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Calgary4LIfe · 11-25-2017, 04:39 AM

I can't figure it out.

Is the system difficult for the D to play in?
Are the D careless?
Are the D overly nervous and holding their sticks too tight?

From the start of the season, there hasn't been many games where the Flames were able to play a strong defensive game. It is either out-scoring the opposition, or forcing Smith to steal games. At the start of the season it was all Smith stealing games, lately it has been the Flames out-scoring the opposition.

Way too many high-quality chances are being allowed. With Smith back there, I don't care how many shots is directed his way, as long as they are not up close. Get in the damn lanes. Stop turning the puck over at the most inopportune moments. Stop being so bad.

Aside from Smith, I was most keen on seeing how fricken amazing this D was going to be. A D that is fully capable of defending well, and deadly on the transition. All I see is poor coverage and poor decision making.

It often looks like the Flames have one top pairing defencemen and then 5 bottom pairing. Giordano is so under-appreciated. Yeah, he has made some errors this season, but he is without a doubt the only consistently good defencemen. Hamilton hasn't found his game yet this season. Brodie has been inconsistent - damn amazing for a stretch, and then damn awful as well (often within the same game). Hamonic I thought WAS improving... The bottom pair was a tire fire tonight. I am wondering if this is where Kulak sort of 'fades' - I swear that kid comes in and plays fairly well for a stretch, and then seemingly fades. I hope he keeps it together this season, as when he is playing well he looks really good out there.

The Flames have a 5 man roster that is playing well. Let me show you the only consistently good lineup thus far in the season:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Giordano - Smith
Smith

Smith needs two mentions as he has been one of the better defencemen when he is out to play the puck, and of course he has been excellent as a goalie.

There is simply too many breakdowns happening. Even in the games that the Flames win, there are simply too many things going wrong. You can't expect Smith to steal every game, and you can't expect to out-score the opposition. This D that is awesome on paper has been anything but. I don't know what is worse this year - the way the D have been playing as a whole, or the bottom 9 forwards as a group in any given game.

Flames lose because of a lack of defensive ability, and they lose because of a lack of contributing depth. That's what it looks like to me.

I am still not clamoring for Gulutzan to get fired, but I do see the irony in Gulutzan not being able to fix the defence on this team, even though that was first and foremost a reason Treliving hired him.

Calgary has a damn good goalie right now, what should amount to as one of the league's best defensive corps, an elite shut-down line, and fairly good talent and depth. There isn't an excuse for having these many grade A chances against, and a GA average that is starting to get bloated.

Lots of time to fix this, and being in the worst division in the NHL is surely helpful, but I haven't seen much improvement outside of an isolated game or two.

11-25-2017, 04:39 AM	#203
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I can't figure it out. Is the system difficult for the D to play in? Are the D careless? Are the D overly nervous and holding their sticks too tight? From the start of the season, there hasn't been many games where the Flames were able to play a strong defensive game. It is either out-scoring the opposition, or forcing Smith to steal games. At the start of the season it was all Smith stealing games, lately it has been the Flames out-scoring the opposition. Way too many high-quality chances are being allowed. With Smith back there, I don't care how many shots is directed his way, as long as they are not up close. Get in the damn lanes. Stop turning the puck over at the most inopportune moments. Stop being so bad. Aside from Smith, I was most keen on seeing how fricken amazing this D was going to be. A D that is fully capable of defending well, and deadly on the transition. All I see is poor coverage and poor decision making. It often looks like the Flames have one top pairing defencemen and then 5 bottom pairing. Giordano is so under-appreciated. Yeah, he has made some errors this season, but he is without a doubt the only consistently good defencemen. Hamilton hasn't found his game yet this season. Brodie has been inconsistent - damn amazing for a stretch, and then damn awful as well (often within the same game). Hamonic I thought WAS improving... The bottom pair was a tire fire tonight. I am wondering if this is where Kulak sort of 'fades' - I swear that kid comes in and plays fairly well for a stretch, and then seemingly fades. I hope he keeps it together this season, as when he is playing well he looks really good out there. The Flames have a 5 man roster that is playing well. Let me show you the only consistently good lineup thus far in the season: Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland Giordano - Smith Smith Smith needs two mentions as he has been one of the better defencemen when he is out to play the puck, and of course he has been excellent as a goalie. There is simply too many breakdowns happening. Even in the games that the Flames win, there are simply too many things going wrong. You can't expect Smith to steal every game, and you can't expect to out-score the opposition. This D that is awesome on paper has been anything but. I don't know what is worse this year - the way the D have been playing as a whole, or the bottom 9 forwards as a group in any given game. Flames lose because of a lack of defensive ability, and they lose because of a lack of contributing depth. That's what it looks like to me. I am still not clamoring for Gulutzan to get fired, but I do see the irony in Gulutzan not being able to fix the defence on this team, even though that was first and foremost a reason Treliving hired him. Calgary has a damn good goalie right now, what should amount to as one of the league's best defensive corps, an elite shut-down line, and fairly good talent and depth. There isn't an excuse for having these many grade A chances against, and a GA average that is starting to get bloated. Lots of time to fix this, and being in the worst division in the NHL is surely helpful, but I haven't seen much improvement outside of an isolated game or two.