[News Roundup] October 18, 2016 (Don't Panic edition)

[MissTeeks]

Winless Flames encourage fans to stay patient

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...o-stay-patient

In the quiet visitor’s dressing room at Rogers Arena, Troy Brouwer had a message for the Calgary Flames faithful.
“Stick with us,” the newcomer pleaded. “Because we’re going to be a real good hockey team.”
It’s safe to say the opening week of the 2016-17 National Hockey League regular season did not go the way they’d planned.
They lost twice to their Alberta rivals and fell 2-1 in a shootout, beaten by the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday — their only goal was an embarrassing own-goal from Loui Eriksson.
Three very different games. Same result.
With only one point to show for their hard work, it’s very clear the new-look Flames are still trying to come together and iron out their systems — defensively, offensively, and on special teams.
But it’s early. Really early.
And Flames’ fans everywhere need to take a deep breath.
“I think that people that know hockey know there is an adjustment period with a new coach and with new systems,” netminder Chad Johnson said after stopping 30 of 31 shots in the losing effort. “We all want to come out right away and be as strong as the Chicago Blackhawks and the L.A. Kings. But they’ve been together for five or six years with the same coach and the same systems. There’s an adjustment period, especially for this group. Everybody has to be patient. We have to be patient. Everyone knows that the players and the organization — we want to do well.
“We want to win. Again, there’s a process.”

“There are a lot of new changes here,” acknowledged Brouwer. “And it is a process. Any time there are changes, you’re hoping to see quick results. I feel like we’ve been doing a lot of good things. The game against Edmonton at home, our first period was great and then we kind of tailed off. We played a good first and second (on Saturday). We sat back in the third, rather than dictating the play, we let the game come to us. It’s a process of learning how to win.
“I know there are a couple guys in here that are a little frustrated with the lack of production right now. But it’s only three games into the season.”
In other words, just relax.

Saturday’s 2-1 shootout loss, Gulutzan said, was a lot tighter (they had given up 12 goals in the prior two games) but the pendulum is still swinging. Daniel Sedin scored within the last five minutes to tie the game, something they also need to learn — playing with a lead.
So, their message to fans? Stick around. Have patience.
They’ve got this.
“We would like a result, too,” Gulutzan said. “But the longer we continue to do things properly, the results will come. They may lag. But they’re going to come. You have to believe in the process. Those sound like cliches, but you have to keep doing the right thing and eventually those results will come.”

Flames star Johnny Gaudreau encouraged by offensive chances

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...ensive-chances

When is he going to sign?
Just over a week ago, that’s all anybody was asking about Johnny Gaudreau.
And now?
When is he going to score?
“It’s frustrating when you’re getting chances and you’re not finding the net,” Gaudreau conceded after Monday’s practice at the Saddledome. “I’m getting chances. I just can’t find the net right now. Players go through that, throughout their career and throughout the season. As long as I’m getting chances … I had a breakaway in Vancouver and then kind of another semi-breakaway against (Ryan) Miller and I shot it over the net.
“So as long as you’re getting chances, that’s all you can ask for.”

The good news is Gaudreau has nine shots on goal, tops among Flames forwards. (From the blue-line, Dougie Hamilton has already fired 13 on target.)
The bad news is that the wee winger owns a minus-4 rating, equal with Mikael Backlund for the worst mark on the team.
Gaudreau admitted that the past week and change has been a whirlwind — he’s still staying in a hotel as he shops for real estate in Calgary — but insisted his training-camp absence has not affected his early-season performance.
He also shrugged off a suggestion that perhaps he could be feeling added pressure after his big payday.
“I think it’s the same mindset as last year — I think I was one of the important players offensively, trying to help this team win and put the puck in the net,” Gaudreau said. “And I don’t think anything has changed besides my salary and how many years the contract has been. I just take it the same way.
“I think as each game has been going on, I’ve been getting better and better and learning the systems a little bit better,” he added later. “I think it’s going to be an exciting season. Not the start we were looking for, but I think we have a long season ahead of us.”

It would be unfair to blame the Flames’ underwhelming start on any one guy, but it would be reassuring for the fan-base to see No. 13 tickle twine.
“They’re getting chances,” Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan stressed Monday, answering a question about both Gaudreau and Monahan. “You’re not going to get, every night in this league, two or three points. They’re tough games. But they’re getting chances, and that’s the key, I think.
“You worry about somebody’s game when they’re not getting any chances. They are. Good players will finish those chances eventually, for sure.”

