[transplant99]

Now may not be the time to make such an announcement, given the suspended animation the league finds itself in.

But make no mistake, it should happen.

If indeed this season is ultimately scrapped due to an extended COVID-19 battle, clarifying Ward’s status should be one of Treliving’s first orders of business.

After all, the numbers don’t lie.

When word of Bill Peters’ racial transgressions surfaced on Nov. 25, the Flames sat 26th in the league in points percentage at 12-12-4.

From the time Ward was promoted from associate coach to interim boss, the Flames went 24-15-3 despite a whirlwind of speculation and uncertainty that hovered over the franchise.

The players responded favourably, playing at a .616 clip (8th in the league) that would have landed the club at 101 points over an 82-game schedule.

In that time, the team’s offence went from 30th (2.37 goals per game) to 10th (3.26).

They tightened up defensively and saw their power play go from 22nd in their first 27 games, to third over the balance of the year, connecting at a 25.2 per cent rate.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...hoice-obvious/


Discuss.