The trials and tribulations of Glen Gulutzan

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Honestly, I'm sick and tired of average being the bar to clear with this team.

Exactly, which is why I want Gulutzan out the door. This team has a roster that they should be above average. (At the very least defensively)

The stats of this team in regulation vs. OT is telling. Taking away the pond hockey/shootout record, the team is .500 in regulation. This team can't get it done in regular play, which is how the playoffs are done.

[Flamescuprun2018]

I dont prescribe to firing coaches or GMs when the team is above 500 and not in an extended losing streak.

BT is done exactly what a GM needs to do. Manage the salary cap with a long term lens and create a well balanced squad.

GG seems to have the respect of the players but it is not translating to consistent starts to games. Not sure what the team is waiting for. Anaheim will get healthy and Oilers may yet turn it around. Its now time to solidify a playoff spot.

I do however agree that there have been some very puzzling decisions by GG:

1. For two games now he opens AT HOME with the fourth line to set the tempo of the game. A line with no goals yet this season? Ridiculous. It makes zero sense to get hemmed in on the first shift playing that line. Nice way to take the fans out of the game early.

2. Playing zero goal fourth line at all in the last 6 minutes of the game. How many goals allowed this year by that group?

3. Brodie Hamonic pairing. Its not working. Brodie Stone is the obvious move. Let Hamonic build his confidence with Kulak. Will be a strong 5-6.

4. Brouwer on the 1st powerplay. No goals, no skill, now no heart. He needs to play out his final year with the Flames before buyout with 4th line duty and shorthanded shifts. BTs signing but it is pretty clear noone expected such a huge dropoff in year 2 of contract. Bennett, Jankowski or Jagr please on 1PP down low. Ferland seems okay on right point with his shot.

5. Stone on one of the powerplays. His shot is wicked. Easily could replace Hamilton on PP2 to start. Brodie would work well with him on this 2nd powerplay unit.

6. Personally I would put Giordano on the 1st powerplay. Brodie has been burned too many times this year shorthanded despite his speed. Gio will better protect from those shorthanded opportunities and offers high IQ to that group.


Otherwise I like the patience with letting lines develop chemistry. This has paid off with Ferland's breakout on first line and the recent success on the 3rd line.

If I dont see changes to several of the 6 items above I will also lose faith. This team should be 6-10 games above 500 right now with Johnny's season; the goaltending we've had; and D unit we have on paper.

[Chonger]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Make Jagr the coach. Fire GG.

Jagr has probably done more in game coaching this season then Gluey has his whole tenure

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[Racki]

Originally Posted by Flamescuprun2018

I do however agree that there have been some very puzzling decisions by GG:

1. For two games now he opens AT HOME with the fourth line to set the tempo of the game. A line with no goals yet this season? Ridiculous. It makes zero sense to get hemmed in on the first shift playing that line. Nice way to take the fans out of the game early.

2. Playing zero goal fourth line at all in the last 6 minutes of the game. How many goals allowed this year by that group?

3. Brodie Hamonic pairing. Its not working. Brodie Stone is the obvious move. Let Hamonic build his confidence with Kulak. Will be a strong 5-6.

4. Brouwer on the 1st powerplay. No goals, no skill, now no heart. He needs to play out his final year with the Flames before buyout with 4th line duty and shorthanded shifts. BTs signing but it is pretty clear noone expected such a huge dropoff in year 2 of contract. Bennett, Jankowski or Jagr please on 1PP down low. Ferland seems okay on right point with his shot.

5. Stone on one of the powerplays. His shot is wicked. Easily could replace Hamilton on PP2 to start. Brodie would work well with him on this 2nd powerplay unit.

6. Personally I would put Giordano on the 1st powerplay. Brodie has been burned too many times this year shorthanded despite his speed. Gio will better protect from those shorthanded opportunities and offers high IQ to that group.

You've made a number of good points and in doing so you have highlighted the greatest frustration most of the "fire Gulutzan" crowd have with him.

