IF Julien and/or Hitchcock are fired, does Treliving make a move?

[the_only_turek_fan]

Ohhhhh the possibilities!

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

Ohhhhh the possibilities!

No, but I bet Benning does.

[Racki]

The one guy I think Treliving would fire Hartley for is Dave Tippett. There have been whispers that the Coyotes might be ready for a fresh face behind the bench.

[Caged Great]

Absolutely not. Half of the Flames players had career seasons. If they get NHL calibre performances from the other half of the lineup, they'll be fine.

The problem is that the Flames were a tale of two teams. One half is that of a contender, the other half is that of a bottom end AHL team. Replace the bad players with quality guys and we're set.

[dammage79]

I'd probably pass on Julien. Respect to him though for how he ran the Bruins for so long. Thats a tough job to keep long term.

I'd be on board with Hitch. But we'll see how that shakes out.

Don't think Tippett is optimal. But who knows.

Hartley hasn't hit his shelf life yet but I can fully see that happening mid season next year if the Flames stumble out of the gate. I think he's earned at least half a season.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Racki

The one guy I think Treliving would fire Hartley for is Dave Tippett. There have been whispers that the Coyotes might be ready for a fresh face behind the bench.

Yeah I have read that as well. Sometimes an available coach is like a top UFA player and you have to make the jump if the opportunity is presented. Treliving has a relationship with Tippett and he won't last on the market very long so his availability may force the GM's hand.

[Locke]

Nooooope.

[ah123]

Originally Posted by Racki

The one guy I think Treliving would fire Hartley for is Dave Tippett. There have been whispers that the Coyotes might be ready for a fresh face behind the bench.

Not sure I would enjoy watching the defense-first-clog-up-everything style that Tippet's likes to coach. Every game against the Coyotes I have watched over the last few years has been pretty boring. I like Hartley's up-tempo style

[GranteedEV]

Hartley's up-tempo style is Burke's up-tempo style.

One thing we know for a fact is that the Flames won't play defensive hockey as long as Burke is here.

[Finger Cookin]

Hartley has already exceeded the average shelf life of an NHL coach -- but I think firing him before 16-17 would be premature. We'll see how it plays out.

I wouldn't want Hitchcock coaching my team. Julien...eh, maybe.

[OffsideSpecialist]

Has Tippett always been a defensive coach, or is just coaching the talent he's been given in Phoenix?

Like how Trotz seems to coach Washington much differently than Nashville for instance.

[JJ1532]

No, not for now. Whilst I think Hartley has made mistakes and clearly has his limitations, he overachieved with a half complete roster and then had a drop back year with a similarly unfinished roster. Stick with him, see what roster he's given next season and what he's able to do with it. If Brad adds a decent goalie, gets in a top 6 winger and drafts top 3, we shouldn't be finishing in the bottom 5 next season. Then it will be on Hartley. Then you talk about coaching changes.

[Jore]

I don't care what style the flames play as long as they win. i would like julien ot tippett. I appreciate what Hartley's done for the franchise but it would be refreshing to watch a flames team that could play defensively sound hockey and that could make controlled zone exits and entries.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by OffsideSpecialist

Has Tippett always been a defensive coach, or is just coaching the talent he's been given in Phoenix?

Like how Trotz seems to coach Washington much differently than Nashville for instance.

The quality of a great coach is being able to adapt your own system based on the talent you have to work with. I think there's no doubt now that Trotz is one of the top coaches in the NHL.

[Freeway]

If Hartley has another bad October, he's done.

[JJ1532]

Originally Posted by OffsideSpecialist

Has Tippett always been a defensive coach, or is just coaching the talent he's been given in Phoenix?

Like how Trotz seems to coach Washington much differently than Nashville for instance.

Easier to do when you have 3-4 elite forwards in the team, but I get what you're saying. I would be wary about Tippett, but again, he's not rearly had a true elite forward, not unless you class Doan from a few years ago as one. Clearly his system doesn't stop defencemen adding points, look at OEL. If Tippett had Gio, Brodie, Hamilton, Gaudreau, Monahan etc, he'd have no choice but to alter his style.

[Roof-Daddy]

Not a bad idea IMO to maybe hire one of these guys (if available) within the organization in another capacity. If Hartley and the Flames stumble out of the gate again, you drop the hammer.

[Locke]

I'll qualify my statement, I dont think either of those coaches fits this squad. So I dont think Treliving pulls any triggers if they're the payoff.

[MarkGio]

Both play boring styles and Burke says hockey needs to be entertaining

[Calgary4LIfe]

I'm always of the opinion that you don't make a coaching move unless your really sucks or has obviously 'lost the room'.

I would say that Hartley is a pretty good coach, and the players have worked hard for him. I think what is the most important at the moment is to have consistency.

With that being said, Hitchcock would be interesting. Darryl Sutter, Mike Babcock and Joel Quenneville are the 'elite' coaches at the moment. Hitchcock and Trotz is a step or two away.

Hartley is - in my opinion - in that next class with Julien. I think it would be an upgrade to get Hitch, but is it worth the change? I don't think so right now. I used to think that a guy like Hartley has a 'shelf life', but perhaps not. Babcock or Quenneville don't seem to have that shelf life. Rumors were rampant that Sutter was 'losing the room' in LA but that doesn't seem to be the case. Quenneville is also supposedly a 'hard ass', yet he and Chicago just keep rolling.

Hartley coached the Flames into the playoffs last year. This year, he did the best he could with the lousy goaltending. I am not convinced that a coaching change would either be beneficial or fair.

I think the Flames are well situated with management, coaching and a fairly deep prospect pool/young developing players. I think what they need is seasoning and consistency.