Another disappointing yet predictable outcome. As Blake Coleman said, the Flames are a really good team without a clue about how to win in the style of game being played in the NHL now. Darryl Sutter remains a dinosaur and makes the team play an ineffective game. This team will never improve so long as they play this mind-numbingly horrible system or ring it around the boards and take low percentage shots. The "prevent defeat" system just doesn't work. Time to move the hell on and send Sutter back to the farm, permanently. He's the biggest problem the organization has.
Sadly, the team has missed the window of opportunity to sell off some players and get some good draft assets for the 2023 draft, which is supposed to be the deepest in a couple decades. The concept of a solid plan just seems to be missing with this management group. I'm not sure what they do here, but at least one of Treliving or Sutter has to go and I would let the farmer go before the pizza magnate's kid. In a perfect world I think you clean house.
Unlike some I don't thinks are as bleak as they seem for the immediate future. I think there are some really good pieces in place and you just have to find the right mix, which Sutter has failed miserably to do. I think there are some pieces in the minors that can and will step in to quickly develop into keys players moving forward. Opportunity is important for these players to develop, and opportunity is not going to come with the current guy behind the bench.
I'm hoping Treliving looks at the depth chart board in his office and sees the obvious moves. Lewis and Lucic need to have new addresses by the end of the day. Backlund should be moved to the highest bidder to make room on the roster and free up some cap space. Tanev and possibly Hanifin should be dangled out there to see if you can scoop some draft picks in this draft. Prepare for the future that doesn't include these bodies.
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