The trials and tribulations of Glen Gulutzan

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Locke

By saying: "I asked the guys and they said they were fine" he abdicates responsibility for sending out a tired group when he had every opportunity to switch his penalty killers to a fresh group.

He chose not to. But he said its because 'they said they were fine.'

So he shifts the blame for his bad decision to the players.

You're the coach. Not them.

Troy Browser "I suck at faceoffs, take me off".

[Beninho]

Nm

[FBI]

I haven't even watched the game yet and I'm already pissed at the Brouwer thing lol

[Travis Munroe]

Lost in all of this was a stellar 1:30 from Stone which would have had any player in the league gassed. He blocks 2-3 shots including a good one right off the foot. Even if there is an excuse for Brouwer being out, I would love to know how Stone was "fine" to keep going.

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by Realtor 1

Lost in all of this was a stellar 1:30 from Stone which would have had any player in the league gassed. He blocks 2-3 shots including a good one right off the foot.

Yeomans effort supported by... garbage coaching and a poor play by Brouwer.

[colbym72]

Originally Posted by Locke

Was it though? Thats my point. Was it a mistake? Or did he do it on purpose?

I have 0 NHL experience, playing or coaching or otherwise, but from watching lots and lots of hockey in my life I could tell you that you take every opportunity to change out tired penalty killers and you always try and put someone out there to take the draw that has some sort of chance of winning it. Preferably a centre.

This isnt the nuance and minutiae of the 'Left-Wing Lock' or other complex coaching strategies, this is elementary stuff.

Because if it was a mistake then he is screwing up the most basic, garden-variety coaching that anything else seems like it would be beyond his abilities.

If it was a mistake then we need another coach. Because this is not a squad that should be led by someone learning on the job.

Because he made a mistake he should be fired? Mistakes happen by coaches every night in every game. All coaches are learning on the job.

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

If we get rid of Gully then what? Hire another retread that can’t get a job anywhere else? Or some fresh guy looking for his first coaching gig? Experienced coaches who are in demand are not coming to Calgary. The weather sucks and their wifes want nothing to do with the place. When is the last time a big name coach was hired by the Flames? The Sutters only coached here because it was the closest NHL job to their farms.

I’m not saying Gully doesn’t deserve criticism, but if we get rid of him, do we find an upgrade? Or just more of the same? Or worse? I think as fans we need to show some patience. Gully has shown glimpses of being able to turn these guys around. I think we need to give him some benefit of the doubt because there is no magic fix around the corner.

I think there will be lots of options

Potential Off-Season Candidates:

Joel Quenneville Could be fired (One of the top coaches in the league)
Alain Vigneault Could be fired
Claude Julien Could be fired
Todd McLellan Could be fired
Darryl Sutter Available
Dave Tippett Available

Barry Trotz (If Caps lose in the first round)

[Major Major]

It's a notable mistake. If the two games after the break puts this team in a tailspin, then this mistake will be used as a case to fire GG after the season is over. In that scenario, I'd say there's a good chance it happens.


As of right now though, the flames have not lost more than 2 games in reg in a row all season. I don't think they're going anywhere but up in the standings right now, and I'm actually quite happy that they've managed to collect points in games they've played poorly in. That's a good sign.

As for the coach, I'll save my outrage for after the season.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

I think there will be lots of options

Potential Off-Season Candidates:

Joel Quenneville Could be fired (One of the top coaches in the league)
Alain Vigneault Could be fired
Claude Julien Could be fired
Todd McLellan Could be fired
Darryl Sutter Available
Dave Tippett Available

Barry Trotz (If Caps lose in the first round)

I don’t think you read my post. When is the last time a proven, in demand coach came to Calgary to coach the Flames outside of the Sutters? It isn’t a desirable coaching destination.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

I think there will be lots of options

Potential Off-Season Candidates:

Joel Quenneville Could be fired (One of the top coaches in the league)
Alain Vigneault Could be fired
Claude Julien Could be fired
Todd McLellan Could be fired
Darryl Sutter Available
Dave Tippett Available

Barry Trotz (If Caps lose in the first round)

If the hawks are stupid enough to let go of Q we should offer him literally whatever he wants to come here.
- Castle in Mount Royal? No problem.
- New saddledome? See-ya Nenshi...
- Part Ownership? Take a hike Murray!

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

I don’t think you read my post. When is the last time a proven, in demand coach came to Calgary to coach the Flames outside of the Sutters? It isn’t a desirable coaching destination.

Money talks I don't know if the ownership group is cheap. But if you want someone good or great behind the bench they will need to bring out the cheque book. Flames have been running with the old boys method for a while. D Sutter goes out and hires Mike Keenan who he is familiar with than goes onto hiring his brother.

Jay Feaster goes out and hires Bob Hartley who he has a connection too. How do you know its not a desirable coaching destination?

