The Eating Crow Thread

[Resolute 14]

I'm still grumpy about Gulutzan's lack of preparation at the start, and still pissed off at his inability to prepare this team for the Oilers. But I am impressed that he was able to adapt, and while those early mistakes may have cost us the division, I didn't think he had a hope in hell of getting us to the playoffs. Glad to be wrong there.

[Mattman]

Was very skeptical of GG until Late January. Thank you for proving me wrong. I will happily eat crow knowing the Flames are in the playoffs.

[Flash Walken]

Spoiler!

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I'm still grumpy about Gulutzan's lack of preparation at the start, and still pissed off at his inability to prepare this team for the Oilers. But I am impressed that he was able to adapt, and while those early mistakes may have cost us the division, I didn't think he had a hope in hell of getting us to the playoffs. Glad to be wrong there.

Same here. He deserves credit for adapting and changing on the fly, how this team is playing right now is awesome.

At the start of the year I did not agree with how he was utilizing our D-men. Splitting up the guys was just odd and was happy that he didn't hold onto that the whole year.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

I was a loss or two away from pulling a Cali and asking the mods for a username change to FireGulutzan or HireGilbert. Very happy I didn't do that and the season turned around.

Oh, has this become a thing now? Not sure how I feel about the dubious honor of having it named after me.

As for myself, I have to eat a lot of crow about Elliott. He's been nothing short of incredible lately, and is one of the biggest reasons this team is where they are now.

I wrote this about Elliott after that bad stretch in January, and needless to say it was too harsh and wrong of me.

Brian "I may as well have Jamie Lannister's gold prosthetic from Game of Thrones for all the good my glove hand does me" Elliott.

I'm done with Elliott. If anyone is willing to take him at the trade deadline I'd dump him and see if either of Rittich or Gillies looks ok at the NHL level backing up Johnson.

I said a couple of things about Gio and Gulutzan as well that I need to eat crow for:

Where is the passion? Where is the intensity? Where is the willingness to go into a corner and come away with a puck?

I put this one squarely on the demeanor of our coach and captain. They are far too calm in the face of incredible adversity.

Gulutzan is clearly good at coaching defensive structure and getting the most out of less talented players, but has no ability to coach offensively skilled players at all.

I also called out our top players for not having enough passion for the game. That was probably true at the time, but the famous train ride occurred and they exhibited that they clearly have a tremendous passion for the game.

I was worried at times this year, but I never completely lost faith. I guess that's what you're supposed to do as a fan, but it can be hard sometimes. I understand where those other fans are coming from when they flip out and call for the coach to be fired, but patience is often required. It's a good lesson to remember.

[SportsJunky]

Can we at least ban the poster who started the glue gun nickname? Also, everyone who used it.

[wired]

I used a lot of spices for my crow, and washed it down with a cold beer.
So glad I was proven wrong.
Almost hoping for a battle of Alberta for round 1.

[Saint Troy]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I'm still grumpy about Gulutzan's lack of preparation at the start, and still pissed off at his inability to prepare this team for the Oilers. But I am impressed that he was able to adapt, and while those early mistakes may have cost us the division, I didn't think he had a hope in hell of getting us to the playoffs. Glad to be wrong there.

Pretty much this for me, hated that he kept throwing Wideman in the top four and Chiasson on the top line. Once the lineup got figured out, his system was solid.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I definitely didn't expect this. I wasn't one willing to say GG was garbage off the bat, or willing to say that our young core wasn't going to be good enough long term based on our terrible slow start, but I fully wrote our playoff hopes for this season off on two separate occasions.

I did not expect this team would have been able to be one of the best teams in the league for the last two months, very glad to be proven wrong!

[CaptainCrunch]

I can proudly say that I am eating a crow free diet today, I basically said that there was no way that GG should be fired and that the players had to eat a lot of crap for buying into the system that he was trying to put in place.

If I had a football I would be spiking it right now.

[Erick Estrada]

I think Gulutzan has proven at least to be a competent head coach. The team looked lost, coach looked tuned out, and it was getting close looking like a one and done scenario may be possible so turning things around like he has done is no small feat. That said we have seen a few coaches over the past few years turn teams around in the 2nd half of the season only to see the cycle repeat the next season where the team starts out bad (Mike Yeo, Dave Cameron for instance) so I'm hoping the coach has learned about the importance of preseason and early preparation because this organization really needs to start playing better in the beginning of seasons. I will give him a solid B for the season because despite turning things around there were and still are (the powerplay and lack of Hamilton on the first unit) self-inflicted wounds. Next season will show if this is his ceiling or if he has potential to be one of the game's next top coaches.

