[PGT] Flames show up 50 minutes late, lose 3-2 to Montreal

[Enoch Root]

I want to make one more comment about the system, because this drives me insane when it happens...

Last night, on at least three occasions (there were 3 that I remember yelling at the TV), there was a loose puck in the D zone, and a player from each team started towards retrieving it. When it became clear that the Hab was going to get there first, the Flame TURNED AWAY and skated where they were expected to be positionally without the puck.

Yes, I understand that systems require structure. But they also require adaptation to game situations. Three separate times (at least), the winger could have attacked the opposing player and caused - at worst - a puck battle and some pressure, but in every case, they turned and actually moved away from the player, leaving them alone and in clear possession.

How to spend entire shifts in your own zone, 101.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

You keep saying it was always Iggy's fault. That is not a fact, that was the opinion of some.

It is not the captain's responsibility to motivate his team-mates. Some players have the leadership skills to do that at times, but I would argue that Giordano is doing his part by leading by example.

I’m not sure where you’re getting any of that. I never said it was Iggy’s fault. I’m defending Iggy here.

I’m pointing out the hypocrisy of people bashing Iggy and not bashing Gio for the exact same thing.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by BlackWallStreet

riot if we must

We are not Canucks fans. No.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I’m not sure where you’re getting any of that. I never said it was Iggy’s fault. I’m defending Iggy here.

I’m pointing out the hypocrisy of people bashing Iggy and not bashing Gio for the exact same thing.

You were indirectly defending Iggy. And I was indirectly agreeing with you.

I think Iginla was given far too much blame for the inconsistency of the teams he led. And I don't think Giordano deserves any blame for the current problems.

[1_Flames_Fan]

Piss poor effort by the team. Cancel Christmas.

[868904]

I don't know if this whole Gio vs Iggy thing came about from my post, but if it was, let me be clear.

I wasn't Iggy or Gio bashing. I was stating that the true leader of a hockey team is not the Captain, but rather the coach.

It is the coach who is in charge, it is the coach who derives the strategy, it is the coach who has to motivate and discipline.

The coach is the true "leader" of a hockey team. The "Captain" is just figurehead.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

From what I can tell, there are no tough questions in Calgary unless they are coming from Burke or ownership. And I truly have no idea what they are thinking about the on ice product with all the new arena noise.

This is a strange team in many ways. Trading away top draft picks to strengthen a playoff bubble team. Taking flyers on other teams castoffs. Hiring a yet to be proven coach.

Either Treliving really believes in these guys or something is brewing. As you point out, if that first rounder becomes a top 5 pick, it will be an absolute disaster.

Agree with everthing and I would one up you and say if they miss the playoffs at all without that 1st, even if that pick is 15th OA it would still be an absolute disaster. A top 5 pick would just make it unbearable.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I'd take an imperfect system, with excellent effort every night over this. I just don't have the patience for this any longer. I'm now reluctantly on the fire Gulutzan bandwagon. I'll give him until the end of the year to figure this out, but if they don't get one of the top 3 spots in the division, he deserves to lose his job.

But there's the problem - We finish out of the playoffs this year and the Islanders are getting a lottery pick, we get nothing. If he's the wrong coach you fire him now if you feel the right replacement is out there.

Darryl Sutter!

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

From what I can tell, there are no tough questions in Calgary unless they are coming from Burke or ownership. And I truly have no idea what they are thinking about the on ice product with all the new arena noise.

This is a strange team in many ways. Trading away top draft picks to strengthen a playoff bubble team. Taking flyers on other teams castoffs. Hiring a yet to be proven coach.

Either Treliving really believes in these guys or something is brewing. As you point out, if that first rounder becomes a top 5 pick, it will be an absolute disaster.

