The trials and tribulations of Glen Gulutzan

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Would Bruce Boudreau even be a significant upgrade? His Minnesota Wild team wildly underachieved last season and was bounced out of the playoffs as fast as we were and this season his team is just 1 point ahead of us. That Wild team is also at their peak unlike our team which is still young and learning how to be consistent.

Again, your argument is that the new guy might not be better.

That is NOT a valid reason to stick with the current guy.

We KNOW this guy isn't getting it done. Time to look elsewhere.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Well you said you were specifically talking about last night’s game so I was wondering why you thought the coaching was so “different.”

And I have already answered that too.

1) they support each other better
2) they immediately turn north, as soon as they get the puck.
3) they go to the net reigiously
4) they send pucks to the net, to actually utilize the screens they set up
5) the coach was continually talking to his players on the bench, whether it be encouragement, review of a play, or whatever
6) they had a well-structured PP
7) they forechecked relentlessly, and with purpose

off the top of my head

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Special teams could have won them many of those close games. Even 2 or 3 wins instead of losses makes a huge difference

Special teams are about individuals executing. That’s not happening right now because the personnel aren’t getting it done. Losing Versteeg has certainly plummeted the performance based on the stats. But one thing I do know is that it’s the exact same coaching staff and system that ranked in the top 10 last season.

This team’s problems go beyond the powerplay. Just look at all the others teams that are ahead of us in the standings with terrible powerplays, the Kings, Ducks, Blues. Even the best team in the conference the Golden Knights don’t have a great powerplay. You don’t need one to be a great team. It helps, but it’s not a prerequisite .

[sureLoss]

Craig Button criticizes Gulutzan's system and the PP:

https://omny.fm/shows/sportstalk/is-...-flames-our-nh

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

FFS, that is not what I said. Obviously you only make the change with someone that you think will be better.

Your argument was essentially that making a change is a bad idea because the new guy might not be any better.

And I am saying that's a terrible argument. If the current guy isn't getting the job done, you have to make a change. Obviously part of that entails finding a suitable replacement, but I thought that was self-evident.

It’s your opinion that he’s not getting it done. In my opinion i think we have the right coach but a flawed roster. A coaching change could actually make things worse which isn’t out of the question.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Craig Button criticizes Gulutzan's system and the PP:

https://omny.fm/shows/sportstalk/is-...-flames-our-nh

Button absolutely nails it IMO

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

And I have already answered that too.

1) they support each other better
2) they immediately turn north, as soon as they get the puck.
3) they go to the net reigiously
4) they send pucks to the net, to actually utilize the screens they set up
5) the coach was continually talking to his players on the bench, whether it be encouragement, review of a play, or whatever
6) they had a well-structured PP
7) they forechecked relentlessly, and with purpose

off the top of my head

If it was such a coaching clinic by Gallant, then it wouldn’t have taken a miracle goal that was caused by our own player’s mistake in the dying minutes to change things around. I guess if Gulutzan had that we would’ve won 3-1 in regulation.

If that game showed me anything last night it’s that we have a team and a coaching staff that can hang with the big boys. The Knights are the best team in the NHL (points%) and our team played them well enough to win minus the flukey mistake. I think the coaching staff did a pretty good job in preparing this team yesterday because I’ve seen the Knights absolutely kick the doors down on other teams this season.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Craig Button criticizes Gulutzan's system and the PP:

https://omny.fm/shows/sportstalk/is-...-flames-our-nh

truth

[Toonage]

I said the same thing about the Flames PP on this board several weeks ago. Not sure how I feel about being on the same page as Craig Button.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Craig Button criticizes Gulutzan's system and the PP:

https://omny.fm/shows/sportstalk/is-...-flames-our-nh

Can't say I disagree with anything he said. The D DEFINITELY need to be more involved in the attack and offense.

I don't think Gulutzan is a good coach, I think he's average and his biggest downfall has been his inability or unwillingness to make adjustments. However, this team will not magically become a powerhouse overnight with a coaching change. There are still glaring holes in the roster that need to be addressed and Treliving has done nothing to remedy them.

[SportsJunky]

I respect Button’s opinions and this was a good listen.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

He probably would. It’s not easy to make the playoffs in this league and he did it despite that horrific start. 14 other coaches didn’t. If anyone remembers, this team went 40-23-3 after a 5-10-1 start. That’s a pretty damn next level record to me once the team adjusted to the new system.

It takes 2 things to be a next level team and I personally don’t think we have the right personnel in the bottom 6 to be that team. We’ve lost so many close games this season because we just can’t find extra scoring outside of the top 6. Elite teams in this league have a balanced scoring attack and we don’t have that. 80% of our goals among forwards are coming from the top 2 lines, that’s very top heavy.