I'm hoping that if Desjardins gets fired in Vancouver and doesn't get a head coaching gig that he's brought in as an assistant (may be difficult with Cameron in the picture but I would prefer Willie as a fall back option in the event the coach ever needs to be relieved of his duties) and it would be nice for Gelinas to be moved somewhere else in the organization. Getting a little tired of the team's insistence of forcing him on the staff and the horrible special teams that follow him around. Also I hope Sigalet receives a pink slip as despite Elliot getting his game back I don't want this guy around when the Flames bring up Gillies or Parsons.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I think Gulutzan has proven at least to be a competent head coach. The team looked lost, coach looked tuned out, and it was getting close looking like a one and done scenario may be possible so turning things around like he has done is no small feat. That said we have seen a few coaches over the past few years turn teams around in the 2nd half of the season only to see the cycle repeat the next season where the team starts out bad (Mike Yeo, Dave Cameron for instance) so I'm hoping the coach has learned about the importance of preseason and early preparation because this organization really needs to start playing better in the beginning of seasons. I will give him a solid B for the season because despite turning things around there were and still are (the powerplay and lack of Hamilton on the first unit) self-inflicted wounds. Next season will show if this is his ceiling or if he has potential to be one of the game's next top coaches.

I'm hoping that if Desjardins gets fired in Vancouver and doesn't get a head coaching gig that he's brought in as an assistant (may be difficult with Cameron in the picture but I would prefer Willie as a fall back option in the event the coach ever needs to be relieved of his duties) and it would be nice for Gelinas to be moved somewhere else in the organization. Getting a little tired of the team's insistence of forcing him on the staff and the horrible special teams that follow him around. Also I hope Sigalet receives a pink slip as despite Elliot getting his game back I don't want this guy around when the Flames bring up Gillies or Parsons.

The horrible special teams are something like 11th and 12th including the horrific start. Fire the bum!

[Benched]

definitely lost faith through the 'easy' part of our schedule, when we looked poor, and couldn't win a game in January.

so happy to have been wrong.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I'm still grumpy about Gulutzan's lack of preparation at the start, and still pissed off at his inability to prepare this team for the Oilers. But I am impressed that he was able to adapt, and while those early mistakes may have cost us the division, I didn't think he had a hope in hell of getting us to the playoffs. Glad to be wrong there.

There sure are a lot of assumptions in that post about what happened. And not so much eating crow as excuses as to why your opinions at the time were actually valid, but happiness that the team unexpectedly over cane all those things you were legitimately upset about to still make the playoffs.

Basically a, I wasn't wrong, but sure glad miricals happen kind of take

[Huntingwhale]

I preached patience for most part of the season. But I'll gladly eat crow on:

-Not thinking the Flames would make the playoffs. I was expecting a bottom 10 finish, even during the offseason

-Elliott has been a revelation. I loved the acquisition and the cost, but sometimes moves just don't pan out. Glad I was wrong on this one

-I preached patience with GG. But deep down, I felt he wasn't the right coach. Couldn't be more wrong. I still miss Hartley. But after the growing pains to start the season, there isn't a coach I want more then GG.

Also, Polak needs to get in here and get himself a plateful. Common buddy, come get your crow!!

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by edslunch

The horrible special teams are something like 11th and 12th including the horrific start. Fire the bum!

The PK has come around (largely because the goaltending improved) the the powerplay is only middle of the pack because of an unsustainable run where it was successful. Take that run away and it's been terrible. If you actually like how the powerplay has been handled this season then honestly we have nothing more to discuss because it would be pointless.

[Bear]

Didn't like the Tkachuk draft pick.

Didn't think Monahan would get to 50 points.

Was heavily researching top end draft prospects.

Luckily crow and Jura go very well together. What a great night.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The PK has come around (largely because the goaltending improved) the the powerplay is only middle of the pack because of an unsustainable run where it was successful. Take that run away and it's been terrible. If you actually like how the powerplay has been handled this season then honestly we have nothing more to discuss because it would be pointless.

That hot streak got them into the playoffs. Hard to argue with results.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The PK has come around (largely because the goaltending improved) the the powerplay is only middle of the pack because of an unsustainable run where it was successful. Take that run away and it's been terrible. If you actually like how the powerplay has been handled this season then honestly we have nothing more to discuss because it would be pointless.

just as long you as you take away the unsustainable poor PP results as well.

waiting for your follow up post.

[Clarkey]

They had no identity, no grit and played poorly for a good chunk of the season, thank god they adjusted and turned it around!