All this talk of "character" has me reviewing in my mind the Vegas game and what I recall (possibly incorrectly) of VGK: they pressured the puck *constantly*. Reminded me of the old "workboots" 2004 Flames - just hounded whomever had the puck mercilessly. Took the most direct route to get to the puck each time - and if it meant going through someone, that's what they'd try to do.
I was quite impressed -- and THAT is what I'd like to see back in the Flames.
Most of this year I've seen them back off and not apply pressure, give the skater a chance to lose the puck rather than force the skater to lose it or cough it up. (For anyone who plays Chess or Go, it's taking a position from the skater the way a Knight attacks a piece on a board - one spot over and two spots down. It works well in Go and Chess, not so well in Hockey.)
The defending players on the Flames use their sticks a LOT and their bodies not so much. So offensively-minded forwards chip, skip and scoot around the defender FAR too often. It's a poor style of play unless your D is hyper-mobile (laterally especially) and the supporting cast follows it up with physicality. The Flames do not do that at all, which is why their D has been misused and looked like junk for most of the year.
The players are good - the style of D-play being coached has inhibited their natural abilities.
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