The trials and tribulations of Glen Gulutzan

[Racki]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Are there any real pro-Gulutzan folks left?

Id be curious what the ratio is as we get to the trade deadline

Ya, probably not many but still some that get defensive for him and point to the improved possession stats.

[The Boy Wonder]

I think the issue with this staff is certainly the rigid game plan and the (mostly) rigid personnel in their roles.

the biggest thing for me though is that under another coaching staff I think like they did under Hartley, the top players are still gonna get their points JG Mony Gio Chuckie and Hamilton will all get theirs and be fine regardless of who is coaching this team.

The real difference will be a coach who can either protect or exploit using the bottom 9 forwards on this team, know how to play each line and or players to their best

Ie: should Bennett be playing crash and bang? Probably should let one of the fastest and most skilled guys be fast and skilled. Without getting into everything else wrong with his game, Should brodie be allowed to skate the puck out beyond centre ice? Maybe let a creative guy like that create? Should he be moved back to his more natural side? Maybe trade stone?

As a packers fan I've watched for years now how don capers ran a super complicated defensive scheme, it was very hard for the players to just focus on playing because they were too busy thinking about where they had to be, who they had to cover if a certain type of play was run, etc. And they suffered for it.

This team is a little like that. They are still too busy adjusting and worrying about what and where they need to be in GGs system that they often just freeze up and lose their reaction time.

Would love to see either JQ or AV come in here and I think they would really help this group

[kukkudo]

Remember when nobody wanted a washed up Randy Carlyle. The Ducks had so many key injuries to start the season and somehow they are now ahead of us.

[Racki]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

Remember when nobody wanted a washed up Randy Carlyle. The Ducks had so many key injuries to start the season and somehow they are now ahead of us.

Yup, much of it based on his historically bad Corsi numbers. That was very much part of it wasn't it? He had lousy possession statistics. His team plays hard though. Maybe that's personnel though, who knows anymore?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Are there any real pro-Gulutzan folks left?

Id be curious what the ratio is as we get to the trade deadline

I am not pro-GG. I dont think he's an exceptional coach. I don't much care if he stays or goes. I do sound like a defender sometimes because I disagree with some of the things that are laid at his feet that aren't down to him, or are simply not true. It's more a criticism of the post than a general defence of the guy.

The thing is, I don't see the Flames playing much differently now than in their winning streak. And, in fact, the power play looks better now than it did then.

For me, it comes down to whether there's an upgrade available. Unless Sutter is willing, I don't see one right now. The off-season is another story. If NYR or Chicago make changes I'd be all over that.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

Remember when nobody wanted a washed up Randy Carlyle. The Ducks had so many key injuries to start the season and somehow they are now ahead of us.

Originally Posted by Racki

Yup, much of it based on his historically bad Corsi numbers. That was very much part of it wasn't it? He had lousy possession statistics. His team plays hard though. Maybe that's personnel though, who knows anymore?

Most of it was based in not wanting a retread.

[Monahammer]

Please Darryl, descend from Hockey Heaven and deliver us to the stanley cup playoffs once more!

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Kovaz

If you have to be a "forward like Gaudreau" to create offense in our system, that's exactly the problem. Vegas skates hard, sure, but the way they play generates so much more speed than we do. As soon as they get the puck they've got at least 2 players making a beeline down the ice, and the puck is getting fired up there with them immediately. Meanwhile we're reversing the puck behind our own net 5 times until the other team makes a line change.

What exactly is the way we play? Can anyone tell me the biggest difference between all the teams in the playoffs and us? It's not like we're curling out there while everyone is playing hockey. Last I checked, all teams try to deny entry at the blue line in some way or another, last I checked all teams deploy some form of a forecheck, last I checked all teams play man to man on defense rather than zone and last I checked, every team wants to score goals. All teams play very similar brands of hockey today. It's a copy cat league and everyone follows the ways of the winners.

The biggest variable is the speed in which you are able to do all these things. If you can gain even the slightest advantage, you have a much higher chance of winning. For example, I remember in the 1st period yesterday, a Vegas skater tracked a Flames puck carrier down who entered the zone and then stick lifted and stripped him, turnover ensued and Vegas went on to score 15 seconds right after. It'd bee nice if we had some quicker forwards who could defend like that. But nope, we zero burners on our team. Gaudreau is one of the few guys quick enough to track guys down and stick lift, but he's usually the last one out of the offensize zone.

Lastly, when I say a player like Gaudreau. I'm not saying we need another top 5 scoring forward, what I'm saying is we need a speedy player with some actual playmaking skills and the ability to create his own shot. How many players on this team have the ability to do that? Monahan barely has the ability to create his own shot, he and even Ferland usually rely on Gaudreau to create the play and to find them open for a shot. If say we had drafted Nikolai Ehlers or William Nylander instead of Sam Bennett, we'd have that player.

[kyuss275]

I've been sticking up for GG for a lot of the season but I must admit I was wrong . He needs to go at end of season . That said it's not just him. To many complacent players on this team.

[cannon7]

Originally Posted by Itse

While I've been in the "fire Gulutzan" camp a while now, it's way too early to start calling for Trelivongs head. Sure he's made mistakes, but I have faith in his ability to learn from them, and there are definitely things he's good at.

