Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
Did Sutter change the system? No. Why would he?
But I do think Sutter is definitely part of the issue. I believe that confidence, and its little sister, chemistry, are everything. And the Flames don't have that yet. And the reason they don't, beyond all the changes in the off-season, is that Sutter has them focusing on the defensive side of the game, positioning, etc. And that focus has them playing slowly, carefully, and timidly. They are playing on their heels, afraid to make mistakes.
The other primary factor is goaltending. Good goaltending is an absolute necessity for winning. Great goaltending will build confidence and cause the team to play better. And poor goaltending derails the entire team - nothing destroys confidence like poor goaltending.
So you have a team that is playing on their heels, lacking confidence. And you have a goalie that has struggled. But on top of that, like Lanny_McDonald said, you have a coach that is being stubborn about how he manages the team, and the way in which he thinks he needs to handle them, to get them where he wants them to be.
IMO, Sutter needs to stop with the 'I know how to build a winner' strategy that he has been steadfastly sticking with, and start giving the team what it needs. This team needs life. It needs an injection of youth. It needs to build confidence and start having some fun. Sutter needs to let go of the reins a bit, and let the team run.
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Unless a young player comes in and makes an impact instantly this team probably will not be elite until they get a fast skilled playmaker. A lot of us pointed to this in the summer. I was tossing Hanifin for necas or Barzal trades ideas out as IMO this is the missing piece. We can blame Huberdeau for not playing up to par but without a player on this team that can skate the puck down the other team's throat, he will continue to be smothered the second he touches the puck. He has no time and space. Barzal can do that but with the Kylington situation, Hanifin is not expendable. But I was suggesting this before they released that news.
Maybe Treliving had plans to address this but couldn't. Kylington situation has hurt this team big time.