[News] UPD: Geoff Ward officially named the franchise's 20th head coach (2 year deal)

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

It's pretty amazing that before this news, the poll thread said that 85% of this forum wanted Ward gone, yet this thread seems to be much more in support of keeping him.

What changed?

Stockholm syndrome.

[ah123]

I think the Flames leaning towards Ward has more to do with finances and less with desire to win. I would not be surprised if we also see the Flames reduce the amount they spend on players...

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by dino7c

And Gallant would do that for you? Who do you want?

Gallant seems to be a favorite but he has had one decent year and never won...his record is VERY average

Would have been thrilled with Vignault when he was available, really wanted that but we got Peters (or was it Gulutzan at the time) and I think he would have suited this roster well. I would certainly take Boudreau. I'd take Laviolette. Heck, I'd even consider Sutter again. I think with these types of strong leaders behind the bench this team could go places. Gallant is a maybe for me.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Dion

Don't forget Hartley who should never have been let go.

Well, the three I mentioned went on to coach again in the NHL....two of them winning cups. One winning multiple Cups.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Would have been thrilled with Vignault when he was available, really wanted that but we got Peters (or was it Gulutzan at the time) and I think he would have suited this roster well. I would certainly take Boudreau. I'd take Laviolette. Heck, I'd even consider Sutter again. I think with these types of strong leaders behind the bench this team could go places. Gallant is a maybe for me.

can go wherever the hell he wants so yeah I would take Crosby too

Does Sutter even want to coach anymore?

the other two haven't proven anything when it comes to winning...Boudreau has had great regular seasons with stacked rosters and choked in the playoffs...Gallant has been average/bad other than one year that he almost won and that team fired him not long after.

Easy to say "get a winner"

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Dion

How many coaches do we have to go through before we realise the problem lies with the core.

If Wards is still the guy then BT still has to fix the problem. We could ship out players but if BT spends more assets, brings in more over-priced lazy players Ward isn't going to get that group any closer.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Crown Royal

With the recent 20% cuts in salaries to staff, it is less surprising the Flames are considering Ward. With the possibility of no ticket revenue next season, Treliving may have a tight coaching budget and Ward might be the best choice within that budget.

Ward wasn't my top choice, maybe not even top 5; but I have a hard time calling it a poor choice. After Ward took over as head coach, the Flames went 25-15-3, which is the 8th best record in the NHL (4th in West, 2nd in Pacific). We were 10th in goals per game, 3rd in PP%. He also led us to a series win over the Jets and had us in a position where we should have ousted the Stars.

We also can't discount the fact that people learn through mistakes and you have to think that was discussed by management and Ward

This logic doesn't really make sense, because it's not like all the teams aren't strapped for cash during the pandemic.

It's not like Boudreau's mindset is "if I don't get 5 million, I don't sign anywhere".

Why would a team without a coach suddenly have more of a coaching budget than Calgary?

[PepsiFree]

At very least it’ll be worthwhile seeing what Ward looks like as a proper head coach. Does he change up the staff? How does he look over a full season? Will the playoffs go differently while a rough loss and a big mistake to learn from?

It’s not a shiny new toy, but it is one we just took out of the packaging. At very least nobody can honestly say they know what to expect next season.

[TheScorpion]

If you want a new coach, pal, you're gonna pay for it.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I don't know if this is really pure speculation on his part just because there hasn't been news coming out, or if indeed he has had some outside sources that are in the know here. I guess we will see.


However, now the pressure really is on Treliving to make some big moves to the roster. I think when you change a coach, it is a 'big change' already, and you can just massage the roster a bit and see what the new coach does with the team, and then make your big moves the following season to the new coach's needs with whatever system he is trying to implement.


Calgary has yet again failed to make it out of the first round. You can't bring the whole gang back. There has to be some sort of change to the core group now. I am on record on being 'fine' with bringing back mostly the same team but with a new and experienced head coach to see if the core was indeed poorly constructed, or if it was the system. If Ward comes back, that question won't be addressed, but we already seem to know that Ward's system + this core = not great.


I guess we will see what happens now.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

This logic doesn't really make sense, because it's not like all the teams aren't strapped for cash during the pandemic.

It's not like Boudreau's mindset is "if I don't get 5 million, I don't sign anywhere".

Why would a team without a coach suddenly have more of a coaching budget than Calgary?

Sure, but every team has a different budget and is managing it differently.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

This logic doesn't really make sense, because it's not like all the teams aren't strapped for cash during the pandemic.

It's not like Boudreau's mindset is "if I don't get 5 million, I don't sign anywhere".

Why would a team without a coach suddenly have more of a coaching budget than Calgary?

What makes him a great coach? In 14 years as a head coach he has never won a cup...been past the first round 4 times (coached mostly high end talent teams)

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

This logic doesn't really make sense, because it's not like all the teams aren't strapped for cash during the pandemic.

It's not like Boudreau's mindset is "if I don't get 5 million, I don't sign anywhere".

Why would a team without a coach suddenly have more of a coaching budget than Calgary?

It makes perfect sense, especially when our ownership is about to spend hundreds of millions on a new arena. Not all teams will make cuts in the same areas.

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by dino7c

What makes him a great coach? In 14 years as a head coach he has never won a cup...been past the first round 4 times (coached mostly high end talent teams)

It's how it works. Flames hire someone experienced, and they are stupid because they hired a retread. They hire someone else, they are stupid for hiring someone without experience. Certain people expect nothing but their top choice or two and do nothing but bitch and complain when they don't get it.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by dino7c

What makes him a great coach? In 14 years as a head coach he has never won a cup...been past the first round 4 times (coached mostly high end talent teams)

Uh..you do realize that record is pretty much a monumental achievement around these parts, right?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Uh..you do realize that record is pretty much a monumental achievement around these parts, right?

Low bar, its not a "great winning coach" record

BB has coached some absolutely stacked rosters that choked...Flames haven't had anything close to those Capitals rosters since the glory days.

BB is more of a media name than a good coach IMO same with Gallant

"hire a winning coach like these guys who have coached for a million years and never won"

I would take Sutter over Ward but is that really realistic? and just nostalgic? maybe IDK

[djsFlames]

Will allow the Ward thing play out if they just make some changes to this core.

One or the other or both, please.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by timbit

There are 31 teams in the NHL.

1 WINNER every year.

30 LOSERS every year.

Tough gig.

So why try to be the best, too hard.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by dino7c

What makes him a great coach? In 14 years as a head coach he has never won a cup...been past the first round 4 times (coached mostly high end talent teams)

Agree, and to add to this, I can't think of one team he has 'turned around' and had them exceed expectations. If anything, his teams have consistently disappointed in the playoffs.



I wanted a coach with a track record of going to a team and having that team exceed expectations. Has Boudreau ever done that? I remember his teams as 'disappointments'.



Contrast that to Trotz. Replaces Boudreau and within a few seasons, wins a cup. Moves over to the 'lowly' Islanders, and suddenly that team is exceeding expectations too.


Heck, ignoring Hartley's personality and the way he deals with players, he has a better track record than Boudreau. Won a cup, and has pretty much taken every team he has coached and made them exceed expectations, even if didn't last long.



Laviolette has that track record. Sutter has that track record. I don't care about win/loss records - when you have basically only coached good teams, your win/loss record is going to be good. It means he isn't a crappy coach, but it doesn't mean he is a great coach either. I haven't ever seen him 'exceed expectations', unless I am forgetting something.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by zamler

So why try to be the best, too hard.

Who is your guy? Who should the Flames hire as a coach?