[POLL] Calgary Flames coaching change mega-thread—with poll

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I would change the question to "After the team allows a bad goal, what do you do to take control of the situation?", as it addresses the issue on hand (how does he demonstrate leadership in moments of adversity?), and not the symptomatic one you seem to be focused on (staring at the screens).

I am focused on it because it is specifically what has been claimed by some posters:

Originally Posted by StAlbertFlame

This is a problem...looking downward immediately after a play/goal against/penalty against or a major hit against(95% of the time a play that is negative for the Flames)... This looks bad, Dallas Eakins bad. The Flames video employees should be reviewing the plays and then tell the coach what to do. Keep the coaches focus on coaching.

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

Yes, I understand why he does it. But from a psychological and leadership standpoint, that physical act is counter to exuding an emotion of calm strength, of ‘It’s ok, we’ve got this.’ It’s more ‘I’m unsure what to do and I’m searching for answers.’...

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

My last comment on this, in a serious manner...

I wouldn’t fire a coach on this, and am certainly reluctant to make too harsh a judgment on this point. Talking about it on a fan message board is as serious as it deserves. The question of if it has any real impact on team performance and how much is legitimate, and it is just a subjective judgment of possible deeper deficiencies that may or may not exist.

What I can say is that I would try to avoid it if I were in a position like his, or any leadership position involving human performance. I am not criticizing him for merely the idea of looking at an iPad, but the frequency and timing of it I would personally try to mitigate if I were in that position.

In fact I could see it being something I did without even thinking about it until someone else pointed out how it looked, then I would try to modify that behaviour.

I am sure GG is a great person, and only have any desire to analyze his performance as a coach. Both the on ice tangible decision making, as well as the harder to judge soft skills; leadership, motivation, emotional engagement.

So I really don’t know if it has any actual effect on performance, but in a small way it wouldn’t surprise me if it does.

For me, constantly looking at his iPad says "I can't follow the game" and reinforces the idea that he puts too much emphasis on stats.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by cgydom88

I think you meant Gulutzen.

Both of them are among the worst coaches in the league.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Red

It's about perceptions. He does it all the time. It's as if he cant look the guys in the eye because he has no answer. He hides by looking away.

Whose perceptions? Yours? The players's? The other team's?

This distinction is important, because if a coach decides that placating TV viewers on the basis of what they might or might not believe on the basis of EXCLUSIVELY what they see is a bad way to do his job.

Am I correct? Maybe, maybe not. But there is lot to be said about people that instill confidence and have a presence. GG looks confused and unsure of himself most of the time. It's magnified by reviewing every goal against, as if he never saw it live. Can a player look up and say "yup, this guys will figure it out" ?..nope.

I would agree with this, but I disagree that the act of viewing a replay has any tangible impact on the command of respect or confidence. You are forming interpretations about a person that I suspect you have never met or spoken to purely on the he basis of stringently selected snapshots in time. In this context such opinions really are completely meaningless and futile because you are extrapolating your feelings for a larger group.

[Roof-Daddy]

No Quenneville?
No Tippett?

..but Bill Peters might be available? Oh yay....

Amazing track record he has.

lol

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by redforever

For me, constantly looking at his iPad says "I can't follow the game" and reinforces the idea that he puts too much emphasis on stats.

For me, constantly looking at his iPad says "I want to ensure that I have seen everything there is to see, because I am not so ignorant to believe that I have all the information I need from 30 metres away from the goal."

For me, working hard to access and understand all the available data as opposed to trusting one's own faulty first impressions is a sign of self awareness, confidence and strength. It is a sign that one is eager to learn, and not set in what he thinks he already knows.

So, which one of us is right?

[Shazam]

I thought he was playing Candy Crush.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by redforever

For me, constantly looking at his iPad says "I can't follow the game" and reinforces the idea that he puts too much emphasis on stats.

It is hard to see the details of how a goal was generated in real time. That's why replays exist.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I am focused on it because it is specifically what has been claimed by some posters:

It’s brought up because it directly ties into how he handles adversity (which almost always comes in the form of bad, soul-deflating goals against). Which is why body language and ‘presence’ with respect to leadership has been elaborated on in the posts you quoted. And why Eakins and his soulless blank face was mentioned.

When people are targeting his screen-staring post-goal to needle, it’s not the act itself they’re upset about, it’s what the act signifies and it’s backed up by the context of being a recurring theme with Glen that’s thrown a wrench into team performance and identity all season.

Originally Posted by Textcritic

For me, constantly looking at his iPad says "I want to ensure that I have seen everything there is to see, because I am not so ignorant to believe that I have all the information I need from 30 metres away from the goal."

For me, working hard to access and understand all the available data as opposed to trusting one's own faulty first impressions is a sign of self awareness, confidence and strength. It is a sign that one is eager to learn, and not set in what he thinks he already knows.

