A tonne of coaches don't have things go their way the first time out. I have always wished Hartley, Gulutzan and now Ward well. It is a business, and a tough one.
I don't think that this was the right team for Ward to cut his teeth on, as I really do believe that this team were not well coached for far too long, and it was a big ask for a rookie coach to have the experience to fix it.
I think Ward is a great person. The players seemed to really love him. I wish the Flames were a New Jersey Devils when Brent Sutter got his first NHL gig - things were smooth. The culture was there. There were only nuances to manage. Brent was suddenly thought of as one of the game's best coaches - even Team Canada had him in contention for Babcock for the Olympic gig IIRC. (and just look at Babcock for the same example, IMO).
I think given the history in Calgary with the core, this team needed a more experienced hand. I don't buy that the players didn't listen, or that they were running the asylum. I just don't think they were a well-coached team for years, and there are lots of issues to fix.
Hope he lands on his feet somewhere. I also hope he looks back at Calgary and sees the changes - good and bad - and can adapt these into his toolbox. There will be changes here, and I am sure Ward is smart enough to see the differences in the systems and playstyle, and learn. I am sure he had some positive ideas that just weren't able to be executed here.
Wish him luck, and I hope he lands on his feet sooner rather than later, and he loses 5 straight times in Game sevens in consecutive Stanley Cup Finals to the Flames
