Bold prediction time and I am singing a much different tune than I have during previous flames struggles.
1) Treliving doesn't go anywhere. For the most part, he has been a great GM. He has made some bad moves but as you look across the league, many GM's have made bad moves. None of the bad moves are really holding us back right now. Sure some added cap space from not signing Neal would allow another great player but this team finished 2nd last year so the talent is there.
2) Peters isn't going anywhere. He is my favorite coach from the revolving door of coaches and firing the coach is sending the wrong message. He coached this team to 2nd in the regular season last year and his system was fun hockey to watch.
3) No major trades take place. I really like the makeup of this team and what it has to offer from top to bottom.
My take on the current problem and fixing it
1) Gaudreau is playing like garbage but it won't last. Trading him would be a major regret. The problem is, when Gaudreau plays poorly, it isn't just him but he brings his linemates down as he is the engine that drives his line. Lindholm has slowed down but much of this has been due to being on Johnys line for the most part. How frustrating is Lindholm to constantly watch Johny fail at bringing the puck into the zone or try a risky pass that gets picked off. Gaudreau needs to go to the 4th line which is more of a message than the press box and allows for added use if Peters sees fit.
2) During a slump like this, everyone is trying to do too much. The Lucic line is as simple and boring of hockey as it gets but this is perfect from your 3rd line. All 4 lines need to abandon the open ice run and gun we tried last night. Get back to defence first and take away all high danger chances against we are giving up early and often. Under no circumstances should anyone be cheating leaving the zone. The puck carrier should be the first or second out of our own zone. Right now it seems that teams press us in our own zone and the forwards have all cleared out looking for a breakout pass. One bad pass and its a 3-2 against.
3) Correct the breakout to what we saw more of last year. Ditch the dump & chase and get back to the "layers" we played with last year. How many goals were scored from the 3rd layer receiving a back pass wide open in the slot.
4) When making a line change, forget about this dump it in. There is nothing wrong with kicking it back to your d man and making a line change. Possession has been a killer this year and fighting to get possession in our own zone only to dump it in for a change just gives the other team the puck.
5) Johny's spot on the PP changes. he should only possess the puck down low and behind the net. Let his creativity work from down low where he can use the net to his benefit. No more shots from the sidewall which inevitably end up missing and wrapping around out of our zone.
Johny is one of my favorite flames so I hate blaming him but so much of this slump is caused by goals against where he leaves our zone early, makes a poor pass or holds onto the puck too long. Other teams have figured him out and swarm him. He needs to watch Patrick Kane and how Kane uses that his benefit to make safe plays to other guys and get into an open spot to receive the puck again. Instead, he loses it or in a situation where he does get the puck to someone else, he is caught standing in concrete.
Tkachuck - Lindholm - Mangiapane (if he is ok)
Backlund - Monahan - Frolik
Lucic - Ryan - Dube
Gaudreau - Ronaldo - Reider
Almost every player receives a promotion of sort to excite them.
Line 1 has a set up guy with a sniper with Mangiapane who has the effort level not everyone is bringing.
Line 2 is a good defensive line with Backlund being a great passer to Monahan who can (in previous years) pick his spot.
Line 3 has proven themselves already
Line 4 -Gaudreau can be a 1 man show without bringing down his linemates and will be up against lesser skilled lines against him. He gets the speed of Reider to have someone up in the play with him.
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