What are your thoughts on Glen Gulutzan's system?

[Clarkey]

I'm sick of hearing the argument that the player's are professionals being paid millions and that they shouldn't need a coach to motivate them.

Going by that logic, they should know how to play hockey and shouldn't need a bench jockey to feed them a flakey system.

The coach's number one job is to get the most out of the players and motivate them. These guys know how to play hockey way better than AHL Glen. He needs to kick them in the arse and invoke the wrath of fear (and pride) in them so they go play their arse's off and damn well come prepared to play a game (likewise for Captain Gio).

Any success they've had is despite of Glennifer not because of him!

Losing to Edmonton in such a pu$$y fashion 4 times in a row is inexcusable, short of a winning streak starting next game I'm looking forward to next season already. Even if they make the playoffs this puss-bag team is not going anywhere at this point.

Glen had one job, get his team pumped up and ready to compete for the biggest rival and he failed 4 times in a row. Are we sure he's even from Saskatchewan?

[Coach]

I wish Gulutzan would recognize when his goalie is fatiguing and switch them accordingly. Johnson had been bleh for 2-3 games, with a really weak glove side. Is this not why we have two very good goaltenders?

The lack of trust in Elliott ticks me off. He's a good goaltender, I don't see a need to force Johnson.

[Dion]

This system does work and we've seen it at times this season. Player inconsistancy and blatant bad turnovers in our own end have been our worst enemy.

I do have to wonder if our leaders are not being vocal enough in the dressing room. We've had this bad habit of late in giving up the first goal and having poor starts.

[madmike]

The recent struggles aren't really system-based. They're based on lousy goaltending.

I don't buy fatigue as a factor. The Flames just have below average goaltenders. That's on the GM more than the coach.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by ricosuave

Including a god-damned decent goalie coach

Someone who can fix our goaltenders when their play goes sour. Especially with Johnson whose play of late has been terrible. Never was a fan of Sigilet.

[Wiggum_PI]

Calgary Flames ‏@NHLFlames 16m16 minutes ago
"I think we need to relook at everything. I think how we play without a lead is at the top of the list." - Glen Gulutzan

[Clarkey]

Spreadsheet Glen, aka Glen "the Process" Gulutzan

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Wiggum_PI

Calgary Flames ‏@NHLFlames 16m16 minutes ago
"I think we need to relook at everything. I think how we play without a lead is at the top of the list." - Glen Gulutzan

I can't even remember what's it's like when the Flames are playing with the lead.
Were they usually good?

Maybe the Flames should focus on gaining leads in the first place, rather than playing from behind.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by Dion

This system does work and we've seen it at times this season. Player inconsistancy and blatant bad turnovers in our own end have been our worst enemy.

I do have to wonder if our leaders are not being vocal enough in the dressing room. We've had this bad habit of late in giving up the first goal and having poor starts.

Why does a player turn a puck over? Because passes or skating options are not clear. This is how you force them too.

I disagree that the success prove the system works. The Flames were successful when their special teams were hot. That's it. This same system is otherwise incapable of scoring and finding openings, as well as subject to pressure. Also, you can make a case that the players found succes despite being handicapped by a poor system. But coaches also tighten up habit in order to get buy-in.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Dion

This system does work and we've seen it at times this season. Player inconsistancy and blatant bad turnovers in our own end have been our worst enemy.

I do have to wonder if our leaders are not being vocal enough in the dressing room. We've had this bad habit of late in giving up the first goal* and having poor starts.

* first 4 goals

Good news is that after spotting the opponent 4, they have outscored them

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Dion

This system does work and we've seen it at times this season. Player inconsistancy and blatant bad turnovers in our own end have been our worst enemy.

Aren't those issues with the system though?
Maybe the system is difficult to play inconsistently and leads to too many turnovers.
We can't say the system is working when things are good, and say just say these things are not system related when they're negative.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Racki

It gives me great concern that he has presided over the regression of our five most significant players. Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, Mark Giordano, TJ Brodie and Sam Bennett have all taken massive steps backwards under Gulutzan.

Agreed.

