Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - [News] UPD: Geoff Ward officially named the franchise's 20th head coach (2 year deal)

Bingo · 09-14-2020, 09:38 AM

Wow 16 pages and a lot of angry people over something that isn't even confirmed yet. That's impressive!

I think being a fan is passion, so far be it for me to suggest anyone is off side by being so up in arms about things like this but I just don't get it. Probably the last couple of years has me a lot more laid back about pretty much everything though, Flames included.

I think Ward should get a tonne of credit for bringing the team together, and back on to the same page, especially if Peters and his room was toxic. That's not easy to do.

I thought Ward was brilliant in how he changed the Flames defensive system against Winnipeg, pretty much making all of Maurice's bubble preparation useless and a relatively easy series.

It wasn't working against Dallas though, and that's where I had some issues with his coaching. You can't keep going with the same defensive system that beat Winnipeg if Dallas is using it against you, which they did. Additionally I think you have to do something with your top line other than moving Lindholm off if the second line has lost it's play driver. The goalie yank was fine, but the lack of communication with Talbot about going back in was a huge mistake.

A look at the five on five numbers for the last three coaches shows his systems are better in some areas, and not as good in others ... one of those situations that may point to the fact that we are missing some information with the current system of analytics.

CF/60
GG 59.1
BP 60.4
GW 57.0

CA/60
GG 54.3
BP 52.8
GW 58.7

Corsi doesn't take into account quality, but the team generates less and gives up more with Ward. Shots pretty much the same story.

HDCF/60
GG 10.7
BP 10.9
GW 11.0

HDCA/60
GG 9.8
BP 10.2
GW 9.9

Overall Ward's team had the better share of high danger chances five on five.

SH%
GG 7.2%
BP 8.3%
GW 8.6%

The high danger splits result in a better conversion rate.

SV%
GG 91.9
BP 91.6
GG 92.5

Leg up in goalie performance for sure. His HD Save% is 3% above both coaches with pretty much equal goaltenders, so maybe there's something in his system that keeps the 10 bell chances to a minimum.

Anyway I'm a mixed bag. There are some positives in there, and the guy certainly has the support of the players. I would have looked to upgrade as I thought he got outcoached by Dallas (and their retread) but given the financial state of the planet and where the sport is going I certainly get not making big changes.

And as an aside ... any one else catch Burke on 960 the other day talking about the Flames and their ownership cheapness? Said the ownership group has never made the issue about money on any decision he was involved with in hockey operations in his time in Calgary. Said the only time they had a money issue is when he wanted to spend money to change the dressing rooms, and they reduced the plan because the building is going to get torn down.

09-14-2020, 09:38 AM	#315
Bingo Owner Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Calgary Exp:	Wow 16 pages and a lot of angry people over something that isn't even confirmed yet. That's impressive! I think being a fan is passion, so far be it for me to suggest anyone is off side by being so up in arms about things like this but I just don't get it. Probably the last couple of years has me a lot more laid back about pretty much everything though, Flames included. I think Ward should get a tonne of credit for bringing the team together, and back on to the same page, especially if Peters and his room was toxic. That's not easy to do. I thought Ward was brilliant in how he changed the Flames defensive system against Winnipeg, pretty much making all of Maurice's bubble preparation useless and a relatively easy series. It wasn't working against Dallas though, and that's where I had some issues with his coaching. You can't keep going with the same defensive system that beat Winnipeg if Dallas is using it against you, which they did. Additionally I think you have to do something with your top line other than moving Lindholm off if the second line has lost it's play driver. The goalie yank was fine, but the lack of communication with Talbot about going back in was a huge mistake. A look at the five on five numbers for the last three coaches shows his systems are better in some areas, and not as good in others ... one of those situations that may point to the fact that we are missing some information with the current system of analytics. CF/60 GG 59.1 BP 60.4 GW 57.0 CA/60 GG 54.3 BP 52.8 GW 58.7 Corsi doesn't take into account quality, but the team generates less and gives up more with Ward. Shots pretty much the same story. HDCF/60 GG 10.7 BP 10.9 GW 11.0 HDCA/60 GG 9.8 BP 10.2 GW 9.9 Overall Ward's team had the better share of high danger chances five on five. SH% GG 7.2% BP 8.3% GW 8.6% The high danger splits result in a better conversion rate. SV% GG 91.9 BP 91.6 GG 92.5 Leg up in goalie performance for sure. His HD Save% is 3% above both coaches with pretty much equal goaltenders, so maybe there's something in his system that keeps the 10 bell chances to a minimum. Anyway I'm a mixed bag. There are some positives in there, and the guy certainly has the support of the players. I would have looked to upgrade as I thought he got outcoached by Dallas (and their retread) but given the financial state of the planet and where the sport is going I certainly get not making big changes. And as an aside ... any one else catch Burke on 960 the other day talking about the Flames and their ownership cheapness? Said the ownership group has never made the issue about money on any decision he was involved with in hockey operations in his time in Calgary. Said the only time they had a money issue is when he wanted to spend money to change the dressing rooms, and they reduced the plan because the building is going to get torn down.