Should/Will the Flames keep Ward

[Racki]

Bruce Boudreau has always been my first choice. I would love to see this team hire a heart and soul guy like him. My only concern is that he gets so fired up I'd worry that he could have a heart attack on the bench. The guy gets so mad he turns purple. If there's any team that could put a man over the brink it's our beloved Flames.

[Petert]

I would like to see Darryl Sutter again if Gallant doesn't want to coach in Calgary.
Didn't he at one point expressed some interests?

Being a coach is never meant to be a nice guy, most of these players, especially our players, needed several kicks on their asses.
Most of the Kings hated Darryl, but Darryl got them the cups.

I am just so sick of all these magic beans who never worked out already.
Open the wallet and for a change, get an elite coach.
Another recent example, look at the wonders Trotz is doing with the Islanders.
The last few time our team had success, were all with elite coaches.
Terry Crisp, Darryl Sutter, and to a certain extend, Bob Hartley and even Dave King.
We somehow were never able to pickup the right magic beans ever.

[Toonage]

Hopefully someone with knowledge of the situation can clarify but was it not true that ownership wanted to go back to Darryl but Treliving pushed for Peters? Wonder what the conversation is like now if that was indeed the case.

[mile]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Hopefully someone with knowledge of the situation can clarify but was it not true that ownership wanted to go back to Darryl but Treliving pushed for Peters? Wonder what the conversation is like now if that was indeed the case.

I think it was Dreger who was talking about how Ownership liked Sutter and still had a relationship with him during that time.

https://www.tsn.ca/radio/edmonton-12...back-1.1061679

Would love Sutter as the coach, but my only worry is if he does get hired, do any former players speak up with any bad stories? Wouldn't want a repeat of Peters or Babcock again, and I think his name was thrown around or alluded by Dan Carcillo late last year.

Also thought it was interesting that Treliving said in his interview with the Fan960 today that he considered an outside hire during the Peters fiasco, but thought it wasn't the right move at the time because of the time it would take for the new coach to familiarize themselves with the team. Thought the biggest positive from Ward wasn't necessarily the structure, but how he restored the team's belief and mental strength during a time when they were still reeling from the loss to the Avs last year.

I'm hoping that Treliving feels that Ward has served his purpose and moves him back to Associate.

[NewFan]

One consistant thing the team was doing is easy but ineffective D system, which is depend in own zone and chip the puck out and hope forecheck and skilled forwards can score a goal or two. But in reality players are stuck in own zone too long and don't have energy to attack and goes for line change. Hope we can get a better coach.

[dissentowner]

The fact that Ward yesterday said he 100% would pull Talbot when he did in game 6 all over again instead of seeing what a blunder that was is a clear sign this guy is not the guy you want making key decisions behind the bench.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

The fact that Ward yesterday said he 100% would pull Talbot when he did in game 6 all over again instead of seeing what a blunder that was is a clear sign this guy is not the guy you want making key decisions behind the bench.

You expect him to tell the media that a decision he made like that was a mistake?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

You expect him to tell the media that a decision he made like that was a mistake?

No, but I don't expect him to say he would do it again either. If that is his mindset do you want a guy who thought it was a good idea to pull the guy who has been a rock back there in a 3-3 tie for a guy who had not started in months? Then he left him in after two straight weak goals to boot. Then he comes out and says he would do the same thing again. I like Ward but his decisions behind the bench hurt this team.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

No, but I don't expect him to say he would do it again either. If that is his mindset do you want a guy who thought it was a good idea to pull the guy who has been a rock back there in a 3-3 tie for a guy who had not started in months? Then he left him in after two straight weak goals to boot. Then he comes out and says he would do the same thing again. I like Ward but his decisions behind the bench hurt this team.

But that really doesn’t mean he would do it again. Or that he said that to management. Not like a wishy washy coach is what you want anyway, I just think expecting him to give any other answer to the media is asking for something that no coach would do.

And yes, it was a terrible decision.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Hartley's time with the Flames is romanticized because he got them to win a round, which is very rare around these parts, and always had a clever quip for the media.
But he was a bully and I don't have much time for people like that.
Doesn't mean Tre has made the right choices since. But just because he chose the wrong next coach, doesn't mean it wasn't the right decision to fire Hartley.

There are 82 games in the season before the playoffs. During that season Hartley got the team playing the most exciting hockey I can remember this franchise producing in decades, before the playoffs even started. It ignited rejuvenated interest in the team.

What he was like in the room, I don't know, and it may be that he deserved the axe for it, but in an ocean of disappointing and often boring hockey over the last decades, that season was a refreshing gift of fun. As someone who watches hockey for entertainment, of course I'll remember that fondly.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

There are 82 games in the season before the playoffs. During that season Hartley got the team playing the most exciting hockey I can remember this franchise producing in decades, before the playoffs even started. It ignited rejuvenated interest in the team.

What he was like in the room, I don't know, and it may be that he deserved the axe for it, but in an ocean of disappointing and often boring hockey over the last decades, that season was a refreshing gift of fun. As someone who watches hockey for entertainment, of course I'll remember that fondly.

