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Calgary4LIfe · 12-24-2017, 10:53 PM

This is a results-based business. I think it comes down to where you feel this team SHOULD be in the standings. If you feel they are a bubble team, then more patience should be shown. If you feel that this team should be firmly in the playoffs, then perhaps too much patience has been shown already.

I myself just look at Anaheim. They have been decimated by injuries, yet they are ahead of Calgary. Calgary has once again been lucky in this regard and remained fairly healthy. There is no excuse for them being out of the playoffs at the midway point of the season.

I think that Gulutzan is not part of the solution here. He has not made this team consistently good. He has had lots of ups and downs, but I don't think that anyone can say that this team has been playing above their talent level, at least not anywhere close to consistently.

I am ok with the entire coaching staff being let go - perhaps keep Gelinas around as the interim. I give him a pass since he has been shuffled up into the 'eye in the sky' position. I would rather have him over Dave Cameron anyway as an interim.

However, I do insist on this:

Hire a clear upgrade please!

After Hartley was fired, I was ok with a 'new up and coming' coach to take over. I am not sure I preferred it, but I was ok with it. I remember even wanting Nate Leaman from Providence taking over (the guy has been a winner in the NCAA). However, I think at this stage, I want a proven coach.

I am glad that the Flames didn't hire Boudreau. Is he really a clear upgrade over Gulutzan? "Yes!" you might say, considering his impressive win-loss record in the NHL. However, I offer this:

"Has Boudreau ever made his teams BETTER?" I can't say that he has. Minnesota is a deep and talented squad, and Washington were ridiculously talented. I can sit back and coach those teams to winning records, and I know nothing about coaching.

Give me a coach that has taken a team of misfits and made them better. Give me a coach that has won a Stanley Cup, or at the very least got his team to the dance and gave the eventual winners a run for their money. Give me a coach that has proven he has at least at times 'out-coached' the opposing teams.

I feel that this team really doesn't punch over their weight class. Sutter did with the Flames, and so has Hartley. Both of those coaches seemed to get more out of this team than what was expected out of them. Heck, even when losing, the Saddledome crowd gave the losing Calgary Flames a standing ovation for working so hard in that first rebuild season under Hartley - people forget stuff like that.

I just haven't seen anything to really like about this Gulutzan coached team. They play a fairly boring style of hockey for the most part, where it seems CORSI is first and foremost on the list of things to ensure you are doing well in. That's fine if you are winning, but don't make me watch boring hockey and lose while you are doing it.

I feel bad for Gulutzan and the rest of the coaching staff here. I am sure they are good people who absolutely care about their jobs and do try their best, but at some point you just have to cut the cord and move on.

Like I said, I am ok with Gelinas being the interim for now (which I know isn't ideal, but who knows?) and wait and see until the off-season to know who else is available. I am also ok with hiring Sutter or Tippett now as well.

This is how I see it right now:

This team fired Hartley because they wanted to upgrade the coaching position. That's fair. This team has been upgraded by a large margin since then, but they still aren't performing well. Arizona is at 21 points and is the (embarrassingly bad) outlier. However, the next three teams on that list are Vancouver, Edmonton and Colorado - and then the Flames.

I know I have made up my mind. Unless Gulutzan turns this team around in a hurry and goes on another 10 game winning streak, I would prefer that the Flames look for an upgrade. He hasn't been an upgrade on Hartley as promised by Treliving. Hartley could get this very team into the playoffs I would bet. It isn't a Hartley vs Gulutzan thing. It is a "find an upgrade that makes this team better". Treliving chose to fire Hartley and told us this team would take the next step, citing that Hartley can't take this team any further. Well, Gulutzan hasn't either.

It is time to start searching for a coach that can get this team to take the next step.

12-24-2017, 10:53 PM	#96
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	This is a results-based business. I think it comes down to where you feel this team SHOULD be in the standings. If you feel they are a bubble team, then more patience should be shown. If you feel that this team should be firmly in the playoffs, then perhaps too much patience has been shown already. I myself just look at Anaheim. They have been decimated by injuries, yet they are ahead of Calgary. Calgary has once again been lucky in this regard and remained fairly healthy. There is no excuse for them being out of the playoffs at the midway point of the season. I think that Gulutzan is not part of the solution here. He has not made this team consistently good. He has had lots of ups and downs, but I don't think that anyone can say that this team has been playing above their talent level, at least not anywhere close to consistently. I am ok with the entire coaching staff being let go - perhaps keep Gelinas around as the interim. I give him a pass since he has been shuffled up into the 'eye in the sky' position. I would rather have him over Dave Cameron anyway as an interim. However, I do insist on this: Hire a clear upgrade please! After Hartley was fired, I was ok with a 'new up and coming' coach to take over. I am not sure I preferred it, but I was ok with it. I remember even wanting Nate Leaman from Providence taking over (the guy has been a winner in the NCAA). However, I think at this stage, I want a proven coach. I am glad that the Flames didn't hire Boudreau. Is he really a clear upgrade over Gulutzan? "Yes!" you might say, considering his impressive win-loss record in the NHL. However, I offer this: "Has Boudreau ever made his teams BETTER?" I can't say that he has. Minnesota is a deep and talented squad, and Washington were ridiculously talented. I can sit back and coach those teams to winning records, and I know nothing about coaching. Give me a coach that has taken a team of misfits and made them better. Give me a coach that has won a Stanley Cup, or at the very least got his team to the dance and gave the eventual winners a run for their money. Give me a coach that has proven he has at least at times 'out-coached' the opposing teams. I feel that this team really doesn't punch over their weight class. Sutter did with the Flames, and so has Hartley. Both of those coaches seemed to get more out of this team than what was expected out of them. Heck, even when losing, the Saddledome crowd gave the losing Calgary Flames a standing ovation for working so hard in that first rebuild season under Hartley - people forget stuff like that. I just haven't seen anything to really like about this Gulutzan coached team. They play a fairly boring style of hockey for the most part, where it seems CORSI is first and foremost on the list of things to ensure you are doing well in. That's fine if you are winning, but don't make me watch boring hockey and lose while you are doing it. I feel bad for Gulutzan and the rest of the coaching staff here. I am sure they are good people who absolutely care about their jobs and do try their best, but at some point you just have to cut the cord and move on. Like I said, I am ok with Gelinas being the interim for now (which I know isn't ideal, but who knows?) and wait and see until the off-season to know who else is available. I am also ok with hiring Sutter or Tippett now as well. This is how I see it right now: This team fired Hartley because they wanted to upgrade the coaching position. That's fair. This team has been upgraded by a large margin since then, but they still aren't performing well. Arizona is at 21 points and is the (embarrassingly bad) outlier. However, the next three teams on that list are Vancouver, Edmonton and Colorado - and then the Flames. I know I have made up my mind. Unless Gulutzan turns this team around in a hurry and goes on another 10 game winning streak, I would prefer that the Flames look for an upgrade. He hasn't been an upgrade on Hartley as promised by Treliving. Hartley could get this very team into the playoffs I would bet. It isn't a Hartley vs Gulutzan thing. It is a "find an upgrade that makes this team better". Treliving chose to fire Hartley and told us this team would take the next step, citing that Hartley can't take this team any further. Well, Gulutzan hasn't either. It is time to start searching for a coach that can get this team to take the next step.