What's wrong with the Flames?

[Itse]

This is something I've been thinking about all offseason really.

It's early of course, but I think we could be seeing the downside of "always earned never given" mantra.

Organizations where everybody is constantly worried about their job tend to underperform as a rule. It's a well studied phenomenon, and I see no reason why it wouldn't apply to hockey teams.

The constant stress wears people out mentally. It makes people stop work for themselves rather than each other. Making people compete against each other creates envy and distrust and generally is a very reliable way of souring the overall mood in a workplace.

This offseason was pretty crazy in terms of competition for spots. I feel exhausted just watching from the sidelines. It was also pretty much all that was talked about, at least publicly, that competition for spots. Not for example "finding form" or "fitting in new guys", or adjusting the way they play to a more puck-control game.

Now that the team is losing I'm sure many players are still stuck in that preseason mode, constantly watching over their shoulders at the other guys, worried about their jobs instead of just focusing on winning hockey games.

There's nothing wrong with internal competition as such, and it's always a part of professional hockey. But making it the central mantra of your organization might not be the best idea after all.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

I seem to recall Hartley doing pretty well at one point with a team that faced high expectations. Colorado, 2001, to be precise. It's a bit late in his career at this point to accuse him of being a flash in the pan.

You don't want to look at his 4th full season in Atlanta.... in Season 3 the Thrashers finally make the playoffs and 6 games into his 4th season he is off to a horrendous 0-6 start with a high expectations team and Hartley is done with the NHL for almost 6 years.

The Thrasher/Jets that looked to be poised on being a solid team led by 23 year old Kovalchuck (42 goals) and 28 year old Hossa (43 goals) took another 6 years to get back to the playoffs after Hartley's great 2007-08 season.

He seems to have a 4-5 year shelf life... 4 full seasons and let go after 31 games in season 5 with the Avs, Then a finish the season , 3 years and 6 more games with the Thrashers .


This is the 4th year with the Flames ... if he is still the Flames coach at the end of next season that will be his longest stint as coach.

His best year with the Avs was year 3. His best year with the Thrashers was year 3 and his best year with the Flames (to-date) is year 3.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

His best year with the Avs was year 3. His best year with the Thrashers was year 3 and his best year with the Flames (to-date) is year 3.

Pretty small sample size, but interesting anyway.

[Gaskal]

IMO you're just overthinking it Itse.

[Ashasx]

Friedman:

As Calgary starts slowly, remember the Flames shot 8.9 per cent at five-on-five in 2014-15. That was second-best in the NHL.

It’s early, but they are 22nd so far this season, at 5.8 per cent. And opponents seem determined not to let Calgary kill them with the long bomb, an important weapon from a year ago.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/3...h-for-answers/

[Harry Lime]

I've seen a lot of tinkering with the possible defensive pairings on various threads. Almost every combination available. In keeping with a theme, I've found a combination to relentlessly champion that hasn't been pushed yet.

Giordano - Nakladal
Brodie - Hamilton
Russell - Wideman
Englland

Kulak takes first pairing minutes in Stockton. The right hand, left hand dynamic is maintained. Less defensive responsibility for Hamilton. Roll all three lines evenly. Nakladal has plenty of experience in Europe, has adapted well to the smaller ice, and has played well in his two Stockton games, with big minutes.

Two weeks, Brodie comes back, and away we go with this defensive juggernaut.

Why Nakladal? Because Kulak and Wotherspoon haven't had that responsibility past the AHL level, and Nakladal has. And I really like the bottom two pairings that way, which leaves a gigantic hole in the lineup. Solution? Pump up Nakladal as the second coming of Larry Robinson. The hype starts here.

[burnitdown]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Friedman:



http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/3...h-for-answers/

Fair point by Elliot. It's the dreaded regression to the mean everyone was predicting before the season. I think the reason it's happening is because Brodie is out and we can't make those long passes. We need him back and that should give us a chance to get back to our relatively higher shooting percentage!

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by burnitdown

Fair point by Elliot. It's the dreaded regression to the mean everyone was predicting before the season. I think the reason it's happening is because Brodie is out and we can't make those long passes. We need him back and that should give us a chance to get back to our relatively higher shooting percentage!

Brodie is going to help but he's not on the ice the entire game and the other players need to pick things up. The only single player in the league that could probably make a difference on his own for the Flames right now would be Carrey Price and that's not happening.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Brodie is going to help but he's not on the ice the entire game and the other players need to pick things up. The only single player in the league that could probably make a difference on his own for the Flames right now would be Carrey Price and that's not happening.

Brodie also, while a great puck mover and transition guy, sometimes had issues in his own end (remember that Buffalo game?).

[flamesfever]

Originally Posted by Itse

This is something I've been thinking about all offseason really.

