The trials and tribulations of Glen Gulutzan

[Bourque's Twin]

It's a simple fix.

Out: Gulutzan, Brouwer, Stajan.

In: Sutter, Hathaway.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Bennett
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Jankowski - Jagr
Versteeg - Lazar - Hathaway
xGlass, F. Hamilton

[Backlunds_socks]

GG will end up being treilings greatest failure.

The guy should never have been brought here

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

He's a replacement player replaced by Tanner Glass.

The last time Glass had 12 goals or 24 points was Never.

The Flames have scored 2 goals or less in 8 of their first 11 games, and that's WITH Monahan and Gaudreau doubling their offensive output from the same time frame as last season.

The support players just aren't there this year, for whatever reason. Stajan had 4 points in first 11 games last year. This year 0. Brouwer had SIX points in the first 11 last year, this year 2.

I don't think that's coaching.

I agree with you, it isn't the coaching. That's been my argument the whole time.

It's the players.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by activeStick

I agree with you, it isn't the coaching. That's been my argument the whole time.

It's the players.

So is it the players and not the coaching when everything is working and we're winning? Or does it become good coaching at that point?

[ForeverFlameFan]

The problem is a little bit of both... The players are not scoring, lots of times their passes do not get to the other player cleanly. The way they enter in the o-zone is atrocious. We've been saved by Smith's goaltending

GG on the other hand would be a lot better if he actually knew how to utilize his players. Giving little ice time to Bennett and Jankowski is unacceptable. Not having your best players on the ice when down by 1 goal is unacceptable. Telling the media every freaking loss that he is angry with the players but never makes any changes is unacceptable.

[Ryan Coke]

I wasn't happy with GG last year, and wanted him gone fairly early. I never loved his coaching, but if the team is winning I am happy. I'd rather be wrong about the coach if it means they are winning.

But it is the same problems this year, less excuses. I'd rather they just start winning, but I would not be at all disappointed if they changed coaches.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

The problem is a little bit of both... The players are not scoring, lots of times their passes do not get to the other player cleanly. The way they enter in the o-zone is atrocious. We've been saved by Smith's goaltending

GG on the other hand would be a lot better if he actually knew how to utilize his players. Giving little ice time to Bennett and Jankowski is unacceptable. Not having your best players on the ice when down by 1 goal is unacceptable. Telling the media every freaking loss that he is angry with the players but never makes any changes is unacceptable.

It was weird. He used to never criticize his team publicly, then things boiled over and he did it once. It worked really well, but now it's like he just throws it out there casually all the time.

It's like Homer Simpon's glove slap. At first he was very clear and pointed about the glove slap but then as time went on he would just waltz in and casually proclaim "move out of the way or I'll gloveslap you" in a monotone assumptive voice.

Glen Gulutzen needs to learn from Homer's arrogance.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

Time for some beers and a train ride.

[Darkknight]

I'm not sure which thread this belongs in but this is as good a place as any. Looking at the Flames scoring woes and their currently abysmal shooting % one thing that stood out to me is the fact that the Flame(s) with the highest number of shots are Tkachuk and Monahan with 31 each. By comparison Evander Kane leads the league with 60 shots (6G, 6A). For forwards Gaudreau has 27 and Backlund at 26. What the Flames desperately need is a shoot first player, or to just put more pucks on net or even towards the net. The Flames currently remind me of myself playing the NHL games constantly looking for the cross crease/backdoor play. Whether the Flames need to just shoot more or it's a product of the system looking to only take shots from high danger areas/plays something obviously needs to give. 100% of the shots... yada yada but it does ring true. When the offense is struggling just put pucks on net and crash from rebounds and garbage goals. I'm not sure if this the players doing this or being told to play this way but adjustments need to made.

[Max Cow Disease]

I try to avoid hopping on the "crappy systems" bandwagon, because I have no idea what the system is, and am not in a position to really make educated judgements. Without any insight on the specifics of Gulutzan's X's and O's, it's hard to sit here and pin it on that specifically, or on something like his inability to motivate the players. I'm definitely not prepared to say that he coaches a "boring" game of hockey per se, because I recall being fairly satisfied by the on-ice product during the periods of time that the team was doing well, including during the Anaheim series last year. During that series, there were long stretches where the Flames were taking it to the Ducks and playing hockey that was many multitudes more exciting than anything Brent Sutter ever managed, yet poor goaltending ultimately sold us completely down the creek.

That said, it's completely true to say that regardless of whether or not the hockey is boring or not, or whether the system is sound or not, the results currently aren't there. I don't have my Gulutzan pitchfork out just yet and am still waiting to see if the team's going to round a corner somewhat soon, but it certainly must be true that the ice he's skating around on is getting thinner as time goes by. I hope it does start to get on the right track, because the flashes we've seen from the team when they do well are those of a squad that's confident, effective, and structured (as opposed to, say, the pond hockey of the Hartley era).

