[PGT] Oi7ers - Flam3s

[killer_carlson]

I can't remember the last time the Flames got pushed around by the Oilers physically.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by HarryH93

The "Edmonton is No Good" thread should be locked. We have absolutely nothing on that team.

Man, what a humiliating series. And if going 0/4 against the Oilers isn't already bad enough, the Canucks are one point behind us with two games in hand.

If we finish below the Canucks we will piss off the majority of that fan base. Silver linings are always great.

[badradio]

Us fans deserve better... simple as that. And screw the "system." I'd rather lose every game than having to watch that boring-ass system. I don't care if it wins games, I want to be entertained, not put to sleep. It's Brent Sutter all over again... I've never felt so frustrated as a Flames fan... I'm turning games off... something I've never done before...

[direwolf]

As far as this season is concerned, tonight was rock bottom for me as a fan. Allowing our biggest rival to come in and push us around like that in our own barn, while sweeping the season series in the process, is beyond pathetic. Both the players and coaching staff should be ashamed of themselves.

Amazingly we're still in a playoff spot (at least for a day). And really, after watching them lay an egg like tonight, there's nowhere to go but up. Personally I need to take a break from this team for a while, at least for a week or so. If they can somehow find it in themselves to string a couple of wins together, I'll probably get interested again. But as of right now I just can't get excited about watching these guys. This is a crappy product at the moment, and they'd better figure out a solution fast if they have any hope of salvaging the season.

[Beninho]

I want to know what the #### the plans is for this team. If we are rebuilding keep building and trade off veteran players at the deadline. Are we trying to win now? Clearly our team is not close to being there, if management thinks we are trade for Duchene, if not Duchene or a player close to that caliber we will not do anything in the playoffs so what's the point. Rebuild or trade for a highly skilled top 6 player. I don't like watching my team have no trajectory and that's where I see the Flames. I cannot stand mediacority and that's what we've been. I've watched this team be average or below average my whole life besides the 04 playoffs. I hate average, I ####ing want to win, I want to see this team win but every ####ing year we are average or just good enough to not get that #1 pick. We are right in the ####ing middle again and it ####ing sucks. Awful season and will be even worse when we get that #15 pick.I'm starting to think the '15 season ####ed our rebuild up, gave management/fans false hope that we are almost there. We aren't, we are a legit top 6 player maybe 2 , 2 top 6 Dmen, a starting goalie, and a proven winning coach away from being a contender. Also keep playing Wideman and Joki they just are terrific.

[Manhattanboy]

Until there is some accountability from someone in this joke of an organization I am done as a fan. Don't care anymore.

[1qqaaz]

I think the media has actually been way too easy on the Flames after games like these:

Treliving: It's not his fault, because the pieces he assembled aren't performing as well as they should.
Gulutzan: It's not his fault the players aren't performing, the roster doesn't have the right players to complement Gaudreau, Brodie, the goalies, etc. It's not his fault the players are in a funk.
Players: It's not Gaudreau's fault that he's not performing, he doesn't have good linemates. Etc.

Overall, I think Gulutzan has to take most of the blame. Among other things, it's his job to help players succeed in their roles. Coaches are never going to be gifted with perfect rosters, so it's up to them to maximize the performance of the team.

I do like Gulutzan's system, and it does seem to make sense. But a lot of the lineup decisions, many of which he refuses to change, are clearly not working. He also seems unable to energize or motivate the team.
Finally, I don't think the goalie coaching has been great either. But this is a lot harder to say definitively.

I'm glad the team has been so healthy this year. Otherwise, many people would be using that as an excuse as well.

[Poe969]

This team is done this year already. I know they're in a playoff position but that won't last long at all. And even by some miracle if they made they playoffs, do you honestly think this team would last more than 4 games? (and I mean 1 close game, 1 with some effort and 2 blowouts)

This team needs to sell anyone with value and sit more players and play more rookies. Call it tanking or whatever you want but do something different. This whole "lose with pride" and get a decent player BS isnt working. This team has a losing mentality already, why not get rewarded for it?

And stop getting players who have more of a 2 way game and start getting skilled players. Being tough doesn't win games, scoring goals does and you need skill to score goals. I know the teams best line is their "3rd" line and they're probably the best 2 way players on the team but that just shows how little skill the team has.

This team needs to change their mentality because they keep doing the same thing over and over and expect different things to happen.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

First time in 31 years that the Flames have lost 4 straight to Edmonton in one season. You know, if Randorf didn't mention that enough already.

Guess I'll go read the 2017 draft thread....

[ASP#26525]

Soooo... I watched this game when I got to work this morning since it was too late last night. Not a good way to start the day, especially after meeting my new neighbour yesterday (helping shovel out of a blizzard) and learning that he is an Oilers fan (originally from Edmonton) I don't get upset over losses when teams show heart and passion yet still lose, but I did not see that in this game. No one looks like they're having any fun anymore. I miss the "Cardiac Kids" from a couple of seasons ago.

I sure hope the Packers put in a better effort this afternoon! Go Pack!

[Rubicant]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Alright, bad loss to the Oilers means they're going to be EXTRA hungry and refocused on Monday for the Leafs right

... right

... right?

I have my ticket bought

... right?

Should I be looking for someone to drown my sorrows with on Monday in section 320?

I'll be there in section 103. Not looking forward to it nearly as much as I was....

[Rubicant]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

lots of posters saying the team lacks toughness when the biggest problem is actually a lack of skill

I agree that this is the more pressing issue, but we lack both - and that's a huge problem.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Rubicant

I agree that this is the more pressing issue, but we lack both - and that's a huge problem.