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by colbym72

Because he made a mistake he should be fired? Mistakes happen by coaches every night in every game. All coaches are learning on the job.

The issue is that Gulutzan continues to make the same mistakes and doesn't appear to be learning very quickly. This is a team that is supposed to be a playoff team, and based on the moves made by the GM, a solid playoff team. This team doesn't need a coach "learning on the job."

[Locke]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Troy Browser "I suck at faceoffs, take me off".

Again, something that gets on my nerves.

Why would Brouwer have to tell his coach, someone who sees him play every single day, to do this? Gulutzan should know that already.

Gulutzan's brain should have been screaming: "Get Troy Brouwer off the ice ASAP!!!"

Originally Posted by colbym72

Because he made a mistake he should be fired? Mistakes happen by coaches every night in every game. All coaches are learning on the job.

I'm not advocating firing every coach after every little mistake. But take that win streak away and this team was teetering on the edge and I'd bet Gulutzan was hearing footsteps.

I'd also guess that the lack of qualified replacements is a large part of why Gulutzan is even still here at all.

And finally, its not because he made 'a' mistake, its the nature of that mistake in conjunction with his other issues that have dogged him over the season.

I dont like the idea of just firing coaches for whatever reason, but Gulutzan is hanging by a thread and rookie mistakes like this are rapidly filling up the 'Fire Him' column.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Locke

Again, something that gets on my nerves.

Why would Brouwer have to tell his coach, someone who sees him play every single day, to do this? Gulutzan should know that already.

Gulutzan's brain should have been screaming: "Get Troy Brouwer off the ice ASAP!!!"


.

I'm agreeing with you. Of course Brouwer's not going to pull himself off. That's GG's job.

[thymebalm]

Maybe this has been answered.... can you call a timeout in overtime?

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Locke

Again, something that gets on my nerves.

Why would Brouwer have to tell his coach, someone who sees him play every single day, to do this? Gulutzan should know that already.

Gulutzan's brain should have been screaming: "Get Troy Brouwer off the ice ASAP!!!"


I'm not advocating firing every coach after every little mistake. But take that win streak away and this team was teetering on the edge and I'd bet Gulutzan was hearing footsteps.

I'd also guess that the lack of qualified replacements is a large part of why Gulutzan is even still here at all.

And finally, its not because he made 'a' mistake, its the nature of that mistake in conjunction with his other issues that have dogged him over the season.

I dont like the idea of just firing coaches for whatever reason, but Gulutzan is hanging by a thread and rookie mistakes like this are rapidly filling up the 'Fire Him' column.

Lots of assumptions going on here. We really have no clue if he's close to being fired or ever was. The only thing indicating that to you is your own perception of how the team has played.

And what if that winning streak were actually a winless streak? Just think about it people.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Locke

Again, something that gets on my nerves.

Why would Brouwer have to tell his coach, someone who sees him play every single day, to do this? Gulutzan should know that already.

Gulutzan's brain should have been screaming: "Get Troy Brouwer off the ice ASAP!!!"



I'm not advocating firing every coach after every little mistake. But take that win streak away and this team was teetering on the edge and I'd bet Gulutzan was hearing footsteps.

I'd also guess that the lack of qualified replacements is a large part of why Gulutzan is even still here at all.

And finally, its not because he made 'a' mistake, its the nature of that mistake in conjunction with his other issues that have dogged him over the season.

I dont like the idea of just firing coaches for whatever reason, but Gulutzan is hanging by a thread and rookie mistakes like this are rapidly filling up the 'Fire Him' column.

The fact that the team needs crazy win streaks to even stay on the bubble is outrageous. Ok, we're not built fantastically, we're not a legit Cup contender, but we should be solidly in the playoffs.

[Tinordi]

If a 9 game point streak isn't enough to cure the hysteria then I'm sorry to say that the diagnosis is terminal.

Can I just ask that we quarantine the disease to this thread? Don't want it spread to other healthy adults.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

If a 9 game point streak isn't enough to cure the hysteria then I'm sorry to say that the diagnosis is terminal.

Can I just ask that we quarantine the disease to this thread? Don't want it spread to other healthy adults.

We can hold our "X game point streak" tight in the spring and summer if we're out of the playoffs and when we watch the Islanders use our pick.

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by nik-

The fact that the team needs crazy win streaks to even stay on the bubble is outrageous. Ok, we're not built fantastically, we're not a legit Cup contender, but we should be solidly in the playoffs.

98 point pace with room to grow and 36 games left. Essentially exactly where I thought they should be. If your issue is the lack of line change, excellent gripe! If you've extended to the usual line of "I was looking forward to a dream season where we were above the pack of good teams and had no stress over playoffs," then simply adjust your expectations to something along the lines of reality. Boom, no more outrage!