[Sylvanfan]

I think the coaching and the culture are working together to provide positive results this far. The coach has his guys that he trusts to play his way, and these other more tenured guys on the team are aware of this. If they don't play the way the coach wants, they actually take the threat seriously that this coach will take their ice time and give it to the guys he trusts.

In the past the talented guys got a free pass because the coaching didn't provide a clear enough message as to how they were supposed to play. The coach(es) didn't have the gall to pull ice time from his better players if they didn't, and the veteran leaders were not exactly loyal foot soldiers tot he coach from their past life. So it was basically an empty threat.

Last year I suspected there was almost three factions on the team with the veteran Sweedish guys, the young guys, and the other veteran players like Lucic, Giordano, and Tanev. Geoff Ward was not able to get these groups aligned to work cohesively. In the offseason the Flames did go after guys that the Analytics community HATES big time to supplement the roster, but guys who had a history with the coach who were not expected to play major roles.

On ice this team has no Captain or defined Leader, but it's pretty clear that Daryl Sutter is the Leader. But a big part of Leadership in larger groups is having people who will follow the Leader and work with that person to achieve the desired goals of the organization. People who understand the plan, believe in it, and are willing to do what is needed to make the plan work. So between these supplemental guys, the addition of a more regular player like Coleman, and other vets like Lucic and Tanev who very much embody what Sutter preaches. There is a foundation for the rest of the group to be compelled to follow that plan.