Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
I don't disagree that Babock uses L/L D on his first pairing because that's what he has. But the problem is right now that Treliving worked hard to get even pairs, which in almost all situations works, but supposedly doesn't for Brodie. So now he has a slate of RH Dmen. Which one gets to play off-side because Brodie can't handle the switch? Is putting Stone, Hamonic or Hamilton on the wrong side to appease Brodie just going to make their games worse?
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All I know is that Brodie has looked infinitely better with Stone as his partner. That acquisition was a big reason the Flames made the playoffs last season. I even said when Hamonic was acquired that Stone was still the better partner for Brodie. Hero charts and Advanced charts be damned; chemistry triumphs over all of that and Brodie/Stone have that.
And for all the love the Gio/Hamilton pairing gets (supposedly one of the best in the league), in quite often fails the eye test. IMO Hamilton should be move down the lineup, but I can also understand keeping him with Gio as I do think eventually he will get his head together.
I would love to install a creep cam in the meeting room and see exactly what GG's system is. It seems that it works when it's executed properly. But getting 21 guys to buy in all at once is a tough task, especially when the system seems very complicated. Combine that with the coaching staff's love of LD/RD and pooey player personal choices on special teams, and you have the mess we see in front of us now.
The Flames are a team that historically take 1/2 the season to get going, so I don't think they are as bad as they are now. Unfortunately this is one of those slumps every team goes through, with the star power drying up and the goalie looking human again. This was all bound to happen sooner or later, so I really don't see BT having a kneejerk reaction unless he knows for sure that behind the scenes things need to change.
I still do think the answers are in the room. We've seen Brodie, Hamonic and Hamilton be better. It's not like they are historically bad players being asked to play a role they aren't used to. They've all done it before. The scoring depth we lack now did exist last season. It was one of our strengths.
I think the right players are in place to gave a good result at the end of the season. But the coaching staff really has to start adapting and maybe simplifying this seemingly complex playing system they have. They also need to start benching players and moving them up and down the lineups if they aren't playing well. And for God Jesus sake get Brouwer off the PP.