I haven't been a G.G fan at all since day #1. I hated the fact that we iced a strange pre-season line up last year and than when it came to game #1 vs Edmonton, we all of a sudden had pairings on the D that hadn't played much together in the pre-season.
I am also NOT a fan of breaking up Gio/Brodie as I know that Brodie has mentioned in interviews that he prefers to play his off-side. I understand the need to increase your depth on D by having guys like Gio and Brodie on different pairings but that doesn't mean its working better.
I recall last year when our PP was pretty much near the bottom of the league and G.G refused to put out Frolik, who happened to be the #1 goal scorer the team had at the time. It got to the insanity point where I truly believe a call from higher up (management/ownership) was made to get Frolik playing on the PP. I am 100% sure there was a reason in either Glen's or Cameron's mind as to why Frolik should be spending more time on the PK but I think logically the decision was made for them.
I have no doubt in my mind that a coach like Glen is better suited for young players of today, communicates better with the players, will listen to their concerns for days off, less practice days if need be etc.
I do think that he is getting out coached from a pure tactical perspective and a serious stubbornness to such as line combos, moving players up and down the line up to get them going etc will be his downfall.
This is a VERY important season for the Flames and for Flames fans and this is where we will see what type of coach Glen really is. This is a team that has far superior talent to what Hartley had and management has made a big push the last 2-3 years to get this team to the next step. The BS meter that was last years 4-0 sweep to the Ducks isn't going to fly this year. The "It was closer than the record indicates" won't fly, teams don't accidentally win a playoff round. Admit you got schooled and figure out a way to get to the next step!
Another wasted off-season this year means another
1) Year that Gio gets older, he turns 35 next year
2) Year where players like Brodie, who's contract starts with a 4, won't start with a 4 again. The same argument can be had for key players like Hammonic, Backlund and Tkachuk etc.
3)Another year where the rumored move of a player like Johnny MIGHT want to go closer to home.
The fact that we have sent away a few 1st rounders for some players, traded 2nd rounders for goalies who haven't panned out and given up on plenty of 1st and 2nd rounders means that our prospect poll isn't as stocked as some fans think.
If we are all being honest here we have a situation where a lot of our prospects in the AHL haven't had the upwards pressure to make the team but we have plenty of players on the big club who are either overpaid for their roles, aren't capable NHL caliber players anymore or are boarderline in and out of the line up. Don't forget that signing a 45 year old Jagr to bring in scoring sounds amazing but also points to issues with roster and prospect troubles.
The playoffs, if we make it there, will be a VERY strong indicator as to who's constructed and coached a team to win or who's playing with fan's emotions with never ending BS to keep the revenue boat afloat.
My $.02
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