It's early of course, but I think we could be seeing the downside of "always earned never given" mantra.

Organizations where everybody is constantly worried about their job tend to underperform as a rule. It's a well studied phenomenon, and I see no reason why it wouldn't apply to hockey teams.

The constant stress wears people out mentally. It makes people stop work for themselves rather than each other. Making people compete against each other creates envy and distrust and generally is a very reliable way of souring the overall mood in a workplace.

This offseason was pretty crazy in terms of competition for spots. I feel exhausted just watching from the sidelines. It was also pretty much all that was talked about, at least publicly, that competition for spots. Not for example "finding form" or "fitting in new guys", or adjusting the way they play to a more puck-control game.

Now that the team is losing I'm sure many players are still stuck in that preseason mode, constantly watching over their shoulders at the other guys, worried about their jobs instead of just focusing on winning hockey games.

There's nothing wrong with internal competition as such, and it's always a part of professional hockey. But making it the central mantra of your organization might not be the best idea after all.

Plus when you see a teammate do everything that's expected of him, and gets put of waivers, isn't helping.

[Diemenz]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

Plus when you see a teammate do everything that's expected of him, and gets put of waivers, isn't helping.

If you and a coworker are up for the same job and you get it are you really that concerned they didn't?

[flamesfever]

Originally Posted by Diemenz

If you and a coworker are up for the same job and you get it are you really that concerned they didn't?

No, but if the reason Byron was put on waivers was because of his small size, and the objective of management was to get bigger as a team, my play might just be affected if I was Russell.

[adc]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

No, but if the reason Byron was put on waivers was because of his small size, and the objective of management was to get bigger as a team, I might feel a little more vulnerable and uneasy if I was Russell.

Based on the fact that 27 teams passed on him and the 28th team that took has him sitting in the PB so far this season (along with him clearing waivers last year and signing a 1 year basically minimum deal in the off-season) it would appear that the reason Byron was waived was he isn't good enough to play in the NHL.

Anyone using the Flames wanting to get bigger as an excuse as to why Byron was waived is ignoring what every other talent evaluator in the NHL is saying as well.

[Diemenz]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

No, but if the reason Byron was put on waivers was because of his small size, and the objective of management was to get bigger as a team, my play might just be affected if I was Russell.

The objective is to get better. They had better players then Byron.

Don't tell me johnny, Hudler, and Russell are all worried because Byron was put on waivers, that is completely rediculous.

[Jakester]

Goaltending.

I realize the defense has been sub-par, but if you're allowing 4+ goals night in and night out, you have to take a look at the guys in the masks. Ortio should start the next few games. If he does well, or even okay, waive/trade/send down one of Hiller or Ramo and let Ortio be the starter. If he also struggles, send him down and bring in someone from outside the organization. Don't spend too much: good goalies often come surprisingly cheap.

Gilles has looked good so far in the AHL but two games is too small a sample size to draw any conclusions from IMO. Give him half a season at least and if things still aren't going well with the big club and he's played well on the farm, give him a shot.

[kermitology]

Combination of effort, goaltending, coaching and chemistry.

The base problem is a complete lack of anything in the defensive zone. They just stand around like lumps on a bump. Goaltending has been poor, so even if they aren't completely hanging the goalie out to dry in the defensive zone, routine saves aren't being made. Coaching isn't getting through with the idea of simple plays (pucks on net, be aware of your surroundings), and Ortio should have been given a chance several games ago or dressed as a backup at minimum. Chemistry: Backlund is awful, Hamilton is awful, Gio is awful, Hudler is meh, Kulak is out of his league and should be replaced by Nakladal right now..

Everything is out of sorts for the Flames. This is disastrously bad.

[FlamesAddiction]

Goaltending has not been great, but I still blame the lack of physical play. They aren't making the opposition pay and are being walked over. And in the offensive zone, the forechecking has been pretty weak. Lots of poking at pucks instead of taking out the man.

[PsYcNeT]

Missing Brodie.

Gio is back to 09-10 form without him. There is no solid backend skater, there is no breakout tape to tape.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by adc

Anyone using the Flames wanting to get bigger as an excuse as to why Byron was waived is ignoring what every other talent evaluator in the NHL is saying as well.

Apparently the talent evaluator whose team is 7-0-0 thought Paul Byron is pretty good. Go figure.

He's exactly the kind of player who could light a fire under this team. Him and Bouma. These other "bigger" guys - Ferland, Colborne, Bollig, Engelland - they're just not cutting it.

[skudr248]

####ing everything. Who is this team? All the games I've been to have been a ####ing disgrace, should refund my money watching this effort on the ice. Seriously, they should start paying players based on individual performance per game, cause Hamilton should stand outside with 100 dollar bills handing them to fans as they leave