Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
I think Treliving for the most part
- boosted the team's drafting record
- was an ace on RFA negotiations
- was better than average on the trade front
- biggest weakness was UFA signings and coaching choice
The coaching thing gets further dissected with how you read the Peters situation. I don't see him at fault for Peters off ice issues decades before so really it's down to a bad Gulutzan choice.
Toronto has media pressure.
But unlimited resources, and certainly less no trade list issues when trying to trade for players.
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I agree with your first point, and I do think he was pretty good at contracts. Trades were decent other than the constant shipping out of first round picks. But I liked that he wasn't afraid to make major moves.
But -- the coaching hires, IMO, were absolutely brutal and I include Peters in that just from a hockey standpoint alone. I think I was whining here about getting a coach with a track record for years. It took way too long for that to happen, and it may not have even been up to him by then.
Then there's last summer's situation. You can say he was blindsided, and you might be right -- but the GM can't leave the team vulnerable like that. He gave away all leverage to Gaudreau and Tkachuk. And now hearing how happy Tkachuck was with Treliving -- great -- worked out wonderfully for everyone but the Calgary Flames, which should be the GM's priority #1. It actually really irritates me to hear how gleeful these guys are that they left the Flames in a mess. I am really hoping that Conroy is a little bit more ruthless about acting in the interest of the Flames above all else.
Finally, regardless of all the dynamics around things -- its a cliche but its true -- sports is a results business. The playoff results weren't there, the loss of the franchise players within weeks was pretty much unprecedented, and the culture around the team was clearly deteriorating. There had to be a change, the era of Treliving was ending.
We'll see how he does in the ultimate pressure cooker now. Wouldn't bother me if he does well, but its time for the Flames to turn the page and embrace a new direction.