GG he seems to be a systems coach but doesn't seem to know how to complement the players strengths. Having Johnny adjust to Chiasson all season isn't going to help Johnny gain any confidence or to play at the top of his game. So instead of Johnny reaching for new goals at the top of the league he is stuck trying to figure out where the heck he fits. Same goes for the defensive pairings why deviate from what works and start trying different things when we need to be winning hockey games in a very difficult NHL. Why not fix whats broken and leave what works?? The same goes for Bennett we could have put him on the wing for certain games and back at center for stretches or during good match ups where he could slowly gain confidence and learn the trade. Instead we have a Sam Bennett who is confused and seems lost and trying to figure out where all his strengths went; To top it off the blame for his inconsistent play falls squarely on his shoulders. The coaches and BT have put some blame on the fact that Bennett is only 20 but maybe they should be taking some of the blame too. Just maybe this coaching team does some things well but doesn't have the required experience apply all the elements that get a team winning consistently.

The team lacks an identity they had it for a short stretch but then it was forgotten, something you never see with "Darryl Sutter teams. He is one coach who understands what it takes to win. Darryl makes a point of reminding the players what their identity is, he rarely accepts excuses for low level play and he makes sure the "team identity" is instilled every game to the point that players came to the rink with very high and driven expectations. The current Flames make excuses, their efforts are inconsistent, the coaches are reluctant to fix a problem until they lose a stretch of games. How can this team have any consistency when the same problems are part of the solution? GG please bring up someone up from the farm for a look and see who might have some consistency on the top line; At least do for a look and see instead of waiting until next season to see if anyone fits after the season has already started.

[MisterJoji]

Gerard Gallant still available?

[Igottago]

Gulutzan is the best assistant coach in the league. Unfortunately the Flames need a good head coach.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

I'm still not quite sure what it is to be honest.

[Moneyhands23]

I still hate GG. Cant fire him soon enough for my liking.

[Lanny_McDonald]

When your best players all take a step backward, its on the coach. Didn't like the hiring out of the gate, hated how he didn't use training camp to prepare the team, and hate that the team seldom looks prepared to play a game. He's done. Time to move on.

[Machiavelli]

A walk down memory lane (November 2016)

Patrick Kane made that painfully clear recently when he casually suggested, “you never know what you’re going to get from the Flames.”

For a new coach trying to establish a different system and mindset, the comment cut to the core.

“I think we’re still trying to figure that out,” said Gaudreau when asked what his club’s identity was.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/f...identity-late/

I still don't quite know what this team is trying to be. They played really well for a stretch, and I thought maybe they had things figured out. Guess not.

[Ozy_Flame]

Flames seem to have lost their spark. Not sure if it's Gulutzan's system, but if he's taking the olive branch approach to player diplomacy relative to Hartley's style, it's not having a significant net positive effect. Some of our premier players are just playing soft as butter right now, and there is nothing correcting this until far too late in the game when they realize another L is teetering on the horizon. No one is protecting Gaudreau, Ferland looks like an uncoordinated donkey, Brodie is makes more turnovers than both my grandmas, and they don't seem to learn lessons. It's embarrassing out there.

[DazzlinDino]

When they talked about identity the Flames played like a team pissed off for a few games to a man and were aggressive and winning games. Then after that stretch they "stopped" it was like they forgot they had an identity overnight. At the time they were winning people were talking how they were beating Chicago, ANA, the Bluejackets. The team has no consistency and the coaches won't fix the obvious problems leaving the first line to figure itself out. If you want to win games you have to give your young talented guys the tools to succeed, you have to give them confidence you have to build them up get them feeling it. Instead they get blamed for being too young when its up to the coaches to give them the motivation and the tools. They have the talent, Bennett has proven he can score in this league, Johnny showed as a rookie he could take it to elite levels that had people jumping out of their seats. Where is Johnny now? Why is he getting pushed around? Why is there no team identity, the team won't even stick up for each other or it's prized team-mates. They have no identity the coaches obviously don't know how to teach it consistently. When Hudler, Johnny Monahan played together they had fun they were exciting to watch they were our top line which has been non existent under GG's system. You can have a large army and still lose if you don't know how to motivate your troops or give them the tools to get the job done. A good system is useless if the players are not feeling it and not able to use their talents.