Cruickshank: Nothing to see here, folks, says Flames coach

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...s-flames-coach

He arrived in Vancouver only four days after Cory Schneider’s shocking departure.
Then, entrenched in that city for three full seasons, Glen Gulutzan watched as the Canucks’ netminding torch got hot-potatoed from Roberto Luongo to Eddie Lack to Ryan Miller, with occasional touches from Jacob Markstrom.
So Gulutzlan is familiar with the c-word.
And, as he is blazingly quick to point out, this ain’t that.
“I’m coming from a city where there’s lots of goalie controversy — this isn’t goalie controversy,” Gulutzan, pre-emptively and hopefully, says after the Calgary Flames’ practice Monday at the Saddledome. “This is what it is, right? So those (optics) can get squashed right away.”
Meaning no panic. No swirling storms of dissent.

Now, Johnson versus Buffalo.
“For you guys, it’s great,” says the 30-year-old, ever pleasant. “For me, I play it the same way, right? You kind of had this game circled because you know you’re going to be seeing your old teammates, your old team, and I had good memories and good experiences there. So it sets it up good for you guys to write a story about it. For me, I prepare the same way.
“It’s pretty simple, but it’s exciting for you guys. It’s a big story. You guys are here every day, so it’s like you need something. I know how it is. I understand. Seriously.”
Not that Johnson — also one-time property of the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins, New York Islanders — is oblivious to Tuesday’s intrigue.
He looks forward to the challenge.
“I have a lot of former teams, so I have a lot of practice with this situation,” says Johnson, chuckling. “So I use it as motivation. I like going into Boston … it’s fun. You like playing your old teammates. It’s exciting.”

Then, handed the crease for his team’s third game in four nights, he was the in-house second star after repelling 30 shots in 65 minutes at Rogers Arena.
“I thought he was tremendous — I just told him that — very calm,” says Gulutzan, who went on to reference a handful of Johnson’s late-game stops. “And he made them look easy. That’s when you know a goalie’s in his element — when he looks very calm and the saves look easy. And that’s what he did.”

Veteran Flames D-man Dennis Wideman a healthy scratch after team struggles defensively

http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/10/17...es-defensively

Dennis Wideman has gone from being an unhealthy distraction last year to being a healthy scratch this year.
In just three games he’s been bumped from the top pairing alongside Mark Giordano, to the third pairing, to a seat in the press box Saturday.
Given how much he loves hanging with the media, you can bet he’s not happy about it.
“When you’re younger you get to see stuff (by sitting in the press box) but I don’t know what positive there is to take out of it,” said the 33-year-old defenceman Monday.
“But it’s not my job to do that. My job is to be ready when they ask me to play.”

When reminded he rebounded two seasons ago from a similar benching to have a career year that helped lead the club to the playoffs, Wideman shrugged.
“That’s the way you guys see it,” he said, unconvinced.
“That was two years ago.”
Asked if the coach discussed with him why he was scratched Wideman said, “If it was, it’s not something I’m talking about with the media.”
Fair enough.

“He’s a guy that has to pay a cerebral game but those breakaways weren’t an indication of him per se. I think 97 (Connor McDavid) deserves a little bit of the credit there, because there were a few of our defencemen that he went past. A couple of them that Wides happened to be involved in were just turnovers at the blue-line there and you’re not going to win that footrace. Few guys in the league will.”
Gulutzan said Wideman “took it like a pro” when he was informed Saturday he wouldn’t dress against the Canucks and sugarcoated the move Monday by suggesting it had more to do with Wideman being a right-handed shot.
“When he played on the right side in Edmonton I thought he was fine,” said Gulutzan.
“I just told him I didn’t mind his game in Edmonton but in Game 2 I moved him to the left side, which was a tough adjustment for him.
“We wanted to give Brett an opportunity. He understood but he wants to play just like every other guy. And you’d expect nothing less from a competitor. But he’s a team guy.”

And now he’s sitting, caught in a situation where the offensive-minded defenceman will be hard to fit into a defensive role.
“I think it was just us learning when to be super aggressive and when to back off in the system,” said Wideman, explaining the glaring defensive lapses in their 5-3 loss Friday — his last game.
“We played them last year and didn’t give up five breakaways in a game.”
Gulutzan saw it differently.
“That wasn’t systematic breakdowns, that was blunders with the puck at the blue-line,” said the coach, whose 0-2-1 team tightened up those defensive lapses in Saturday’s shootout loss.
“That wasn’t structure, that was puck management.”
No one is blaming Wideman alone, as the defence as a whole was victimized repeatedly against Edmonton.
He’s just one of the few paying the price.
A concept Wideman is all too familiar with.

Flames focused on optimism, turnaround

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/flam...nd/c-282755636

It's not the start the Calgary Flames were hoping for.
With new coach in tow, and a new goaltending tandem to alleviate last year's concerns, the Flames have come out with a 0-2-1 record through the first three skates of the 2016-17 season.
But, suggested newcomer Troy Brouwer, not all is lost a week into the new year.
"It's important to realize that the sky is not falling," Brouwer said.
"We put some periods together. We've put some stints in games together that we really like. We've let the game get away from us at points as well. We're learning right now. We're getting better.
"But we're not panicking in here by any means.
"It's not the start we wanted, but we like where we can go."

