Oct 19 practice

[Strange Brew]

I don't really mind those lines. Versteeg has to be very close to the press box. Starting to think I would rather see a revolving door of AHL callups in his place.

[heep223]

Chiasson has been a positive in my eyes so far. I thought when we signed him that he could be a good compliment for that top line, if he could get back to his game that made him successful in Dallas. Looked decent up there last night but have high hopes over the next few games.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I don't really mind those lines. Versteeg has to be very close to the press box. Starting to think I would rather see a revolving door of AHL callups in his place.

How about a tried and true RW vet who has scored 600+ goals in the NHL and has got leadership qualities to boot?

[calgaryboy]

For me, perfect lines, all makes sense. Glad GG is not afraid to mix lines, we all know we are far from perfect so far.

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Kristen Odland @Kristen_Odland
Gulutzan ripping the Flames right now about their entries. "You're doing the same f#$%-ing thing in games."

The one good thing I like about Gulutzan so far, is he's bold enough to bench high priced guys like Wideman who clearly stunk, and can spot the issues pretty quickly and scold you on it.

Almost everything that fans have noticed, he's noticed too.

No Bollig. No Wideman. No Grossman. Kulak in. Versteeg down to the 4th line. Passing the message to Gaudreau and Monahan during the game their play is lacking, and were separated for a bit in the 3rd period. Ripping on zone entries.

The PP zone entries look almost exactly the same as it was last year with Hartley. Drop pass in the neutral zone to a guy (usually Gaudreau) who is supposed to deke the entire team while the rest of the team sits on the blue line. This certainly cannot be Gulutzan's plan, and it's clear that from his ripping into the team right now, is he's trying to get rid of that bad habit.

It will take some time. He's fixing what's broken though little by little. Soon enough we will have a proper system.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Kristen Odland @Kristen_Odland
Gulutzan ripping the Flames right now about their entries. "You're doing the same f#$%-ing thing in games."

Awesome. the PP looked dreadful last night, and the inability to get setup was the primary reason in most cases. Dropping the puck back to the trailer (typically bennet, gaudreau, monahan) who weave just inside the offensive zone, then try to kickout the puck to the winger on the wall. That strategy worked very little yesterday. Analytics, possession, blah, blah, blah. Once a defense adapts and plays you agressively at the blue line, throwing the puck behind the d and using man advantage to retrieve is a strategy that heck even the great wings teams used when needed.

[heep223]

Some really good posts in here.

My hope is that Gully has two zone entry systems on the PP: the bump back, and the chip and retrieve. When the other team starts standing up at the blue line in response to the bump back, chip it past them and hammer the corners to retrieve the puck. No reason why they can't flip back and forth between these two strategies and let the puck carrier (ie. Gio, Brodie or Hamilton) make the read.

BTW as an aside, just noticed that the Flames have the highest GA in the league right now.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Love the new lines, and I love Gulutzan getting on them already for failing to learn the system a few games into the season.

I think long term Gulutzan is going to impress the fan-base. I remember Hartley not getting much done in his first little while with the team as well. It took him some time to put his stamp on the players and the team. Gulutzan is in that process right now.

[Huntingwhale]

Brodie was easily the most guilty of doing that dumb drop pass on the PP last night. He even did it twice in 1 shift. So annoying and it's worked maybe twice the entire time Gaudreau has been a Flame.

[I am Beast]

I like the Versteeg signing, glad he's moving down the line-up... cant wait till we see a line of Versteeg - Backlund - Frolik for some reason this line will cause more damage to other teams than they already do... just fits together perfectly.

[The Professor]

I support Bouma on the Michaels line. Ferland just isn't a fit there. He is better on any other line IMO.

[Torture]

I don't know why everyone is so upset with Gulutzan's coaching. Seems like he's addressing all the issues CP wants him to, and he's doing it all right away.

Grossman - out after game 1
Wideman - out after game 2
Kulak, Jokipaka in for game 2/3
Concerns about zone entry - being addressed
Versteeg - bumped down the lineup
Chiasson playing well - gets a chance with Gaudreau/Monahan.

Seems like quite a few astute adjustments 3 games in!

[Stud_McCool]

I'd swap Versteeg with Freddie.

[joejoe3]

Originally Posted by Torture

I don't know why everyone is so upset with Gulutzan's coaching. Seems like he's addressing all the issues CP wants him to, and he's doing it all right away.

Originally Posted by Firebot

Almost everything that fans have noticed, he's noticed too.

That's because GG is on CP

[calumniate]

Ferland, Bennett, brouwer. Cool!

[Flames_F.T.W]

GG seems pretty in tune with what the fans want in terms of the lineup... perhaps he lurks these forums??

[flambers]

Lines look fine, key element to work on is the Power Play.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Torture

I don't know why everyone is so upset with Gulutzan's coaching. Seems like he's addressing all the issues CP wants him to, and he's doing it all right away.

Grossman - out after game 1
Wideman - out after game 2
Kulak, Jokipaka in for game 2/3
Concerns about zone entry - being addressed
Versteeg - bumped down the lineup
Chiasson playing well - gets a chance with Gaudreau/Monahan.

Seems like quite a few astute adjustments 3 games in!

agreed. Mind you, this thread would be far less forgiving if they lost again last night. Sports, and the fans, are fickle like that....

"it's a result based business, yadda yadda yadda".

I personally feel the team has steadily improved every single game so far. Which does make me hopeful that really is an adjustment process.

It feels like a team that was just piss poor defensively, giving up chances due major breakdown after major breakdown, to a better 200ft team, where the defensive breakdowns are becoming more in frequent, while balancing the creation of offense.

They are still having major breakdowns resulting in grade A chances, but as long as the trajectory indicates that they are improving, the confidence in the coaching staff has grown, at least for me as a fan.

[Robo]

Good on gg I am starting to feel better knowing he isn't afraid to sit guys I hope the team starts to gel soon though

[sureLoss]

Roger Millions @RogMillions
Officially Glen Gulutzan is still deliberating on whether it's Elliott or Johnson on Thursday vs