Quote:
Originally Posted by zamler
What is the Flames style? As for Sutter he has a shelf life no doubt, but his upside is rather good don't you think?
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As I've seen it under Gulutzan, the Flames play a more possession-oriented style with emphasis on setting up plays to enable shots from high-danger areas. It's a system that forces the defense to play a lesser role in the offense and is more structured than Hartley's run-and-gun style of "everybody gets to join the rush". The Flames certainly have a style at the moment, effective or not, but I think their style is common to other teams throughout the league as well. I think what needs to change is their team identity, and if that means Gulutzan or someone else gets the axe, then so be it, but I don't feel like change for the sake of change is the answer.
Regarding Sutter, it's not that I feel he has a short shelf life, because I don't think he does. He was effective in L.A. for over three years, well above-average for a coach. It's just that I don't feel his style meshes with the one that the Flames' players try to play. Like, how many punishing physical presences do the Flames have? Maybe three? Tkachuk, Ferland, and Hamonic? Bennett might be a stretch? After that, you get into guys like Hamilton and Brouwer -- guys who have size but who don't use it in a physical manner, really. With the Kings, Sutter used guys like Nolan, King, Clifford, Brown, Regehr, Mitchell, Penner, and Westgarth to clear up space for his more skilled players, many of whom lacked speed but could shoot the puck. He favoured a dump-and-chase style, which would allow those bigger guys to muscle the puck and set up opportunities in the offensive zone. I just don't see that ability from the Flames' forward group.