The trials and tribulations of Glen Gulutzan

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

What makes you think this?

I actually think the opposite, actually. Treliving has been preaching puck possession (and said as much in playing a part in his decision to let Hartley go), as well as becoming a better defensive team. He has also stated on more than one occasion that this team needs to get bigger, but adding the caveat that it needs to come with speed and skill as well.

Now, I don't know if Treliving knows Sutter, or if Sutter would ever want to come back to Calgary, etc., but it seems that he is a Treliving-like hire. I also think that he fits with Burke's philosophies as well.

Would the Flames pony up the dough to pay him? Sutter signed a (rumored) 2 year deal paying him in excess of 3 million a season.

Either way, if Gulutzan ends up being relieved at some point this season or the upcoming off-season, that means that the Flames aren't doing well. If that really ends up being the case, I would hope that they get a veteran coach who has experience in winning and has a strong track record. If the Flames are intent on being an elite team, go out and get an elite coach that fits the team.

No more Don Hays and Greg Gilberts. I am not saying Gulutzan is in that company, but he isn't an experienced NHL coach with any sort of previous success.

Not sure if Sutters style is that much about speed, but I think in any case he'd be an excellent "quick turnaround" type of coach; very experienced, would have immediate respect (recent cup wins will do that), good motivator in the short term.

Btw, I really can't see the Flames getting rid of Gulutzan midseason. It doesn't seem like Trelivings style at all, and it's been extremely rare for the Flames organization in general.

[Backlunds_socks]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Everyone beat the Oilers in those days...Glen has a win in Anaheim

so what? seriously its 2 points

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Everyone beat the Oilers in those days...Glen Smith has a win in Anaheim

GG couldn't win there until he got Smith either.

[868904]

It's interesting listening to Vancouver sports radio over the past few years and this season, the parallels of GG and Willie Desjardins. They are both extremely stubborn to their system and their weakness is an inability to make in-game adjustments.

Assistant coaches probably take a lot and learn from their head coaches, but Desjardin probably isn't the best coach for GG to emulate.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Itse

Not sure if Sutters style is that much about speed, but I think in any case he'd be an excellent "quick turnaround" type of coach; very experienced, would have immediate respect (recent cup wins will do that), good motivator in the short term.

Btw, I really can't see the Flames getting rid of Gulutzan midseason. It doesn't seem like Trelivings style at all, and it's been extremely rare for the Flames organization in general.

Well then, hope the Islanders enjoy those picks. Should be good'uns. (For the record, I agree it doesn't fit Treliving's MO, which in this case I think will hurt the team)

I've lost any and all hope that Gulutzan is the guy to get this group out of mediocrity. Guy is just not good at managing his bench and getting the most out of his players. Someone said it before but his choices come off as OCD, not brilliant strategy.

[IrishSpring2013]

Originally Posted by Beninho

Under Hartley this team beat down its rivals, under GG we have lost every game to the Oilers and have a .500 record vs a bum Canucks team. That's unacceptable.

under Bob.. The team made the playoffs once.. One time.. In four seasons..

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by IrishSpring2013

under Bob.. The team made the playoffs once.. One time.. In four seasons..

Context. The team he inherited from Brent had to be blown up - 0 playoffs in 3 seasons, if I am not mistaken. They blew it up and he made the playoffs earlier than expected.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

What makes you think this?

I actually think the opposite, actually. Treliving has been preaching puck possession (and said as much in playing a part in his decision to let Hartley go), as well as becoming a better defensive team. He has also stated on more than one occasion that this team needs to get bigger, but adding the caveat that it needs to come with speed and skill as well.

Now, I don't know if Treliving knows Sutter, or if Sutter would ever want to come back to Calgary, etc., but it seems that he is a Treliving-like hire. I also think that he fits with Burke's philosophies as well.

Would the Flames pony up the dough to pay him? Sutter signed a (rumored) 2 year deal paying him in excess of 3 million a season.