I’ve heard Treliving and Burke both describe that season as “winning the masters by sinking 18 forty foot putts”. It was not sustainable, and if anything it was a lot of luck in come backs.

[Vinny01]

With Ward saying he is potentially open to remaining as Associate i do wonder if ownership nudges Treliving into hiring Sutter to take over the existing coaching staff?

In my opinion if they are even debating bringing back the same core something needs to happen and making this change would be a step in the right direction.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

I’ve heard Treliving and Burke both describe that season as “winning the masters by sinking 18 forty foot putts”. It was not sustainable, and if anything it was a lot of luck in come backs.

Winning the Masters by sinking 18 forty foot puts would be something worth remembering fondly.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

I’ve heard Treliving and Burke both describe that season as “winning the masters by sinking 18 forty foot putts”. It was not sustainable, and if anything it was a lot of luck in come backs.

Not an apt description though.

It was more like making the cut at the masters by sinking 18 forty foot putts.

Flames didn't win the cup that year, and ultimately that season saw the Flames miss out on a key piece of the rebuild in what ended up being a stellar draft while also trying to speed up the rebuild by dealing picks for NHL players

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

But that really doesn’t mean he would do it again. Or that he said that to management. Not like a wishy washy coach is what you want anyway, I just think expecting him to give any other answer to the media is asking for something that no coach would do.

And yes, it was a terrible decision.

Except he did say that.
https://theathletic.com/2020343/2020...trating-on-us/

To recap — facing elimination vs. the Dallas Stars and tied in the second period, the coach yanked Cam Talbot and sent out David Rittich … who hadn’t played a meaningful minute in more than five months … who promptly allowed three goals … who departed after less than 17 minutes of work.

“First of all, it wasn’t a panic pull,” said Ward. “Would I have made the pull again? Absolutely, 100 percent. Things happen in seconds on the bench during a game — you’ve got to make decisions.”

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Not an apt description though.

It was more like making the cut at the masters by sinking 18 forty foot putts.

Flames didn't win the cup that year, and ultimately that season saw the Flames miss out on a key piece of the rebuild in what ended up being a stellar draft while also trying to speed up the rebuild by dealing picks for NHL players

I guess some people find more pleasure in the armchair GMing than I do. Sustainability isn't everything to me. Lemaire got the Wild to the playoffs three times over his years there, including once to the conference finals, but that was a torturous team to watch.

I'm just a guy who watches games on TV. Give me unsustainably fun hockey over sustainable boredom any day.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

I guess some people find more pleasure in the armchair GMing than I do. Sustainability isn't everything to me. Lemaire got the Wild to the playoffs three times over his years there, including once to the conference finals, but that was a torturous team to watch.

I'm just a guy who watches games on TV. Give me unsustainably fun hockey over sustainable boredom any day.

Or, some people find winning in the playoffs to be enjoyable. Which has nothing to do with “armchair GM’ing”. I’m glad you were entertained, but it was an inflated winning percentage that did not reflect the team as a whole. Which became glaringly obvious come playoff time.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

With Ward saying he is potentially open to remaining as Associate i do wonder if ownership nudges Treliving into hiring Sutter to take over the existing coaching staff?

In my opinion if they are even debating bringing back the same core something needs to happen and making this change would be a step in the right direction.

I am surprised Treliving hasn't gone this route already; Sutter may have a short shelf life but the players would learn what it takes to win and even after a few years time with a different coach you have players that know they have that ability to raise the bar. The current players by their own admission are not sure what it takes to get past the first round. This is a pretty good indication anything less than an experienced coach isn't going to give them confidence. More worrisome is the letdown off losing the first round, will they follow that up with a poor season?

Sutter was very detailed, his teams being very confident in winning close low scoring games, a sign of confidence plus commitment to play a certain way. Sutter isn't the only coach but he may be available and affordable. Why not sign him to a short term contract and go from there. If the Flames add Hall, he would be inheriting a team with some skilled talent.

Not sure why Treliving keeps taking the long route, he reminds me of someone who has to learn his "own way". That can be good, or bad but I would rather we went for the sure thing. Treliving seems stuck with the process but maybe it' time we skipped the process and hired an experienced coach.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I wonder if Carcillo's accusations against Sutter are a factor at all. I'm not saying they are true or not, but certainly the world has changed and teams are going to be sensitive to those types of behaviors, moreso than in the past.
I'm on board with hiring a experienced and successful coach, but would prefer the team not look to the past for that.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I wonder if Carcillo's accusations against Sutter are a factor at all. I'm not saying they are true or not, but certainly the world has changed and teams are going to be sensitive to those types of behaviors, moreso than in the past.
I'm on board with hiring a experienced and successful coach, but would prefer the team not look to the past for that.

I have thought about this, not sure I have a good answer. There is likely newer league and team policies that have been put in place that Sutter would have to adhere to. It may be to some degree the reason he has not been rehired. With some former players in the organization you have to wonder. I am using Sutter as an example because he got clear tangible results and maybe could be had for a bargain price, but would be open to whoever is available.

That said, Treliving should "act quickly" and raise the standard on his coaching hires, or we might just see another wasted season.