[Manhattanboy]

I don't want to burn another year of our (top) player contracts waiting for things to work themselves out only to see us miss the playoffs or exit early. This team has the required talent and is built for a playoff run now. But the systems are not working in any zones. The special teams are awful.

Let's fix this now. Fire the coaching staff and bring in a new strategy before the season is lost.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

I don't want to burn another year of our (top) player contracts waiting for this to work itself out only to see us miss the playoffs or exit early. This team has the required talent and is built for a playoff run now. But the systems are not working in any zones. The special teams are awful.

Let's fix this now. Fire the coaching staff and bring in a new strategy before the season is lost.

How do we really know it’s the system and not the players? And do you think that it would take less time for this group to learn another new system than it would to make this one work? (which is something they showed is possible based on the end of last year).

I get the nervousness, but our record is okay, we’ve played some good games and some bad, and the players have shown they can work with this system and play dominant hockey within it. I just don’t see what firing the coaching staff accomplished that patience does not.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Personally, I supported him last year, and I believe in being patient. And that patience paid off because they adjusted and eventually started playing well - very well at times.

What is frustrating me this year, and causing me to lose my patience, is the fact that the same issues are plaguing the team this year. There is absolutely no reason why a team should be having trouble with a system during the second year of the coach's tenure.

Also, even when they started playing well last year, there were things that were still somewhat concerning. The passiveness, and the lack of adjustments, were always things that worried me. However, I was willing to take a wait and see.

I'm waiting. I'm not sure that I'm seeing.

And the real concern is that the team is talented. The time is now.

Oh, and one more thing... a team should never have to adjust their skill sets and talent to fit the system. The system should be able to adjust to the type of team.

When the vast majority of your players are underperforming, there is either a massive mis-valuation of talent, or there is a problem with the system. Which seems more likely?

I think this is an excellent assessment of what ails the team. Some may be on the players but if the coach is not utilizing them properly they are not going to be able to perform individually, or as a unit.

I think GG is a good coach but he lacks the experience to be able to sustain positive building blocks and once he starts tinkering that has a ripple effect on the players.

[Manhattanboy]

Oh and re Cameron. Can anyone remember a time when the team desperately needed a power play goal and the PP delivered? This year? Last year? Playoffs? Didn't think so. But giving up power play goals at the worst possible time seems to be part of the Flames DNA. I never liked him.

[killer_carlson]

For as much grief that GG is getting for not making in game adjustments, we are now at yet another season where our GM fails to make in season adjustments.

He's great against a deadline, but Treliving struggles in October and November.

[Darkknight]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

For as much grief that GG is getting for not making in game adjustments, we are now at yet another season where our GM fails to make in season adjustments.

He's great against a deadline, but Treliving struggles in October and November.

What exactly are you looking for him to do at the moment?

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

For as much grief that GG is getting for not making in game adjustments, we are now at yet another season where our GM fails to make in season adjustments.

He's great against a deadline, but Treliving struggles in October and November.

I honestly have no idea what this means. What do you want the GM to do 10 games in? We’ve traded all our picks to assemble this team. It is what it is.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

For as much grief that GG is getting for not making in game adjustments, we are now at yet another season where our GM fails to make in season adjustments.

He's great against a deadline, but Treliving struggles in October and November.

What GM's "excel" in October and November? How many major moves have been made 10 games into a season in NHL history? Weird take.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by Darkknight

What exactly are you looking for him to do at the moment?

Calling up some players to start would be nice. Mangiapanne ripping up the AHL while Glass and Stajan are in the lineup. Don't wait until the 45 year old gets injured before you call up your best prospect. There are a lot of things the GM could be doing.

[Darkknight]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Calling up some players to start would be nice. Mangiapanne ripping up the AHL while Glass and Stajan are in the lineup. Don't wait until the 45 year old gets injured before you call up your best prospect. There are a lot of things the GM could be doing.

So playing an undersized Mangiapane, and Jankowski on your fourth line, with almost exclusively defensive zone starts is what is ailing this team? If only Tre could see the light and realize it's our fourth line not providing that offensive punch that the rest of the league's fourth lines are bringing. Glass and Stajan are getting the ice time they are because unlike Bennett and Jankowski last game they aren't a complete disaster in their own end. Say what you will about Glass not being the most skilled but at least he gets in on the forecheck and does the job he's asked to do. Dube would have been a better fit for that role, but going back to junior and the wjc made more sense for his development. Every team has role players, you can't just try and stack a team with skilled guys because it doesn't work. Ask the Oilers.