[News] Flames not renewing contracts of Troy G. Ward & Robbie Ftorek

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by OzSome

Maybe Treliving is bring back Jim Playfair in Flames organization as the new head coach of Adirondack. They worked together in Phoenix and Playfair was actually pretty good coach in the AHL awhile ago winning a Calder Cup coaching Saint John Flames I guess or was it Salt Lake City? I can't remember now.

Why would Jim Playfair give up an NHL Asst. coach gig to go back to the AHL?

I'm not 100% sure on the career paths of coaches, but I'm pretty sure NHL Asst. Coach is a step up from AHL Head coach, no? Isn't the typical path AHL then NHL asst. then NHL head coach?

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Why would Jim Playfair give up an NHL Asst. coach gig to go back to the AHL?

I'm not 100% sure on the career paths of coaches, but I'm pretty sure NHL Asst. Coach is a step up from AHL Head coach, no? Isn't the typical path AHL then NHL asst. then NHL head coach?

I agree there is no upside in going back to coach in the NHL but Playfair is not really getting the shot to be a head man in the NHL. He did with the Flames for one season but that's it. Maybe coaching in the AHL in the East will give him more exposures. Or maybe Playfair realized that he is a career AHL HC and will never get a chance as HC in the NHL in the next few years. I am not saying he will be the new HC, i am just speculating.

[Freeway]

Like Mike/PMM, always enjoyed working with Troy. He'll land on his feet.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Why would Jim Playfair give up an NHL Asst. coach gig to go back to the AHL?

I'm not 100% sure on the career paths of coaches, but I'm pretty sure NHL Asst. Coach is a step up from AHL Head coach, no? Isn't the typical path AHL then NHL asst. then NHL head coach?

Depending on the experience level? I think Ward stated in the past that he wouldn't leave to become an assistant (though Playfair is an Associate coach IIRC).

Sad to hear Ward go. I thought he was doing a very good job developing players down there, and the proof has been in the pudding the last 2 seasons so to speak.

Excited to hear who they decide to go with. I wonder if they already have someone particular in mind and have already interviewed? I am expecting a hire shortly after the draft, if not sooner.

[FAN]

Not happy seeing Ward go. I also thought he did a good job.

About Playfair, I think he needs to go back to the AHL and win a Calder, to Europe and win a championship, or CHL and get to the Memorial Cup if he wants to be a headcoach again. Chances are he's a career NHL assistant.

[dammage79]

To be Honest, I'm not so sure Playfair is the best guy for developing these prospects. I don't mind him as a coach at all but I feel under Tippett, the skill get phased out in favor of structured defensive, boring hockey. I certainly don't think the likes of Gaudreau or Granlund or Sven will blossom under that structure.

There's certainly a better coach out there in terms of developing the offensive side as well as teaching pro defensive structure.

[Erick Estrada]

The writing was probably on the wall when Conroy was sent to oversee AHL operations for the past season as there seemed to be a disconnect between what the Flames felt was best for their prospects and what maybe what some in the Heat thought was best for the team. I don't think Ward did a bad job but he really only started leaning on prospects this season (with Conroy in charge) as past seasons he overly relied on AHL vets. For all we know it was Conroy that made this recommendation given he had a front row seat for a full season.

I'm personally not going to sweat about the organization's AHL coach as I'm sure Treliving and the AGM's have someone in mind which is fine with me as it's his right to surround himself with the people he wants to go forward. Also it probably shows that Hartley will have to prove himself all over again to his new boss as I don't think Trevliving will have any issues moving on from Hartley if he doesn't like what he sees next season.

It's possible Treliving has a guy in mind that he would like to put in the AHL with the possibility if becoming the next Flames coach. Time will tell.

[Roof-Daddy]

I imagine Ward is now gone because the two Brad's have a particular guy in mind who they believe is going to fit right into the development system they have planned for the organization.

I'm fine with that, mine as well have everybody pulling the rope in the same direction.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Yamer

Based on your own analysis and personal opinion, PMM, do you think Ward is ready and/or earned a shot to step into an assistant role at the NHL level?

On a rebuilding/young team I could see it. He's a developmental or teaching type of coach first and foremost.

[dying4acup]

I am now very interested to see if and/or how long an extension happens for Hartley. Burke made it clear he would want the new GM to address this. On the other hand it seems as though Treliving has a lot more autonomy than anybody expected.

[saXon]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

I am now very interested to see if and/or how long an extension happens for Hartley. Burke made it clear he would want the new GM to address this. On the other hand it seems as though Treliving has a lot more autonomy than anybody expected.

By definition, that's what a General Manager of an NHL hockey club does. I don't understand why anyone would think otherwise.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The writing was probably on the wall when Conroy was sent to oversee AHL operations for the past season as there seemed to be a disconnect between what the Flames felt was best for their prospects and what maybe what some in the Heat thought was best for the team. I don't think Ward did a bad job but he really only started leaning on prospects this season (with Conroy in charge) as past seasons he overly relied on AHL vets. For all we know it was Conroy that made this recommendation given he had a front row seat for a full season.

Realistically, were there prospects worthy of playing time? In Ward's first year there were hardly any Flames prospects on that team. It got better prospects wise in year 2 and 3 and at the end of the day Ward did a good job which even Burke acknowledged.