His inability/unwillingness to adapt. If I was a head coach and my biggest rival kicked my ass everytime we played them I would try something different.

Why will Gulutzan not make changes? Having the courage of your convictions is one thing. Going down with the ship is another.

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by Racki

You've made a number of good points and in doing so you have highlighted the greatest frustration most of the "fire Gulutzan" crowd have with him.

His inability/unwillingness to adapt. If I was a head coach and my biggest rival kicked my ass everytime we played them I would try something different.

Why will Gulutzan not make changes? Having the courage of your convictions is one thing. Going down with the ship is another.

What do they say about the definition of insanity again?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

What do they say about the definition of insanity again?

Not this. This is a real gear grinder.
First, that saying is NOT the definition of insanity.
Insanity is a state of being seriously mentally ill NOT some tripe about doing the same thing over again and expecting different results.
There is not a single saying in this entire world that I dislike more than that one.
And I don't know why it has become so popular, particularly in the sports world.
/rant

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

We're 9-11 in regulation, and 5-1 in OT/SO...

...No 3v3 or shootouts in the playoffs, if we even get there.

And how about the big emotional games?

The Flames record in playoff and BOA games under Gulutzan is now

0 - 10 - 0

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Lol, the "Fire GG" crowd are making things up now? Come on.


We're all upset after last night and a lot of it at GG, but no need to be parroting untruths onto everyone else just because it fits your narrative.

Ok, then rebut. Tell me who has improved, because I can tell you that Brodie and Bennett are shells of their former selves under him. Who has improved? You're just going to call me a liar and walk away?

[Flamescuprun2018]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

And how about the big emotional games?

The Flames record in playoff and BOA games under Gulutzan is now

0 - 10 - 0

This IS the heart of the problem. GG post-game interview speaks to this issue for the entire discussion. Worthwhile interview to listen to.

A nervous lack of confidence in the big games. That only disappears when good things happen and is rapidly shattered with a bad bounce. Saw the same thing in the Toronto game earlier this week with the bad bounce goals.

Not sure how to fix it. Any sport psychologists on CP?

Up to GG, team captain and leaders to address.

Last night had many parallels to the debacle in Ducks series. I had largely blamed that series on our terrible goaltending but this issue is also responsible.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Wouldn’t Backlund and Ferland be at least two guys who have improved under GG. Arguably Johnny and Monahan too if they sustain their pace. Tkachuk has also thrived but there was no pre gg baseline to compare against

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

The entire top 6 is on pace to shatter their career highs minus just Frolik I believe. The lack of bottom 6 scoring, special teams and individual defensive gaffs are the main perpetrators for this team’s current underwhelming record. Personally, I don’t think any of these things really Glen Gulutzan’s fault.

The bottom 6 plays more than enough minutes, so lack of playing time isn’t the issue for their poor play, special teams are the assistant coaches’ problems and that PK by the way is still garbage in my opinion. Looked like crap against the Leafs and just as bad against the oilers last night and in general is 30th in the league for a reason. The individual turnovers, boneheaded plays and stupid penalties are all on the players. Gulutzan doesn’t tell these guys to do these things, the players do. Especially certain individuals who continue to screw up on a regular basis.

Yeah, ok. Gaudreau and Monahan and Backlund are better. Probably has nothing to do with ongoing experience. If Gulutzan gets credit for improving them, then he also gets credit for ruining Brodie, Bennett, and might as well credit him for Brouwer, because that guy literally forgot how to hockey the minute he joined the Flames. He's a 4th liner now, when he used to be a 2nd liner. And he's still on the PP. Awesome coaching.

You guys who are satisfied with this are nice fans for the Flames to have. Nothing wrong with being satisfied. May I please be dissatisfied? This is BS. We're a cap team with what should be a contender on paper, and the coach can't get them to play like it. The defence was supposed to rival Nashvilles, instead it doesn't even rival Edmonton (see: last night).