"It's frustrating losing just one game," centre Sean Monahan said. "Right now we know as a group we've got to be better and find that confidence within our group. We've got to stick together here. It's a process. It's a long season. But we've got to get going here.
"There's no panic within this room.
"We believe in this group. We believe in our team. It's obviously a process. It's a long year. We've got to get dirty here in the next couple of games and find a way to get some momentum."
Just for confidence, if nothing else.

So too does captain Mark Giordano, who lived a 2-7-1 start last year that largely derailed the 2015-16 season.
It hasn't been forgotten.
And it's not too early to remind his teammates of last October.
"It's not too early," Giordano said.
"Honestly, we want to get our game going and feeling good about our game.
"But it's important to get points now, too. We have to find a way here this week to play desperate, but not panic and squeezing our sticks and play nervous out there. We've got to have that desperation. All that is is second and third efforts and things like that. We need some points here.
"We've got to start getting some points."
Soon, suggested Monahan.
"I think every game means something in this league," he said. "If you fall behind a little bit it's tough to catch up. It's three games … it's only a couple games … but we've got to get our nose dirty and find our swagger as a group to get the job done and win games."

[joejoe3]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

— he’s still staying in a hotel as he shops for real estate in Calgary —

Where's Travis Munroe aka Realtor 1?

[Locke]

The word 'process' is used 6 times.

The more you know...

[Travis Munroe]

Originally Posted by joejoe3

Where's Travis Munroe aka Realtor 1?

It is my understanding he is looking at rentals again which does not make a ton of sense to me. I know another one of our long term stars is also renting!

But if for some reason he decides to buy and reads this....skittles on me

[Otto-matic]

The good news is Gaudreau has nine shots on goal, tops among Flames forwards. (From the blue-line, Dougie Hamilton has already fired 13 on target.)
The bad news is that the wee winger owns a minus-4 rating, equal with Mikael Backlund for the worst mark on the team.
Gaudreau admitted that the past week and change has been a whirlwind — he’s still staying in a hotel as he shops for real estate in Calgary — but insisted his training-camp absence has not affected his early-season performance.
”

I think the absence from Calgary and training camp did effect Gaudreau, he seems 2 steps behind the play and is bobbling the puck like I've never seen from him before. He'll get back to the Johnny Hockey we all know and love but missing time away from Calgary did hurt him.

[belsarius]

Note to self - don't play the "process" drinking game with news articles.

[Toonage]

I don't think missing camp hurt Gaudreau. I think what we're seeing from him is pressure he's putting on himself to start quick.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by belsarius

Note to self - don't play the "process" drinking game with news articles.

And they didnt even interview Treliving.

Thats 6 'processes' and they didnt even go to the well.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Toonage

I don't think missing camp hurt Gaudreau. I think what we're seeing from him is pressure he's putting on himself to start quick.

His timing is a bit off and he seems to be showing up for 1/2 a game. That said its pretty hard when his 2 line mates are playing like bottom 6 players. Versteeg is what he is, a bottom 6 player being thrust into a top line role. Mony missing camp with a back injury has really hurt him. Right now he looks no better than Stajan.

[GioforPM]

I like Brouwer's attitude. He's been a good pickup.

[dissentowner]

Oh poor Dennis Wideman. Can we launch this guy into the sun already?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Oh poor Dennis Wideman. Can we launch this guy into the sun already?

He'd miss.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Good advice for all Flames fans at the moment:

[AC]

What towel?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by AC

What towel?

Come on Arthur, we gotta go!

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by AC

What towel?

Huh? You actually go anywhere without your towel? Are you crazy?
Always have a towel, make sure you soak at least one corner with nutrients just in case.

[Wood]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I like Brouwer's attitude. He's been a good pickup.

Me too. I actually really like our whole team this year, I'm confident they're going to put together a solid season

[Wood]

[Enoch Root]

Brouwer was a great pickup and is an obvious leader in the dressing room. And he is right with these comments.

I think fans need to step away from the ledge and look at this season as one of growth. I think the best way to evaluate this season will be in 20 game segments: did they keep improving? And not just in points, but in style of play.

It's a very young team and the best players are the youngest. They need time to continue to develop.

It's a new coach and a new system. It needs time for them to gain comfort and experience with it.

Let's let things unfold. Show some patience. Continued improvement is the key.

And this wasn't going to be our year anyway - next year is when this team really takes off IMO.

[Par]

Originally Posted by Realtor 1

It is my understanding he is looking at rentals again which does not make a ton of sense to me. I know another one of our long term stars is also renting!

But if for some reason he decides to buy and reads this....skittles on me

Maybe he is going to ask for a trade soon and that is why Johnny is renting.

Just kidding, it only 3 games, we need give them some time.