Treliving hired this buffoon. Then sat on it for 140 games and counting. Can't be trusted with the next hire.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by BruceCody

Vegas haven't one, +15 standings points

They actually have several players that are similar to Gaudreau. Guys like Marchessault who is above a ppg, Perron is also above ppg, Reilly Smith and Erik Haula are close, William Karlsson is already at 30 goals and then you have a historically good sniper like James Neal to round out their top 6. That basically have 2 - 1st lines and we don't.

How badly did William Karlsson make Monahan look yesterday on that breakaway he had? If we had more forwards with some speed like Gaudreau does, we'd be in better shape is what I'm saying. We have one guy, maybe 2 with Tkachuk who can consistently create plays and create their own shot whereas Vegas and other elite teams have plenty.

[Monahan For Mayor]

I don't think our system allows us to use our speed. We sit back in the d zone trying to set up the 5 man breakout. The teams that scorch us dont wait for that they breakout with stretch passes or the d will just fly it in himself. We have the personnel to do this as good as any team in the league, however the dumb coach doesn't play the team that way. We need a coach who is going to play to our strengths. We also need to create and identity. The only thing I can identify our play with under Gukutzan is "boring".

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Kovaz

Meanwhile we're reversing the puck behind our own net 5 times until the other team makes a line change.

This drives me nuts, what is the team trying to do exactly?

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by zamler

This drives me nuts, what is the team trying to do exactly?

They are coached to break out in a 5 man unit. Which makes our breakouts extremely slow.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

Remember when nobody wanted a washed up Randy Carlyle. The Ducks had so many key injuries to start the season and somehow they are now ahead of us.

[kukkudo]

Watching last nights game, have to think if Flames played the Vegas system we would probably have 1 60point Dman and 2 50 point dmen.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

Watching last nights game, have to think if Flames played the Vegas system we would probably have 1 60point Dman and 2 50 point dmen.

Amen.
At what point can we all agree this is without a doubt 100% on the coaching which is 100% on the GM.

Christ, at this rate I'd hold a lottery to allow any of the hundred armchair GM's on CP take a crack at coaching for a day, I can almost guarantee a couple wins solely on switching up the lines alone.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

They actually have several players that are similar to Gaudreau. Guys like Marchessault who is above a ppg, Perron is also above ppg, Reilly Smith and Erik Haula are close, William Karlsson is already at 30 goals and then you have a historically good sniper like James Neal to round out their top 6. That basically have 2 - 1st lines and we don't.

How badly did William Karlsson make Monahan look yesterday on that breakaway he had? If we had more forwards with some speed like Gaudreau does, we'd be in better shape is what I'm saying. We have one guy, maybe 2 with Tkachuk who can consistently create plays and create their own shot whereas Vegas and other elite teams have plenty.

When you find yourself saying Perron is similar to Gaudreau, that's when it's time to stop, and re-evaluate your position.

The Knights don't have any Gaudreaus. The Flames don't need more Gaudreaus in order to score (though obviously that would be nice).

The Flames aren't the slowest team in the league. They PLAY slow. You post and post and post in an attempt to defend the coaching staff, but in order to do so, you have to to resort to things like 'they have several players similar to Gaudreau'.

You know what's hard? Re-evaluating your position, and being open to facts that don't jive with your current view.

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

They actually have several players that are similar to Gaudreau. Guys like Marchessault who is above a ppg, Perron is also above ppg, Reilly Smith and Erik Haula are close, William Karlsson is already at 30 goals and then you have a historically good sniper like James Neal to round out their top 6. That basically have 2 - 1st lines and we don't.

How badly did William Karlsson make Monahan look yesterday on that breakaway he had? If we had more forwards with some speed like Gaudreau does, we'd be in better shape is what I'm saying. We have one guy, maybe 2 with Tkachuk who can consistently create plays and create their own shot whereas Vegas and other elite teams have plenty.

No they don't lol.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

While everyone blames the coach, I’ll be blaming the speed of this team. We’ve been beaten soundly by the fastest teams in the league as of late. Boston swarmed us and suffocated us with their speed and forcheck and now Vegas is doing the same thing but it’s even worse today. Is there any coincidence that they’re also the 2 best teams in the league? Not surprising at all.

This team simply can’t keep up. Too many slow players on this team. I mean how badly did Vegas’ #1 center make our #1 center Monahan look on that 1st period breakaway. Hope Treliving and Burke got a good view of how good teams are built in today’s NHL. It’s not truculence that wins you games, it’s speed and skill.

People keep making this argument. Here's the thing: when the Flames are skating, they DO keep up with the fastest teams. They skated with Tampa. They skated with Pittsburgh. They skated with Washington. Etc.

The problem with the "the Flames are slow" argument, is that sometimes they are not.

If your team is slow. It's slow. It can't be fast sometimes. But the Flames are fast sometimes.

The problem with the Flames' team speed is that they play slow. And the reason that they got skated into the ground by Boston and Vegas, is that they play FAST. They pressure everywhere. And they always push up ice.

The Flames don't. They play a careful, slow, methodical, and passive style.

When they don't, when they are behind in the 3rd and they press, we see their speed. When they push the play forward, we see their speed. And they can be dominant. They just don't do it all the time. And they rarely do it in the 1st period. Because they start careful (which is their gameplan).

This is so blatantly obvious when we watch them play that I cannot believe we are still debating it.