So, which one of us is right?

Always attempting to be the smartest, most learned guy hasn't availed him - it's likely the reason he's lost the room. The results speak for themselves.

I get that he's trying to help his team. It's just not the right kind of help, and not what this team needs. The team needs a leader behind the bench, not a genius.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

For me, constantly looking at his iPad says "I want to ensure that I have seen everything there is to see, because I am not so ignorant to believe that I have all the information I need from 30 metres away from the goal."

For me, working hard to access and understand all the available data as opposed to trusting one's own faulty first impressions is a sign of self awareness, confidence and strength. It is a sign that one is eager to learn, and not set in what he thinks he already knows.

So, which one of us is right?

Why does one of us have to be right?

Some of us see it one way, some another, so what? It is our opinion.

It is also my opinion that all the iPad stuff should be the responsibility of the gazillion assistants employed. You don't have to agree...it is my opinion.

[VladtheImpaler]

It's a very minor issue in the big scheme of issues with this franchise, but what you describe, Textcritic, is how an assistant can/should behave. When you are THE leader, it's a bad look/poor leadership - it says "I am not sure what to do, let me consult my notes/tablet". You have assistants to do that in-game and you can spend time studying between games. During the game you have to show (even if it's not true) that you are in command, are prepared and have all the answers. Speaking from experience, though not as a head coach. Management 101.

[Shazam]

I think at this point in the season him staring down at that thing is almost like a crutch for him. It's how he tunes out the rest of the world.

Anyhow, listening to post-game shows when the coaches speak hurts. Just mostly deflection and passing the buck.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

It’s brought up because it directly ties into how he handles adversity (which almost always comes in the form of bad, soul-deflating goals against). Which is why body language and ‘presence’ with respect to leadership has been elaborated on in the posts you quoted. And why Eakins and his soulless blank face was mentioned.

When people are targeting his screen-staring post-goal to needle, it’s not the act itself they’re upset about, it’s what the act signifies and it’s backed up by the context of being a recurring theme with Glen that’s thrown a wrench into team performance and identity all season.

I would disagree that it "signifies" anything beyond what each of us individually imagines. And all this conversation does is provide ample evidence for how active our own collective imaginations are. This whole discussion has been a grand exercise in confirmation bias.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

For me, constantly looking at his iPad says "I want to ensure that I have seen everything there is to see, because I am not so ignorant to believe that I have all the information I need from 30 metres away from the goal."

For me, working hard to access and understand all the available data as opposed to trusting one's own faulty first impressions is a sign of self awareness, confidence and strength. It is a sign that one is eager to learn, and not set in what he thinks he already knows.

So, which one of us is right?

Does he do something with this information immediately afterwards? Or could he examine replays later, say during intermission?

I couldn't give 2 cents about him looking at an iPad after a goal, and it's far from the biggest problem this team faces, but even the GM has talked about how the team handles pressure and adversity so perhaps the coaching staff should think about what they can do in this regard. And it's possible that the moment after a goal is the time to reinforce certain messages to the team vs. video analysis.

It seems apparent the mental makeup of the team is not where it needs to be, so questioning the demeanor and actions of the coaching staff during the game doesn't seem totally ridiculous to me.

Can you think of other great coaches who do film review during the game? It seems like more of an after game type thing to do.

At some point you have to ask yourself why this coaching staff couldn't get more out of this team. I am not too hard on posters who are trying to answer that question.

[Scroopy Noopers]

I have NHL game centre so every night I flip on 1 or 2 different games and watch at least part of them.

Every coach in the league is looking at iPads between plays. This isn’t a valid argument and it’s painful the read. Almost old man like.

Bring some substance. I don’t want GG here either.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by redforever

Why does one of us have to be right?

Some of us see it one way, some another, so what? It is our opinion...

Exactly. But not all opinions are equal. In this particular instance the thought that checking a replay contributes in any way to team morale is a huge leap to make from a vacuum of actual evidence. The same goes for my counter-opinion. It is a confirmation bias stemming from a pre-existing dislike for the coach, and marshalled to support the conclusion. The conclusion itself may be correct, but the argument is feeble.

[8sPOT]

Quenneville will NOT be available next season, Blackhawks are keeping him around.

https://www.tsn.ca/blackhawks-to-ret...ille-1.1047882

[direwolf]

Hopefully Treliving won't wait too long to snap one of these guys up. No doubt all the names we've discussed will be fielding multiple offers.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

Then Hitchcock might be available.

I think Hitchcock is rumored to be retiring at the end of his current coaching contract. I wouldn't expect him to coach anywhere else if he's let go.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I think Hitchcock is rumored to be retiring at the end of his current coaching contract. I wouldn't expect him to coach anywhere else if he's let go.

Hitchcock had a good career but it clearly looks like he's run his course in the NHL as he hasn't led his past few teams to the desired results.