Maybe I'm ruined from watching the Flames win the Cup, and then perpetually hoping for another. I do recall '04 when Sutter had guys like Donovan, Niemenan, and Oliwa in his bottom 6. And on defense there were the Dors.

Some coaches have the ability to find the right places for their players at the right times, to elevate their play. Gulutzan has the skill to send out exactly what just failed. And try it again. And again. And again.

[Ashasx]

132 games into Gulutzan's tenure, and I'm still scratching my head as to what the identity of this team is.

I was watching some OOT tonight and the energy, the pace, and the overall excitement of the games is a complete contrast to whatever it is the Flames are doing.

[Corral]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Craig Button criticizes Gulutzan's system and the PP:

https://omny.fm/shows/sportstalk/is-...-flames-our-nh

The same Craig Button who hired Greg Gilbert as the Flames head coach in 2001. Yeah he knows a lot about good coaching ....

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Maybe I'm ruined from watching the Flames win the Cup, and then perpetually hoping for another. I do recall '04 when Sutter had guys like Donovan, Niemenan, and Oliwa in his bottom 6. And on defense there were the Dors.

Some coaches have the ability to find the right places for their players at the right times, to elevate their play. Gulutzan has the skill to send out exactly what just failed. And try it again. And again. And again.

Bro, Oliwa played less than 4 minutes a game in the playoffs and was useful to get Iginla out on extra shifts throughout the game.

Oliwa saw less total icetime in 19 games than Tony Lydman did in 5.

Oliwa played literally ONE second of shorthanded time in 19 playoff games.

He leaned on Calgary's top 4 HEAVILY, Calgary's top 4 d all played over 24 minutes a night. To give you an idea on how much that is, Regehr was playing just 30 seconds shy of what Brodie averaged per game in 14/15. Engelland was playing 4 minutes less per game than Warrener did for the Flames in 04.

Suffice to say that your nostalgia is wonderful, but the places sutter found for guys who couldn't play was on the friggin' bench.

[Toonage]

Re: OOT
Leafs let their rookie defensemen join the rush. Flames don't even let their vet defensemen join the rush. To Button's point.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Bro, Oliwa played less than 4 minutes a game in the playoffs and was useful to get Iginla out on extra shifts throughout the game.

Oliwa saw less total icetime in 19 games than Tony Lydman did in 5.

Oliwa played literally ONE second of shorthanded time in 19 playoff games.

He leaned on Calgary's top 4 HEAVILY, Calgary's top 4 d all played over 24 minutes a night. To give you an idea on how much that is, Regehr was playing just 30 seconds shy of what Brodie averaged per game in 14/15. Engelland was playing 4 minutes less per game than Warrener did for the Flames in 04.

Suffice to say that your nostalgia is wonderful, but the places sutter found for guys who couldn't play was on the friggin' bench.

And I look forward to the day that Gulutzan learns that little coaching trick.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

And I look forward to the day that Gulutzan learns that little coaching trick.

the team has more guys who can't play than guys who can.

[Enoch Root]

yeah ok

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Craig Button criticizes Gulutzan's system and the PP:

https://omny.fm/shows/sportstalk/is-...-flames-our-nh

Everything he said is correct. The Gulutzan system is too passive. It's good for keeping goals out of net, which has been the case for the most part, but there's still times that the opposing team gets grade A chances, and Mike Smith has had to bail us out. Meanwhile, it's not good at creating grade A chances for. And I'm not talking about savable shots from good scoring location. I'm talking about great set ups that give the shooting a prime chance at scoring at an open net. The team scoring has dried up because these opportunities haven't been available.

It's all about risk/reward. The GG system is very low risk, and as such, low reward. The Flames don't have the NHL Team Canada roster out there that the 3 forwards for each line will be able to make magic happen and get goals by cycling around until they find an opening.

This team needs to be more assertive, and take a higher risk, higher reward approach. To add on to what Button said, I find this team is fairly passive in forechecking, and doesn't generate enough attack zone turnovers. (Which is what caused the Frolik goal against last night) They've invested into this defense for a reason. Trust that it and Smith can bail you out when the assertiveness results in a turnover. Get more goals off of the rush, and turnovers generated. And then apply that same energy into the PP which truly is slower than molasses in January. You got an extra man! Take advantage of it, and keep the opposing team on their heels.

2 goals per game is not gonna cut it. In the end it's not about how much goals you gave up, it's about having more than the opposition at the final. And their passive play is keeping them in the losing end more times than not.

Flames need to 'attack', and dictate the game by being aggressive. Play to win the game, rather than to not lose. Because doing the latter will result in not achieving the former. Say what you want about Hartley hockey and all the corsi BS and bad statistics, his teams were exciting and he did lead us to second round of hockey for the first time in over a decade as a result. And that was with a mediocre roster. GG has a better one.