A Retrospective on the Gaudreau and Monahan Era

[TheIronMaiden]

The Facts

The era lasted from 2013-14 until 2021-22 or a total of 9 seasons.

In that period of time the Flames made the Playoffs five years, and advanced to the second round twice. Likewise the Flames finished first in their division two years and finished first in the western conference once.

This was an era with considerable individual success with

2 Jack Adams Awards
2 Lady Bing Memorial Trophies
1 NHL Foundation Player Award
1 Mark Messier Leadership Award
1 James Norris Memorial Trophy

Despite the relative stability with the Flames core, there was a large turn around of goalies and coaches. With 17 different goalies dressing, and 5 separate head coaches.


The Feelings

The 2014-15 Flames captured everyone's imagination with some unexpected success. That team felt like they were never truly out of a game with many thrilling comebacks and a scrappy underdog attitude. That said, the 2014-15 team also set expectations for what this team was capable of, which the team failed to meet in coming years.

It was shortly after their early success that the Flames began to push chips into the middle hoping to build a team that could make a deep run in the playoffs. Whether it was team failure, poor asset management or bargain coaching and goaltending the Flames were never able to deliver in the playoffs, or even consistently in the regular season.

the 2018-19 season was especially emblematic of fans frustrations as the team dominated in the regular season only to get embarrassed in the First round. it was after this that many fans began to push for a sea change for the teams roster.

It is almost fitting that the Flames core dissolve after making the second round, since the team seemingly could never build off of past success.

Despite many frustrating moments, there were some highlights. Ferland bashing the Canucks in the playoffs, finally ending the Honda Civic Centre Curse, or the line brawl during the Battle of Alberta.

All in all, I loved this team, despite feeling let down often. Objectively the Flames were a middling team, but only as a sum of their average after adding highs and lows, with very little in the middle. I think that folks will be able to look back fondly, even if there was little more team success than the Iginla Era.

[lazypucker]

I think the Flames lost a lot of momentum with the Hartley firing. I know the players hate him, but replacing him only a year after winning the Jack Adams with none other than Glen "Glue to the iPad" Gulutzan was a pretty bad move by Treliving setting the team back for years...

[jayswin]

Coaching mis-hires were the number one detriment to this core. It wasn't a perfect core and there was some rebuilding issues as well (pushing the chips in after the unexpected 2015 playoff run instead of continuing to acquire picks and draft players) but make no mistake we lost lots of ground and development and wasted seasons with poor coaching hires.

[Iggy Snipe]

The main thing here is, Calgary failed to get past the second round of the playoffs with that core.

They are all really good pieces, but none of them can be “the guy”, and in Calgary they were, which why success was limited.

[BigT112]

Yeah, coaching really sticks out for me in this era. Gulutzan is hands down Treliving's worst move as GM. Remember that day he threw a hissy fit on the ice and threw his stick into the stands? What an embarrassment.

But I'll always look back fondly on the 2014-15 season. All those comeback wins and putting the Canucks away in the first round. Just a really really fun season.

[_Q_]

Maybe it's age for me, but I've said this before, and I'll say it again - I never really cared for this version of the Flames for some reason. The Fleury led years were fun. It was tough to cheer for the young guns Era team, but I stuck with it. Then the Iginla/Regehr core was lots of fun, but extremely frustrating.

Watching Monahan, Tkachuk, Gaudreau... while they were highly talented, I never really cared for those guys as individuals. They seemed like generic dudes, playing for my favorite team, because they were told they had to.

I'm hoping this new core can get me to care more again. As an Arab Canadian, I'm incredibly excited to have Kadri in a Flames jersey. As a young kid, I always loved hockey, but it was always a "white boy" sport. None of my Arab friends were really into it. Then Kadri broke into the league and I finally felt like my community was finally represented in my favorite sport. I felt like there was room for guys that look like me in the sport. I was always a bit jealous that he played for Toronto, then Colorado. I'm incredibly excited to finally have Kadri play for my favorite team.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by _Q_

Maybe it's age for me, but I've said this before, and I'll say it again - I never really cared for this version of the Flames for some reason. The Fleury led years were fun. It was tough to cheer for the young guns Era team, but I stuck with it. Then the Iginla/Regehr core was lots of fun, but extremely frustrating.