Either way, if Gulutzan ends up being relieved at some point this season or the upcoming off-season, that means that the Flames aren't doing well. If that really ends up being the case, I would hope that they get a veteran coach who has experience in winning and has a strong track record. If the Flames are intent on being an elite team, go out and get an elite coach that fits the team.

No more Don Hays and Greg Gilberts. I am not saying Gulutzan is in that company, but he isn't an experienced NHL coach with any sort of previous success.

My worry is that we wait too long and a guy like Sutter ends up somewhere else. Wouldn't be in the Flames best interest to be searching if only average - non suitable coaches are available. If I recall correctly Sutter himself has said he still wants to coach and is willing to coach a younger team. Would rather get him before....!

[MisterJoji]

The team is still in a better position than at this time last year. Would I prefer to be leading the division? Of course. But the last few games, including last nights loss, they have looked a lot better. It’s still early. Does anyone really expect that Chicago, Washington, Anaheim, etc. to be non-playoff teams? And Vegas and Vancouver will be playoff teams? If not for Markstrom playing like Hasek we’d be on a 4 game win streak.

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

My worry is that we wait too long and a guy like Sutter ends up somewhere else. Wouldn't be in the Flames best interest to be searching if only average - non suitable coaches are available. If I recall correctly Sutter himself has said he still wants to coach and is willing to coach a younger team. Would rather get him before....!

When did he say this?

[Backlunds_socks]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

When did he say this?

https://www.nhl.com/news/former-king...ew/c-289131574

Sutter, 58, said he'd be willing to go to a rebuilding team "if I have comfort with the situation," or to a contender.

[stone hands]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Context. The team he inherited from Brent had to be blown up - 0 playoffs in 3 seasons, if I am not mistaken. They blew it up and he made the playoffs earlier than expected.

Then we got Matthew Tkachuk because he didn't get 11 miraculous come from behind victories

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

When did he say this?

I will look for it but I do remember reading it after he left LA. Give a bit of time and I will see if I can find the quotes.

NM Backlund__Socks covered it!

[curves2000]

I haven't been a G.G fan at all since day #1. I hated the fact that we iced a strange pre-season line up last year and than when it came to game #1 vs Edmonton, we all of a sudden had pairings on the D that hadn't played much together in the pre-season.

I am also NOT a fan of breaking up Gio/Brodie as I know that Brodie has mentioned in interviews that he prefers to play his off-side. I understand the need to increase your depth on D by having guys like Gio and Brodie on different pairings but that doesn't mean its working better.

I recall last year when our PP was pretty much near the bottom of the league and G.G refused to put out Frolik, who happened to be the #1 goal scorer the team had at the time. It got to the insanity point where I truly believe a call from higher up (management/ownership) was made to get Frolik playing on the PP. I am 100% sure there was a reason in either Glen's or Cameron's mind as to why Frolik should be spending more time on the PK but I think logically the decision was made for them.

I have no doubt in my mind that a coach like Glen is better suited for young players of today, communicates better with the players, will listen to their concerns for days off, less practice days if need be etc.

I do think that he is getting out coached from a pure tactical perspective and a serious stubbornness to such as line combos, moving players up and down the line up to get them going etc will be his downfall.

This is a VERY important season for the Flames and for Flames fans and this is where we will see what type of coach Glen really is. This is a team that has far superior talent to what Hartley had and management has made a big push the last 2-3 years to get this team to the next step. The BS meter that was last years 4-0 sweep to the Ducks isn't going to fly this year. The "It was closer than the record indicates" won't fly, teams don't accidentally win a playoff round. Admit you got schooled and figure out a way to get to the next step!

Another wasted off-season this year means another
1) Year that Gio gets older, he turns 35 next year
2) Year where players like Brodie, who's contract starts with a 4, won't start with a 4 again. The same argument can be had for key players like Hammonic, Backlund and Tkachuk etc.