Go ahead and be happy with this team. I'm not. At least during the Young Guns era, it was because we couldn't afford talent. The last 10 years have been more frustrating than the late 90s, because of inept GMming, followed by inept coaching. Right now it's coaching that's the glaring weakness. And if that doesn't change soon, it's going to be GMing as well. I doubt Burke is going to put up with losing to Edmonton much longer before he tells BT that he better fix it, or else.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Ok, then rebut. Tell me who has improved, because I can tell you that Brodie and Bennett are shells of their former selves under him. Who has improved? You're just going to call me a liar and walk away?

Backlund, Dougie, Monahan, Gaudreau, Ferland so like half the core of the team.

Tkachuk had an exemplary first year and Jankowski is on track to do the same.

[Toonage]

Re: Gulutzan's comments - I suppose the obvious question that we may never know the answer to is, what does the coach say to his team or his team leaders prior to these types of games if he knows they have this issue?

[4X4]

Ok Gaskal. Glad you're happy. Aren't you an STH? You're the one paying for this hockey. Glad you had fun last night, because so did I, once I turned off the game.

I'm not losing any sleep over the Flames, I'm losing interest. Stay the course, Flames. GG is the man.

[Vinny01]

The morning after I still feel strongly that this team will never take the next step with Gulutzan as coach. He seemingly can’t get this team up for big games. They were swept in the playoffs and have lost 6 straight to the Oilers.

Brodie has been nearly ruined by forcing to play him on the left. Bennett was/is on the verge as well but at least he made the shift to the wing and Bennett appears to be gaining the confidence back. Maybe Troy Brouwer could be salvaged with a new coach?

Flames need to make a change if they want to do more than be a team that fights for a playoff spot and likely loses in the first round.

[Flash Walken]

The reason you fire GG at this point is because you need to do something in the short term to help spark some wins before you make a trade that guts the team.

This team is bad, by the way. but, the organization has gone all in and the worst case scenario is missing the playiffs and not making a draft selection until 70th overall.

What a potential train wreck we are watching.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

The reason you fire GG at this point is because you need to do something in the short term to help spark some wins before you make a trade that guts the team.

This team is bad, by the way. but, the organization has gone all in and the worst case scenario is missing the playiffs and not making a draft selection until 70th overall.

What a potential train wreck we are watching.

The team isn’t bad? They have a top 3 scorer in the league, 2 lines that can drive possesion and create scoring chances. A goalie with a .920 save% and a top pairing that puts up great numbers against tough competition.

This is a good team and potentially a very good team.

Yes the team is all in and absolutely need to make something happen and get into the playoffs hopefully as a high seed so the picks sent in the Hamonic trade are in the bottom 3rd of the round. I believe that coaching is a problem and easier to fix than making a huge trade.

3 key members of the core have struggled under GG. Brodie, Bennett and Hamonic. Some people want to trade these players but personally I think they are all too important to choose the coach over them.

[Chonger]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Backlund, Dougie, Monahan, Gaudreau, Ferland so like half the core of the team.

Tkachuk had an exemplary first year and Jankowski is on track to do the same.

I don't think it's fair to give the Gun credit for talents like Gaudreau/Monahan and Tkachuck improving. They would have improved under Eakins. Also Gaudreau had a horrible season last year under him. He turned Johnny Superstar Hockey into Johnny Pedestrian.
I give more credit to Jagr turning Gaudreau around this season then GG.


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[Erick Estrada]

If a coaching change is made within the season I have to imagine the only replacement that makes sense is Tippett. If you look at the people Treliving has brought into the organization they have all worked with him previously including Gulutzan. I doubt he's going to bring in a guy like Sutter or Ruff. It's going to be Tippett for better or worse and I'm fairly confident he will be better than Gulutzan.

[corporatejay]

Time is a flat circle. People want Kennan back. Jesus Christ.