Who should replace Ryan Huska as Flames Head Coach?

[P-bobby]

At what point do we start acknowledging that this might be more about the system than just a lack of player skill?

I don’t agree with the idea that this group simply isn’t talented enough to generate offense. The issue seems to be structural. The system limits transition speed, discourages controlled zone entries, and funnels play toward low-percentage perimeter shots.

A good example was the sequence against Chicago where Backlund and Honzek had a clean two-on-two rush. Instead of attacking with possession, the puck was dumped in and chased. That’s a system read, not a lack of ability.

Until the Flames allow their forwards to carry the puck with pace and encourage more creative decision-making off the rush, they’ll continue to struggle to create high-danger scoring chances regardless of who’s on the roster.

[dissentowner]

I mean I have been trying to tell people...

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by P-bobby

At what point do we start acknowledging that this might be more about the system than just a lack of player skill?

I don’t agree with the idea that this group simply isn’t talented enough to generate offense. The issue seems to be structural. The system limits transition speed, discourages controlled zone entries, and funnels play toward low-percentage perimeter shots.

A good example was the sequence against Chicago where Backlund and Honzek had a clean two-on-two rush. Instead of attacking with possession, the puck was dumped in and chased. That’s a system read, not a lack of ability.

Until the Flames allow their forwards to carry the puck with pace and encourage more creative decision-making off the rush, they’ll continue to struggle to create high-danger scoring chances regardless of who’s on the roster.

Last night they had lots of close in chances. They didnt score. That was about skill, not systems.

In your Chicago example, where were the players in the shift? Beginning, middle or end? And was it a PK? Sounds unlikely that they'd dump it any other time.

[P-bobby]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Last night they had lots of close in chances. They didnt score. That was about skill, not systems.

In your Chicago example, where were the players in the shift? Beginning, middle or end? And was it a PK? Sounds unlikely that they'd dump it any other time.

The Wild clearly out-chanced the Flames, even though the shots were 36–19. Shot totals mean very little when most of them come from the perimeter and not from high-danger areas.

And sure, I can’t prove that specific example wasn’t early in the shift, but from what I saw, it definitely wasn’t during a penalty kill or a tired line change. It was a system decision, not a situational one.

[ST20]

Originally Posted by P-bobby

At what point do we start acknowledging that this might be more about the system than just a lack of player skill?

I don’t agree with the idea that this group simply isn’t talented enough to generate offense. The issue seems to be structural. The system limits transition speed, discourages controlled zone entries, and funnels play toward low-percentage perimeter shots.

There’s definitely a lack of talent that contributes but I agree about the system. People like to point to the flames having no first line talent but the Year 1/ early Vegas teams were full of second and third liners by design of the expansion draft and had zero first line talent. Through their system and by giving these young players stuck on other teams opportunity they were able to score quite a bit and also developed young players for trade later.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Last night they had lots of close in chances. They didnt score. That was about skill, not systems.

In your Chicago example, where were the players in the shift? Beginning, middle or end? And was it a PK? Sounds unlikely that they'd dump it any other time.

We did? I counted about 3 or 4 chances. Most shots were from the perimeter with no screen which our announcers also alluded to.

[Macindoc]

How many consecutive times will the Flames be shut out before Huska is fired?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

We did? I counted about 3 or 4 chances. Most shots were from the perimeter with no screen which our announcers also alluded to.

They weren’t, look at a heat map. And of those “perimeter shots” there were a bunch of good screened ones by Weegar.

https://moneypuck.com/g.htm?id=2025020249

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

They weren’t, look at a heat map. And of those “perimeter shots” there were a bunch of good screened ones by Weegar.

https://moneypuck.com/g.htm?id=2025020249

They don't generate anything in the true home plate area though. Very little rush chances, or chances off lateral passing plays. Although a bit unfortunate the one nice passing play they did make was called off for too man men. Huberdeau breakaway probably the only true grade A otherwise.

Flames had 36 shots but 2.1 xGF that's abysmal in terms of translating volume to quality.

[scobel]

I haven't read the whole thread and I imagine others have posted this... I think we need to keep Huska. Is he the best coach, maybe not, do i think he is the one to lead to success, TBD.
Until we have a team that has more talent and is playing below expectations then i don't think you can change the coach. Calgary has a went through a lot coaches over the last few years, with the assumption they are playing below their talent level. In many cases that has not been true.
They are playing exactly as we thought they would be last year, and with no change in the roster it has be come a reality.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by P-bobby

The Wild clearly out-chanced the Flames, even though the shots were 36–19. Shot totals mean very little when most of them come from the perimeter and not from high-danger areas.