3)Another year where the rumored move of a player like Johnny MIGHT want to go closer to home.

The fact that we have sent away a few 1st rounders for some players, traded 2nd rounders for goalies who haven't panned out and given up on plenty of 1st and 2nd rounders means that our prospect poll isn't as stocked as some fans think.

If we are all being honest here we have a situation where a lot of our prospects in the AHL haven't had the upwards pressure to make the team but we have plenty of players on the big club who are either overpaid for their roles, aren't capable NHL caliber players anymore or are boarderline in and out of the line up. Don't forget that signing a 45 year old Jagr to bring in scoring sounds amazing but also points to issues with roster and prospect troubles.

The playoffs, if we make it there, will be a VERY strong indicator as to who's constructed and coached a team to win or who's playing with fan's emotions with never ending BS to keep the revenue boat afloat.

My $.02

[Red]

Gulutzan seems to lack the feel for the game. Sometimes guys are going and sometimes they are not, good coaches can see that and adjust during the game. For most part he doesn't seem to see it or care about it.

Sutter was great at recognizing where the player's heads were at. He was always exploring oppositions players at warm ups. He would then try and exploit their weaknesses.

He also had a plan for each player as an individual rather than a Left Dman assignment is this or a Centre assignment is that etc. He created and managed one on one battles, challenged players to win their "assignments". Who can forget the beating that Brent Sopel took during the 04 run? By game 4 he had his head on a swivel and was coughing up pucks left right and centre. That was no accident. Sutter saw Sopel as an easy target and exploited it.

Gulutzan seems to just roll his lines on auto pilot. He doesn't bring any insights to the game. Perhaps a great X and O guy and statistician, but without recognizing who is on and who is off on each night this team has no chance in the playoffs. He will roll the 4 lines right out to the golf course.

Zero confidence for this coach. The team is winning here and there, but I think it's despite of him rather than because of him.

Just my opinion as a fan, for all we know the system is great, but the players are not buying in.

[Domoic]

Fact: the Flames are a below average team.

The question is why?

Players? Not with so many top guys on the front and back ends.

Goalie? Our MVP.

Coaching? Only thing left.

It is painfully obvious.

Take out the win streak of last year and the cumulative body of work of GG is embarrassingly bad.

Firing GG has no downside.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Domoic

Fact: the Flames are a below average team.

The question is why?

Players? Not with so many top guys on the front and back ends.

Goalie? Our MVP.

Coaching? Only thing left.

It is painfully obvious.

Take out the win streak of last year and the cumulative body of work of GG is embarrassingly bad.

Firing GG has no downside.

The only worry I have is do they fire just GG or the whole coaching staff. If they fire just GG, I would assume that Cameron become the head coach. That IMO would not solve the problem. They need to completely clean house, but who is out there that can come in and right the ship?

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by Domoic

Fact: the Flames are a below average team.

The question is why?

Players? Not with so many top guys on the front and back ends.

Goalie? Our MVP.

Coaching? Only thing left.

It is painfully obvious.

Take out the win streak of last year and the cumulative body of work of GG is embarrassingly bad.

Firing GG has no downside.

Totally. If you remove all the good things, the only things GG has done are bad.

[Wyguy]

As much as I dislike GG and how he frustrates me for no reason what so ever. I do not think it would be a good idea to get rid of him this season. My reasoning is that we don't have our first rounder, so we already aren't in a playoff spot, with a coaching change, it may be enough loses to keep us out of one all season. So I'd rather make the playoffs with GG, which shouldn't be too hard with this squad, win a series and then drop.

Then bring in a brand new coach.

That being said, if GG learns how to actually be a coach in his time being gifted to him, and he can win a series and maybe two, then we reevaluate.
A good first step would be after the trade deadline bring up some players from the A if they are still on fire.

[Manhattanboy]

If management is losing confidence in GG then make the change now. Irritating that after all the work that was done in renewing our top player contracts we might well burn a year without much to show for it.