Quote:
Originally Posted by edslunch
I think part of the problem is we are arguing the wrong question. The fire Gulutzan crew are making it a Gulutzan is terrible argument. He’s not terrible - the Flames have a winning record under him for starters. NHL coaching is an elite club and you don’t get there if you’re terrible.
To me the question is, is he an excellent coach. The Flames based on talent and age should be a top 10 team, trending towards top 5. Is Gulutzan a top 10 or 5 coach? I think there are good arguments that he’s not demonstrating characteristics usually associated with coaching excellence - preparation, identity, making players better, .... - but there is no objective standard for what makes a great coach except winning.
So far my assessment is he is an average coach which may not be enough to take the team to the next level
|
This is a very reasonable way to conceptualize this question. Obviously the Flames are having success, but could they have more success with someone else at the helm?
This of course begs the question, how many "game changer" coaches are in the league, and more over, how many of these Elite coaches are looking for a job? The answer to this question is grim.
So again the question becomes, Is Gulutzan the best option. At the moment I do believe that yes he is.