[Redliner]

Johnny is an amazing talent but does not deal well with adversity. He checks out when things are bad, and right now the team is bad. The wheels started to fall off last year after the All-Star break, they couldn't figure out how to fix it, and then Colorado took them to the wood shed and destroyed the team's confidence. That's on the players.

The second part of the problem is the abysmal off-season they had, and that's on the GM. Despite all the "almost trades", Treliving did not make the team better, and adding 3 ex-Oilers to the mix was about the last thing this team needed. Team culture is a real thing. I think the Flames' culture has been weak for a while - despite the results last year - and bringing in guys from that dumpster fire up north completely sewered it. Even though McDingleberry and Draiheave are having all-world seasons and giving that team an aura of respectability this year, that whole franchise is toxic. Losing like that sticks to a player for a while and I think that's a big part of what is happening in the room here. Not enough drive, not enough passion, and not enough belief. It's obvious that Johnny doesn't care anymore, and why should he? Half the team is floating out there.

I've had my doubts about a few of our core players for a while now, but I think it's time for Treliving to start looking at some dramatic changes.