Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
I think this misses one aspect of coaching - maybe the most important one: getting the players to play the right way, and to the best of their abilities, both individually, and as a team.
Of course Ward didn't ask them to play slow or to turn pucks over, but it IS the coach's job to get his team playing well.
The Flames have been playing slow, they have been mistake-riddled, they have been soft, they look out of shape, and they have been mentally weak. And it is the coach's job to ensure that none of those things are happening.
They are not the most talented team in the league, nor are they the toughest - mentally or otherwise. But I think it is pretty safe to say that they should be a lot better on all of these fronts than they have been.
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Actually they've been on then off, then on then off.
Saturday against Ottawa ... fast.
Monday against Ottawa ... fast in the first flat after that.
Thursday against Ottawa ... fast to start, mostly fast through the game.
Saturday against Edmonton ... fast in the first, then lost it (tired)?
Sunday against Ottawa ... odd game, territorial with no execution. They seemed fast.
If Sutter can keep them
a) on their A game more often and
b) improve their off game they'll be much better
Have never debated that Sutter isn't an upgrade, but Ward didn't coach them not to be fast. They just kept losing the program.