Our shooters either hit the goalie in the crest or shoot wide. Is there an advanced stat for that?

[Barnet Flame]

I got lucky. Turned on the TV ready to cast the game and NHL On the Fly was on showing Edmonton get their 3rd.

So I'm not casting the game and have missed the ####show.

I'm coming around to preferring not to make the playoffs. I'm not interested in watching us play five or at the very most six post season games.

This team does not have the leadership on or off the ice at any level of this organisation to improve the mediocrity we are seeing which is more a lack of character and effort than a lack of talent.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Hard not to get emotional after an embarrassing loss to our number one rival who the fans here measure everything against. But we do have to look at this pragmatically and what is best for the team moving forward.

This team has the talent. Gaudreau, Monahan, Bennett, Brodie, and others did not magically forget how to play hockey overnight. There is something systemically wrong on this team. Looking at the roster and play, there appear to be only a few players who are having positive seasons - Backlund and Frolik - and everyone else struggles. Coincidence, or a result of a bad coach and worse systems? Frankly I think the problem is a mediocre coach with horrible systems. I think his systems keep the puck out of the hands of the best players and make them play a style not suited to their game. When you have race horses you don't hook them up to a beer wagon. This team needs a coach that knows how to use the players skills, not force the players into a system that limits their creativity and works against their skill level. The Flames need a real NHL coach.

The real downside to bringing in a new coach is they are very likely to go with veteran players in hopes of finding stability quickly. what this means is another lost season for the Flames prospects and another year of watching garbage players on the bottom lines and defensive pairing. Any hopes of seeing Jankowski, Klimchuk, Poirier, Kylington, Kulak, Gillies, Rittich, or anyone else is essentially done. Unless these expectations are laid out for the coach prior to his hiring, the odds of a new comer putting his job on the line with a bunch of kids in the lineup is pretty much nil. Not if you want an experienced NHL coach. That means we will watch as another batch of prospects wash out of the system without getting a real chance to show whether they can play in the NHL.

On to the GM, this is a very tough discussion point. Treliving has done some good things. He's done some not so good things either, but he has made a shrewd move here and there which buys him a lot of good will. But he has also made devastating decisions that have put the team behind the eight ball and crush back-to-back seasons. His three headed goaltending monster debacle was strike one. His inability to find a competent coaching staff is obviously strike two. Some of his contracts have not been wise, but he also got some really good ones put together, so no third strike. I think Treliving gets one more crack at righting this ship, or he's gone too.

Burke is tied to the success of the organization. Frankly, he should start thinking about where the retirement home is going to be, because this team is in disarray. Burke was brought in to provide some stability and hire the right people. He was to provide some guidance and prevent his staff from making crap decisions. So far this team has not performed and is headed in the wrong direction. The Oilers are crushing it, and the hapless Canucks, with Dim Jim at the helm, will likely pass us as well. I'm not sure where I see this team as having much direction, which is the ultimate responsibility to Burke. Might be time for a new philosophy from up high as well.

Hell, while we're at it, we might as well burn the who ####ing thing to the ground. Ken King has done a crap job at trying to get a new building launched and he's burning through the goodwill built up with the fans like Evander Kane goes through Benjamins in Vegas. Might as well buy blind folds in bulk.

[djsFlames]

I wish they had got Bruce Boudreau. The type of game he ran in Anaheim and now Minnesota was just what the Flames needed to implement to take the next step. The change up they opted for in a guy that knew the game but not how to be a successful coach was a step backwards, as intelligent and well-spoken as he appears to be. Systems don't matter if you're subtracting the heart in the process. You have to make the players believe, and push themselves, everyday. Culture, right?

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

That's just not true. The flames had 6 of the first 9 shots and were the better skaters. Unfortunately by that time they were down 2 zip by that point. Even adjusting for score effects the flames held the balance of possession. Key breakdowns and awful goaltending once again sinks the ship

You can take 100 shots from the areas they were shooting from. When you shoot from the outside all night they aren't going to go in. Possession can go #### itself if you don't do anything with it. That whole "were a possession team" horse #### gets about as old as Gulutzan playing Chiasson with Gaudreau.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

I wish they had got Bruce Boudreau. The type of game he ran in Anaheim and now Minnesota was just what the Flames needed to implement to take the next step. The change up they opted for in a guy that knew the game but not how to be a successful coach was a step backwards, as intelligent and well-spoken as he appears to be. Systems don't matter if you're subtracting the heart in the process. You have to make the players believe, and push themselves, everyday. Culture, right?

Great post sums it up nicely!

[Strange Brew]

A lot of things piss me off as a fan at the moment. But one thing I can't seem to get over is that Flames thought we needed cap space and $ savings so much this year to the extent that we will be paying Mason Raymond $1 million next year not to be here. And the associated cap space going with it.

It's obviously not a huge deal but last off season saw us buy out Raymond, trade picks for a backup goalie and sign an aging forward to a big UFA contract. That doesn't feel like rebuilding.

[Erick Estrada]

Fans do deserve better. I know some posters will claim that we are lacking patience but this team has made the playoffs once in the last 7 years and it appears to be looking like once in 8. This team is Winnipeg West as there's just no progress to be shown for the drafting and development. Pretty loyal fanbase but it's probably not going to last much longer as it's not like the building is full most nights anyway. Season tickets this offseason are going to be a really tough sell unless some changes are made as I don't recall a recent Flames team with a lower "give a crap meter" and that's not how you sell tickets.