And sure, I can’t prove that specific example wasn’t early in the shift, but from what I saw, it definitely wasn’t during a penalty kill or a tired line change. It was a system decision, not a situational one.

How do you know this?

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

How do you know this?

I make up scenarios in my head and then get mad about them all the time? That's like all I do. You've never done that?

[P-bobby]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

How do you know this?

I know you disagree with my takes on Huska and the system. But this is a strange one to pull out of my post.

Of course I can’t say for certain, but it’s one of many examples we’re dump and chase is the strategy.

Do you also disagree that dump and chase is a system that Huska likes to employ?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by P-bobby

I know you disagree with my takes on Huska and the system. But this is a strange one to pull out of my post.

Of course I can’t say for certain, but it’s one of many examples we’re dump and chase is the strategy.

Do you also disagree that dump and chase is a system that Huska likes to employ?

I think suggesting that the system requires players to dump the puck in on a 2 on 2 is utter nonsense.
There may be a desire to get pucks in behind the D, and make sure you don't turn it over at the blueline, but that's pretty standard.
Players will also have the option to make a play if the play is there.

[Heavy Jack]

Don’t change the coach this year or next, tank commander in full effect and even though it’s a system that isn’t leveraging what little skill we have the majority of our losses have been hard fought battles which speaks to the team at least giving effort. It’s painful to lose and the flames have never really truly bottomed out; at the end of the day I don’t think anyone here believes that Huska is the voice that eventually leads this team towards contending but there are worse voices to have while we navigate bottoming out IMO. It’s not the worst place to be and honestly speaking, even those who want the flames not to ‘tank’, have to admit that if we were going to tank it’s better that we aren’t objectively trying to and it is in fact just happening despite our best efforts.

[P-bobby]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think suggesting that the system requires players to dump the puck in on a 2 on 2 is utter nonsense.
There may be a desire to get pucks in behind the D, and make sure you don't turn it over at the blueline, but that's pretty standard.
Players will also have the option to make a play if the play is there.

How do you know this?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

They weren’t, look at a heat map. And of those “perimeter shots” there were a bunch of good screened ones by Weegar.

https://moneypuck.com/g.htm?id=2025020249

Those heat maps seem to have little correlation to winning. Look at the Columbus and Philly games as examples.

I think it’s because they measure location of the shot but not quality in terms of time and space.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by P-bobby

How do you know this?

Because we see it happen all the time.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Last night they had lots of close in chances. They didnt score. That was about skill, not systems.

In your Chicago example, where were the players in the shift? Beginning, middle or end? And was it a PK? Sounds unlikely that they'd dump it any other time.

I don't think guys like Coronato and Yegor suddenly declined in skill.

The constant lineup juggling and over thinking things might be the problem. Huska knows best, and is playing people where they probably don't belong in the lineup. He's trying to get everyone to play a complete game, and some guys just can't. It's not how they got to the NHL and it won't keep them here despite what Huska thinks. Watching Yegor flail is a lot less fun than watching him snipe. Some guys just don't have it in them to learn a new way to play.

Farabee is not a top line winger. It doesn't matter how hard he works at it, he never will be. Coronato or Yegor might be though.

Same thing for Zary. He is a creative winger. not a checking line centre. Everyone can see it.

Put guys in the spots where they should be successful and leave them there. Bench the guys that get pushed down the lineup. Roll four lines, you don't need a knuckle dragger line.

I know this is a rebuild, but a 82 game death march to 1OA is no fun for anyone, and can't be good for the development of our potentially awesome up and comer Flames.

I'll remind everyone that rebuild Flames under Hartley was some of the funnest hockey we saw in all of the 40 years. Win or lose, they were never boring.

[SuperMatt18]

Yeah Huska's biggest issue remains his utilization of the forwards.

Huberdeau - Frost - Coronato: I've actually liked this line since it was put together. 3GF, 1GA, 63.9% xGF

Honzek - Kadri - Zary: Bit of a reimaging of Pospisil - Kadri - Zary line.

Sharangovich - Backlund - Coleman: Sharangovich has has success on this line, he's not suited for centering the 4th line.

Farabee - Kerins - Klapka: A more skilled and more talented 4th line that still has grit but can contribute offensively too.

In the end the lines can be whatever - but it's clear the team need to take Lomberg out. He's limiting the roster now and how it can be used, even if he's not the biggest problem in terms of performance.