It will be an absolute disaster even if it's a top 10 pick IMO. Not only a wasted season but a lost opportunity to improve the team long term with all the draft picks shipped out. It's terrifying they are possibly considering making another big move with the Sabres given this team is going nowhere under this coaching staff.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

That, combined with the fact that their defensive system, without the puck, is to collapse and cover lanes, instead of attack the puck, results in the merry-go-round of spending entire shifts in their end. If they eventually get the puck, ring it around to the far winger. If the D pinches and shuts it off, the process starts all over again.

Not only that, but when the puck goes around the boards and there is an opposition player, it appears the players have been coached almost exclusively to try that little touch / deflection pass to an oncoming teammate. The robotic consistency with which the Flames player uses that touch pass is being read and has resulted in multiple turnovers in the last few games.

I'll give the players this: they're coachable because they've clearly learned to try that ring around / touch pass every time. But the opposition teams definitely have a read on it, and it's become glaringly apparent as we start playing teams for the second and third time around.

This team is underperforming to a frustrating extent. I'm not sure Glenbot 2000 is the man to get them playing up to par, let alone overachieve.

[jlh2640]

Well who predicted that they would lose and have a brutal inconsistent effort as per usual.

[Redrum]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

We are not Canucks fans. No.

No. But what about a group of anarchists disguised as fans?

[FBI]

Here's the litmus test for if GG is a good coach or not. If we fired him, would anybody else snatch him up?

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by FBI

Here's the litmus test for if GG is a good coach or not. If we fired him, would anybody else snatch him up?

Shouldn’t the litmus test be whether the new coach gets better results?

Seems like a new coach with the same group should give us a much better idea of what GG was doing.

[FBI]

Yeah I'm just saying it's pretty obvious nobody would pick up GG as a coach. Just like nobody picked up Feaster or Hartley.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by FBI

Yeah I'm just saying it's pretty obvious nobody would pick up GG as a coach. Just like nobody picked up Feaster or Hartley.

There are no coaching vacancies right now. Not to mention the fact that we don’t know if GG would even accept an offer. Maybe he has family commitments or would prefer to do something else.

Basing his quality as a coach on whether he gets picked up seems silly. Not to mention the fact that you have no idea that it is obvious that he’ll never get another coaching gig.

How do you even know feaster or Hartley wanted new nhl jobs?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by FBI

Here's the litmus test for if GG is a good coach or not. If we fired him, would anybody else snatch him up?

Well nobody’s hiring Darryl Sutter either right now. I guess that’s often how it goes unless it’s a Babcock situation. Or a recently fired coach that’s only on market for a few days.

[djsFlames]

Hardest of the hardcore, lifelong fans here and it's seriously difficult to get invested in this iteration of the team or remain optimistic. I found more faith that iggy and kipper could carry them to another finals with a stroke of luck in those late years than now. And this core is more numerous and much younger. I just don't see growth under this coach and this system. I don't see any of these guys save that third line making strides in their overall games despite being mostly twenty somethings. The team has plateaued and is consistently inconsistent and the staff struggles to find the big answers to those big questions. They just point fingers game by game which doesn't help them get to the root of the underlying issues.

This is alarming being a fan that could always see optimism in things looking up. A change is definitely needed to spark this team and help it find an identity again. They have no identity right now. I'd struggle for any words to describe what they are. They're a mix of a lot of meh/average stuff right now. That's gotta change if they want to be a winner. It's as simple as that. There have to be specific strengths that the rest of the league can point out about their game that they take pride in bringing each night.

[atb]

Originally Posted by NiklasSundblad

The timing of the firing made me assume that the sudden availability of Bruce Boudreau forced management into that decision so they could upgrade. 18 months later it makes a lot less sense to me.

There was a rumor that Carlyle was the guy they were after and not Boudreau.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Well nobody’s hiring Darryl Sutter either right now. I guess that’s often how it goes unless it’s a Babcock situation. Or a recently fired coach that’s only on market for a few days.

How do you know that Darryl Sutter wants another NHL job? Or maybe he does but it has to be the right situation?

I’m not saying one way or the other but just because nobody has hired a coach doesn’t necessarily mean that nobody wants that coach.