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browna · 03-22-2018, 06:03 PM

I’ve been beating this drum for a week now...while Francis and his hot takes may have some merit, mixed certainly with some bluster so he can use this article to kick off and do the national radio tours on why the Flames didn’t make the playoffs....

But...what was different about last year when they made the playoffs? You could make all the same talking points about this roster last year.so what changed?

The Flames didn’t lose any leadership or character over last year, they gained it in two players at least.

I take full issue with JG not caring about losing. Last year he seemed much less engaged and likely also due to the late signing. This year he’s going to set a record for assists and I’ve seen him smash his stick multiple times in game and post game after losses. SM is just a quiet guy but produces, and so don’t think a guy like Francis is qualified to dissect what constitutes “hating to lose”.

But again, these young guys have been in the payoffs twice, including last year, and the team is very similar to last year... so all his talking points, beside the Smith injury (wheeler BT made a calculated risk not to pick up a backup which could’ve helped out instead of the skid the backups went on), could’ve been talking points last year, as I said.

So why do those apply this year as opposed to last? IMO The team couldn’t finish games and didn’t trust their coaching staff this year...and the lack of finish and killer instinct in games is a direct result of that lack of ability of the coach to navigate the team to the next level within games, and game to game, and then the decline in faith of the roster in him as a result...imo.

03-22-2018, 06:03 PM	#78
browna Franchise Player Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Calgary Exp:	I’ve been beating this drum for a week now...while Francis and his hot takes may have some merit, mixed certainly with some bluster so he can use this article to kick off and do the national radio tours on why the Flames didn’t make the playoffs.... But...what was different about last year when they made the playoffs? You could make all the same talking points about this roster last year.so what changed? The Flames didn’t lose any leadership or character over last year, they gained it in two players at least. I take full issue with JG not caring about losing. Last year he seemed much less engaged and likely also due to the late signing. This year he’s going to set a record for assists and I’ve seen him smash his stick multiple times in game and post game after losses. SM is just a quiet guy but produces, and so don’t think a guy like Francis is qualified to dissect what constitutes “hating to lose”. But again, these young guys have been in the payoffs twice, including last year, and the team is very similar to last year... so all his talking points, beside the Smith injury (wheeler BT made a calculated risk not to pick up a backup which could’ve helped out instead of the skid the backups went on), could’ve been talking points last year, as I said. So why do those apply this year as opposed to last? IMO The team couldn’t finish games and didn’t trust their coaching staff this year...and the lack of finish and killer instinct in games is a direct result of that lack of ability of the coach to navigate the team to the next level within games, and game to game, and then the decline in faith of the roster in him as a result...imo.