Quote:
Originally Posted by fleury
That's the problem right now with the fan's and teams' expectations - everything has to go right for this team to be a playoff contender. There are simply too many IFs to realistically think this team truly has a solid chance.
- Sutter has to coach well
- Monahan has to come back from injury
- Johnny and Keith Jr have to bounce back
- Markstrom has to bounce back from injury
- Anderson and Valamaki have to have developed this off-season
- Dube has to have got in shape and get to the next level
They're also banking on some of the new additions changing the culture of the locker room and not being absorbed by the existing culture, which, could be a hope in the wind. Anyway, I think all combined there is a very small chance this team is substantially better than last years. I think last year everything that could've gone wrong did go wrong, but the core has more or less remained the same which is an obvious wrong that hasn't been addressed. Let's see, but I'm on the skeptical side at this point when it's been the same song and dance for about three off-seasons. |
Details are important, this we know about Sutter. He knows when a rookie makes a mistake, he knows if he has had poor goaltending. With him, it is all about addressing the details.
Flames took too long to solidify the coaching situation, but for now, it does provide for some much better stability. Sutter has brought key people with experience which should help get key players playing the right way and making fewer mistakes. No more experimenting with ideas and fitting square pegs into round holes. Now the Flames need to be shrewd in trades that target impact players.
Too many players brought in didn't have what it takes, is Treliving using his scouts, or is he making his own trades? Add Sutter to the equation and he is probably going to get a better evaluation of the players coming in. Sutter knows what he wants, size, speed, skill, heart. I have read interviews where Sutter was constantly talking to his staff about ways and strategies to beat certain teams in the playoffs. He can't do this if the team is not holding up their end of the bargain. I think we have reasons to be optimistic about this coaching staff. With Sutter at the helm, if there are problems higher up, they are more likely to be identified and addressed. Treliving is not going to get away with bringing nonimpactful players.
We can summarize that the organizational and team expectations are going to be much higher this season. Sutter "hates" losing and that theme will be imparted onto every player. If he gets the players believing they are "underdogs", they can beat anybody. The players are likely in better physical and mental shape this season to do it. Goaltending, Sutter was quick to point out it wasn't good enough. If Jacob Markström stands on his head and wins games it puts the ball back on the players.
Lots to be optimistic about.