Watching Monahan, Tkachuk, Gaudreau... while they were highly talented, I never really cared for those guys as individuals. They seemed like generic dudes, playing for my favorite team, because they were told they had to.

I'm hoping this new core can get me to care more again. As an Arab Canadian, I'm incredibly excited to have Kadri in a Flames jersey. As a young kid, I always loved hockey, but it was always a "white boy" sport. None of my Arab friends were really into it. Then Kadri broke into the league and I finally felt like my community was finally represented in my favorite sport. I felt like there was room for guys that look like me in the sport. I was always a bit jealous that he played for Toronto, then Colorado. I'm incredibly excited to finally have Kadri play for my favorite team.

I understand what you mean. However, with Monahan it was different. Loved him since his rookie year. There was something that set him apart from the rest and honestly he became my favorite Flame since Iggy.

I'm super glad you have that connection with Kadri. Avs were my 2nd favorite team for a long time when the Flames sucked because Joe Sakic (Šakić) is a Croatian-Canadian, like me. Funny how you make those connections with players.

[redmile04]

Zero conference finals appearances, 2 first round series wins. Not like a dynasty is ending... with the lack of organizational success in the last 30 years though. Winning a division, conference, making the playoffs more often than not, and 2 first round wins as weak as that looks, its an upgrade. Obviously there's lower standards here due to the lack of success but i say good riddance, to my earlier points, werent winning much when it counted so maybe this forced hand was the best thing to happen to us.

We got Iggy instead of Todd Harvey( not our choice) And Kipper ( unplanned injuries) and those 2 deals worked out so well for us so maybe that happens again with Johnny and Tkachuk forcing their way out.

[browna]

Originally Posted by BigT112

Yeah, coaching really sticks out for me in this era. Gulutzan is hands down Treliving's worst move as GM. Remember that day he threw a hissy fit on the ice and threw his stick into the stands? What an embarrassment.

But I'll always look back fondly on the 2014-15 season. All those comeback wins and putting the Canucks away in the first round. Just a really really fun season.

The worst coaching move for wasting a season Treliving made was keeping Ward on, two seasons ago after the bubble and Dallas game 6 debacle.

GG got into the playoffs one year. And his relationship from Dallas, got us Jagr. But yes, a good teacher and coach, just not a leader as is required.

Had Hartley not won the Jack Adams, basically forcing Treliving (who wanted to clean house that the former GM put into deep disrepair) to keep him that next extra year, Flames could've looked a lot different from then on. Can't recall which coaches were available that offseason but thought there were a few good fits.

[TheSquatch]

Flames have had some not-so-incredible coaches, but the team build was never right to go deep. I've maintained for years that Monahan as a 1C was not a competitive enough player, a "rather die than lose" type. We see Gaudreau sign with a middling team with no real expectations now.

So I see this as the "Friendly Flames" era, an era where the best players were highly skilled, but had zero mean-ness in their games. Other players were brought in to supplement team toughness - Gudbrandson had a good effect that way last year. But the Hartley Flames never hit, they just skated and skated and skated. The Gulutzan Flames weren't a punishing group. I don't have any idea what the Ward Flames were. Adequate, barely, but hardly threatening, not surly.

I'm not bothered by either of these players leaving. It's the end of an era in a way, but it's been a very mediocre era. I hope Sean can have a good season and I hope it's not his last, he is one crunched up dude. But Kadri's a huge upgrade for the Flames, fast, nasty, and skilled.

I hope nothing for Gaudreau, I just don't care what happens to him. He's had some great moments as a Flame, but he's also been a total weak link in many situations. We'll get on without him.

[Hackey]

I always thought that core was fragile and wouldn't be able to get it done in the playoffs. They had so many chances and were never able to kick it up a gear when it mattered. Who knows if this core will be different or not, but I'm excited for something new.

[jlh2640]

Brad said something I thought was interesting in his press the other day. About Kadri not shying away from pressure. And embracing those moments. He said it multiple times. To me it was a nice little dig at those 3. That is how I always saw them. Tkachuk and Monahan were most likely invisible most of their time in the playoffs. Gaudreau also wasn’t good enough minus the Dallas series. That is how I’ll remember them. Great individual players. But not good enough when it got tough.

