Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
Well, I am glad that you are satisfied with middle of the pack. I am not. And I do not think this roster is middle of the pack, talent-wise. I would take that a step further and say that anyone who does, should be lobbying for another rebuild, because this core is going to be the core for a long time.
Things ebb and flow. One day a player looks like a world-beater and on another day, it seems like they may never score again. That is part of sports. So judging the talent of a team is a very fluid and volatile exercise.
However, I think it is always fair to step back and ask the question is the team performing as well as they should be? Are we getting as much out of the roster as we should be? Is the team overachieving, under-achieving, or right where they should be?
And every time I ask myself that question regarding this team I always end up with the same answer. They are not performing to the level they should be.
Like EE said about a hundred posts ago: Gulutzan is a smart guy, a likable guy, a great Xs and Os guy. But he isn't a good bench boss. He isn't getting enough out of the team, and they simply aren't competing to the level they should be.
I have been a STH for 15 years. There have been good years, bad years, and ugly years. But there have been few years more frustrating than this one. many times this season - and again last night - I sat there wondering why I dish out the money I do for the privilege of being repeatedly frustrated.
The team is better than what we are seeing on home ice. Some of that is on the players, no question. But some of that is also on the coach. Last night was a blatant example.
It's time for this core to take the next step. But it keeps on not taking that step. And IMO, a major reason why is that Gulutzan isn't capable of getting them there.
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This is such a lame circular discussion.
What is the freakin' evidence this team should've been any different than they were last year?
Did they graduate a top tier Calder-level rookkie into the lineup as compared to last year? Did they add a goal scoring or game breaking top line/top 6 player to the lineup?
This team wasn't good enough to make the playoffs until they grabbed Stone last year, and then after adding him, weren't good enough to do more than squeak into the playoffs and get swept.
So they went out and added another top 4 defender and what has turned out to be a top flight goaltender.
This year through 47 games the flames have allowed 125 goals. Last year, through 47 games, the Flames had allowed 125 goals.
This year the Flames have scored 131 goals through 47 games. Last season, through 47 games, the Flames had scored 122 goals.
Ok, Ok, but what about the Hartley offensive juggernaut? What about the coach that was coaching to his players strengths?
At the 47 game mark of the season preceding Gulutzan, the Flames had scored 122 goals. In the last season under Hartley the flames had allowed 142 goals, 4th worst in the league.
The thing that kept Treliving up at night by his own admission has come to pass. The team cannot score enough goals. Even with Career years from Monahan, Gaudreau, Ferland and Tkachuk, the team is barely scoring more goals, certainly they are not scoring 'enough'.
What is the freakin' evidence this team should be better than they are? I just don't get it. This is a middle of the pack team in basically every single measurable category you could think of.
Is the argument that if Boudreau was coach that Stajan would score more?
Is the argument that if Quennville was coach that Monahan would be on a 60 goal pace instead of 40? Is Ferland a 70 goal player under Barry Trotz?
What is the actual, DEFINITIVE argument for why or how this team is underperforming?