen games or so that must be attributed to more than catching their opposition on their heels.

I agree with this. I said it is was improving and things were getting better. I also said there is still lots of room for improvement, which there is. This is still a work in progress.

I think that the coach has demonstrated in the past month that he has a good grasp of the personnel, and I tend to believe that he is exceptionally better equipped to make these decisions than you.

Why do you always have to be an insufferable dick and make things personal? In a thread that asks a question about your personal opinion of Gulutzan's system I give my opinion and point out the things that I don't like, and you try to turn it into some pissing contest. I think its great that you think his lines are using the talent in the best way possible. That's what fosters discussion. I just happen to think he's not, and it shows in the production of the team and many players. My opinion.

They certainly are. It strikes me as somewhat spiteful to also not extend some of the credit for this improvement to the coaches. Hell, it is even reasonable to expect the team to continue to take strides under these circumstances in the near future.

Hmmm, I've been in the camp to give Gulutzan's 20 games to get his system in place. Haven't really commented on it at all until this post. So how the hell can I be spiteful about anything in this regard? Just a little bit of an over-reaction to a posting of what I don't like about the system? I actually noted improvement, but also said there is still work to do. What, are looking for nothing but glowing reviews and Jack Adams nominations? I'll say it again. They Flames under Gulutzan have improved from the start of the season, but I still don't like the system. I think it is predictable and he doesn't use the talent as best as it could be used. It's getting better, but still needs improvement. On the bright side, they are at least looking like they are prepared for each game, which was a problem early on. The next big check-in will be at 40 games. If things aren't humming along by then, we likely have big problems. But as it is, the team is adapting, and Gulutzan has started to show he is capable of making on-the-fly adjustments, something Hartley struggled with. Baby steps has move on to learning to run.