Player development is as inexact of a science as scouting and drafting players IMO. Is it going to help a player's development by giving him lots of playing time down at the farm when he's not ready? Or is it better to have your prospects be a part of a winning team. I think both are important. Prospects need playing time and not be afraid to make mistakes, at the same time they need to be in a winning culture or they will get used to losing.

[ricardodw]

I think that he lost his job on specific tasks:

1) The #1 prospect in the Flames organization, Baertschi, did not have a dramatic impact and slid back on his AHL play.

2) He had a line-up of really near NHL players going into the playoffs. They needed to win a round or 3. That was an important organizational goal for the Flames to make some noise in the AHL playoffs and they got 1 playoff win in a series that it would appear he had the much stronger roster.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Ward relies too heavily on his veterans. He played them way too much and in every situation.

Our prospects need to be put in more situations. Ward was afraid to do that.

Plus, it looks like the only season where prospects got tons of playing time was when the Flames had to babysit him. One good year out of three shouldn't justify another contract.

It should be interesting to see who Treliving brings in for Adirondack.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

I think that he lost his job on specific tasks:

1) The #1 prospect in the Flames organization, Baertschi, did not have a dramatic impact and slid back on his AHL play.

2) He had a line-up of really near NHL players going into the playoffs. They needed to win a round or 3. That was an important organizational goal for the Flames to make some noise in the AHL playoffs and they got 1 playoff win in a series that it would appear he had the much stronger roster.

I agree that the playoff failure was an organizational disappointment and couldn't have helped him with his new bosses.

But to suggest they had a much stronger roster is just flat out wrong. Grand Rapids have a deep team, the experience of winning it all last year, a great goalie (actually 2 of them), and got a bunch of players back when Detroit got eliminated.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by FAN

Realistically, were there prospects worthy of playing time? In Ward's first year there were hardly any Flames prospects on that team. It got better prospects wise in year 2 and 3 and at the end of the day Ward did a good job which even Burke acknowledged.

Player development is as inexact of a science as scouting and drafting players IMO. Is it going to help a player's development by giving him lots of playing time down at the farm when he's not ready? Or is it better to have your prospects be a part of a winning team. I think both are important. Prospects need playing time and not be afraid to make mistakes, at the same time they need to be in a winning culture or they will get used to losing.

Like I said the writing was on the wall when Conroy was dispatched to watch over the Heat. There was obvious dissatisfaction with what was going on in Abbotsford claiming otherwise is burying your head in the sand. I'm not saying Ward was a bad coach but he's not Treliving's guy and we may be having this same conversation at the end of next season if Hartley is not renewed. New management is in town and they have their own visions on what is best for this organization.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Like I said the writing was on the wall when Conroy was dispatched to watch over the Heat. There was obvious dissatisfaction with what was going on in Abbotsford claiming otherwise is burying your head in the sand.

Not so much that, but they first expended resources like Conroy to help course-correct the NHL club. Now they're focusing on the AHL team.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I agree that the playoff failure was an organizational disappointment and couldn't have helped him with his new bosses.

But to suggest they had a much stronger roster is just flat out wrong. Grand Rapids have a deep team, the experience of winning it all last year, a great goalie (actually 2 of them), and got a bunch of players back when Detroit got eliminated.

Players on the Heat that played in the NHL:

Street 13 games
Breen 9 games
Rienhart 8 games
Granlund 7 games
Knight 7 games
Hankowski 11 games
Billings 10 games
Baertschi 26 games
Ortio 9 games

Plus proven NHLer O'Brien (45 games with the Flames), Blair Jones (14) and Derek Smith (14)..

So out of the Heat's roster 12 players on the edge of being NHLers.

all had a good look at the NHL level and did not look out of place and would not be a 3 alarm surprise if they played 20 or more games in the NHL next year

Grand rapids

Near NHL list

Emmerton (18 games)
Ferraro (4)
Almquist (2)
Sproul (1)
Pulkkinen (3)
Mzarek (9)


Old NHL list:

Paetsch ( last was a NHLer in 2008-09)
Tootoo (11 games with Detroit)

The best (offensive-wise d-man on Grand rapids in their Calder cup run was Billings who was playing for the Heat).


Either the Flames have good players playing for the Heat (better than what Detroit has for Grand rapids) or the Flames are still in a heap of trouble and are at the very begging of the rebuild.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Players on the Heat that played in the NHL:



Street 13 games

Breen 9 games

Rienhart 8 games

Granlund 7 games

Knight 7 games

Hankowski 11 games

Billings 10 games

Baertschi 26 games

Ortio 9 games



Plus proven NHLer O'Brien (45 games with the Flames), Blair Jones (14) and Derek Smith (14)..



So out of the Heat's roster



all had a good look at the NHL level and did not look out of place and would not be a 3 alarm surprise if they played 20 or more games in the NHL next year



Grand rapids



Near NHL list



Emmerton (18 games)

Ferraro (4)

Almquist (2)

Sproul (1)

Pulkkinen (3)

Mzarek (9)





Old NHL list:



Paetsch ( last was a NHLer in 2008-09)

Tootoo (11 games with Detroit)



The best (offensive-wise d-man on Grand rapids in their Calder cup run was Billings who was playing for the Heat).





Either the Flames have good players playing for the Heat (better than what Detroit has for Grand rapids) or the Flames are still in a heap of trouble and are at the very begging of the rebuild.

Groundbreaking stuff right there.

[Iceman90]

Perhaps Ward is moving to the NHL?