Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - [PGT] Yep, we’re as soft as toilet paper. Flames lose to bottom feeding Sharks 3-1.

timbit · 02-05-2020, 07:38 PM

Everybody seems to have an opinion/excuse on the one year (started late last January) continuous demise of the team’s most important offensive player.

Poor Coaching/ systems/ strategies
Lack of quality line mates/ teammates
Team toughness around him.
Increased frustration level.
Lack of penalty calls.

The team has changed coaches, added team toughness, brought his childhood pal and teammate up.

Yet the contrast from 2/4 /2018 - 2/4 /2019 comparative to 2/5/ 2019- 2/5/2020 is startling!

The former time frame he was exceptional.
99 pts, 8th in NHL scoring in 81 GP., 1.22 PPG , +8

The latter time frame he has been very disappointing, at best.
66 pts, 46th in NHL scoring in 83 GP, .80 PPG, -16

Have other key team mates dropped off over the same time period? Absolutely.

None to the extent that Johnny’s production has diminished, over the stated time frames.

Considering that Johnny has been considered an elite NHL line and team driver on offence , game breaker, for the past 4 or 5 regular seasons, this is a sad, perplexing and crucial problem that needs a solution...pronto.

Sometime in late January last season, something happened to Johnny’s game and possibly other parts of his life.

My opinion, by observance of his play over the last 12 months.

He has become a very timid player, that plays a perimeter game with specific attention to avoiding puck battles and any opposition physical confrontations in puck races.

He has turned into a player who has little regard for team success. If he did, frustrated or not he would have changed in order to help the team get to better places.

Hard to believe that both head coaches have not relayed the same message to Johnny.

Not too late, but the sun is setting in a hurry.

02-05-2020, 07:38 PM	#244
timbit Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Exp:	Everybody seems to have an opinion/excuse on the one year (started late last January) continuous demise of the team’s most important offensive player. Poor Coaching/ systems/ strategies Lack of quality line mates/ teammates Team toughness around him. Increased frustration level. Lack of penalty calls. The team has changed coaches, added team toughness, brought his childhood pal and teammate up. Yet the contrast from 2/4 /2018 - 2/4 /2019 comparative to 2/5/ 2019- 2/5/2020 is startling! The former time frame he was exceptional. 99 pts, 8th in NHL scoring in 81 GP., 1.22 PPG , +8 The latter time frame he has been very disappointing, at best. 66 pts, 46th in NHL scoring in 83 GP, .80 PPG, -16 Have other key team mates dropped off over the same time period? Absolutely. None to the extent that Johnny’s production has diminished, over the stated time frames. Considering that Johnny has been considered an elite NHL line and team driver on offence , game breaker, for the past 4 or 5 regular seasons, this is a sad, perplexing and crucial problem that needs a solution...pronto. Sometime in late January last season, something happened to Johnny’s game and possibly other parts of his life. My opinion, by observance of his play over the last 12 months. He has become a very timid player, that plays a perimeter game with specific attention to avoiding puck battles and any opposition physical confrontations in puck races. He has turned into a player who has little regard for team success. If he did, frustrated or not he would have changed in order to help the team get to better places. Hard to believe that both head coaches have not relayed the same message to Johnny. Not too late, but the sun is setting in a hurry. Last edited by timbit; 02-05-2020 at 07:47 PM.