[PuckSlap]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

Brad said something I thought was interesting in his press the other day. About Kadri not shying away from pressure. And embracing those moments. He said it multiple times. To me it was a nice little dig at those 3. That is how I always saw them. Tkachuk and Monahan were most likely invisible most of their time in the playoffs. Gaudreau also wasn’t good enough minus the Dallas series. That is how I’ll remember them. Great individual players. But not good enough when it got tough.

That really got my attention as well. Brad is looking for players who take it personal and want to win. Tkachuk was all talk (imo) and Johnny just didn’t care as much in the playoffs as he did in the regular season. Or at the very least, didn’t want it as bad as the oilers did. And that really bothers me. Way more than it ever should, but it does.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by browna

The worst coaching move for wasting a season Treliving made was keeping Ward on, two seasons ago after the bubble and Dallas game 6 debacle.

GG got into the playoffs one year. And his relationship from Dallas, got us Jagr. But yes, a good teacher and coach, just not a leader as is required.

Had Hartley not won the Jack Adams, basically forcing Treliving (who wanted to clean house that the former GM put into deep disrepair) to keep him that next extra year, Flames could've looked a lot different from then on. Can't recall which coaches were available that offseason but thought there were a few good fits.

Anybody other than Ward at that time probably means no Sutter.

[flylock shox]

The ceiling for that group was never as high as we hoped it would be, but there were some real highlights too.

Johnny went from laughably small 4th round pick to arguably the most entertaining player the Flames have ever had, and we got to watch that all unfold.

The 2014-15 regular season was arguably the most entertaining in Flames history.

They won a Western conference championship, which is no joke.

They had last season's epic performances, and another fantastically entertaining season.

One thing we'll have to adjust to with our new stars is that we didn't watch them grow up with the Flames and won't have the same attachment to them - particularly if they underperform. There will be expectations on this group, which.makes it harder for them to do the unexpected, and harder to entertain or satisfy fans who may be less patient with them. Hopefully it doesn't go that way, because we're chained to them now and there ain't more potential to tap as there always seemed to be with the last cohort.

All that to say, there were some good times and some disappointments. Hopefully the next chapter is at least as good.

[saillias]

More sad about Monahan, Gio and even Brodie than Gaudreau and Tkachuk. I agree 100% with Q's assessment specifically about those 2. Just feels like they were here as mercenaries. It turns out all the years of rumors and innuendo about them wanting to move on was absolutely correct. It's a relief to have it over with.

And now that he's gone I can say it- I won't miss the Tkachuk family's whole package deal thing and having to think Brady in the stands is cool and fun.

[flamesrule_kipper34]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

The ceiling for that group was never as high as we hoped it would be, but there were some real highlights too.

Johnny went from laughably small 4th round pick to arguably the most entertaining player the Flames have ever had, and we got to watch that all unfold.

The 2014-15 regular season was arguably the most entertaining in Flames history.

They won a Western conference championship, which is no joke.

They had last season's epic performances, and another fantastically entertaining season.

One thing we'll have to adjust to with our new stars is that we didn't watch them grow up with the Flames and won't have the same attachment to them - particularly if they underperform. There will be expectations on this group, which.makes it harder for them to do the unexpected, and harder to entertain or satisfy fans who may be less patient with them. Hopefully it doesn't go that way, because we're chained to them now and there ain't more potential to tap as there always seemed to be with the last cohort.

All that to say, there were some good times and some disappointments. Hopefully the next chapter is at least as good.

Do you mean 2019-2019? 2014-2015 was a fun team to watch but they didn't win the Western Conference in the regular season.

[N-E-B]

I had a ton of fun watching that core in 2015, 2019, and 2022. They gave me some great Flames memories, but to me they will always be remembered as the core that got their dicks kicked in by the Oilers in the playoffs and then bailed on the team. Whether that's fair or not is up for debate, but that's how I feel right now and that's probably how I'll look back on this era unfortunately.

I'm so ready for a fresh start and I'm really excited for the Huberdeau/Kadri era to begin!

[dino7c]

sadly playoff chokes is what will be remembered

2nd overall and get your ass kicked in round one
win the division in a landslide and inexplicably play terrible against the Oilers

Kings almost beat them, Flames should have had no trouble but totally abandoned what got them there

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

Whether that's fair or not is up for debate, but that's how I feel right now and that's probably how I'll look back on this era unfortunately.

Don’t worry, it’s not up for debate.