Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post

Calgary4LIfe · 08-26-2021, 10:06 AM

Call me crazy, but I am looking forward to this upcoming season, and this is why:

1) Biggest thing to me is Sutter. I criticized and laughed at the Oilers during their Eakins era because they were poorly coached and their practices were slow, so they ended up not executing during games. This was happening in Calgary under Ward and Gulutzan (not sure about Peters). That's not how Sutter operates, and he is a heavy into systems, analytics, in-game adjustments and a master motivator. I think he is a top 3 coach in the game. A team with the same exact roster can be night and day different under 2 different coaches.

2) Identity - funny that the Athletic came out with that article on the Flames, when for the first time in a couple of years (at least) I feel like the Flames have acquired an identity. What's that? They are going to be a team that is very difficult to play against - both physically and defensively - and they are going to attack quickly.

3) This is a playoff year. Unless something goes off the rails, this team is going to find itself in the playoffs this season, and they are built for playoff hockey.

This team is not a contender, don't get me wrong. I, too, wish for a franchise altering trade that catapults them into 'contender' status. However, I do think that unless things somehow go off the rails, this team will push themselves up to that 2nd tier of teams that can make a bit of noise in the playoffs (hey, maybe the 2nd round!).

I am excited not because I expect them to win the cup (I mean, that would be fantastic, but I would be setting myself up for a practically guaranteed disappointment). I am excited because I do think this team will play better hockey - better structurally, better looking 'efforts', faster, more physical, and more consistent. They are still going to lay some eggs as it happens to every team, but they will lay eggs much less often.

I think for the first time in a long time this team will have some semblance of an identity, and will be a team that is not so hard to cheer for. I think this team is going to surprise many pundits out there.

08-26-2021, 10:06 AM	#4787
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	Call me crazy, but I am looking forward to this upcoming season, and this is why: 1) Biggest thing to me is Sutter. I criticized and laughed at the Oilers during their Eakins era because they were poorly coached and their practices were slow, so they ended up not executing during games. This was happening in Calgary under Ward and Gulutzan (not sure about Peters). That's not how Sutter operates, and he is a heavy into systems, analytics, in-game adjustments and a master motivator. I think he is a top 3 coach in the game. A team with the same exact roster can be night and day different under 2 different coaches. 2) Identity - funny that the Athletic came out with that article on the Flames, when for the first time in a couple of years (at least) I feel like the Flames have acquired an identity. What's that? They are going to be a team that is very difficult to play against - both physically and defensively - and they are going to attack quickly. 3) This is a playoff year. Unless something goes off the rails, this team is going to find itself in the playoffs this season, and they are built for playoff hockey. This team is not a contender, don't get me wrong. I, too, wish for a franchise altering trade that catapults them into 'contender' status. However, I do think that unless things somehow go off the rails, this team will push themselves up to that 2nd tier of teams that can make a bit of noise in the playoffs (hey, maybe the 2nd round!). I am excited not because I expect them to win the cup (I mean, that would be fantastic, but I would be setting myself up for a practically guaranteed disappointment). I am excited because I do think this team will play better hockey - better structurally, better looking 'efforts', faster, more physical, and more consistent. They are still going to lay some eggs as it happens to every team, but they will lay eggs much less often. I think for the first time in a long time this team will have some semblance of an identity, and will be a team that is not so hard to cheer for. I think this team is going to surprise many pundits out there.