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

[browna]

Good coach in various ways, nice guy.
Player’s coach.

So was Jim Playfair.
More recently, given the same core as now, so was Glen Gulutzen.

Their shelf life of both was a year, before the dressing rooms dismissed them and their messages. That’s why Treliving got a style in Peters, and, the team had success with him to be the best in the WC for 82 games, and success under Hartley, for all his questionable tactics.

If the core stays the same, history will repeat itself and Treliving may be the one out as well.

I don’t think it has to do with money or organizational restrictions at all, pandemic notwithstanding as well; I think it has to do with Treliving going with what the players have made vocal to him since Ward took over.

[SportsJunky]

I think the players didn’t like or respect Peters. Maybe this is Treliving saying, “okay, you want an approachable, likeable coach? Let’s try that!”

I think Ward is fine. I’d hoped for a big name coach to step in but Ward seems like a good fit, I guess.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Of course, I hope Ward proves me wrong. He's not that bad. The Flames will probably make the playoffs next year.

I believe "Not that Bad" is the franchise motto. The Flames have it engraved in latin, in Papyrus font, above the Saddledome entrance.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Bingo

While I have Burke saying money's never been an issue in his time ... he was on the inside.

Peters wasn't looking for the cheapest guy. Not sure where salaries were when Darryl Sutter was hired, but he certainly wasn't the unproven bargain bin choice.

I just don't see how you can say clearly when it's "clearly" not.

Yeah with Burke coming out the way he did, I don't think we should be thinking our head coaching hires have been a result of the owners being unwilling to pay for a top tier head coaches.

I think it's more likely just a result of:

- us having poor/inexperienced general managers (Feaster was poor, Treliving inexperienced)
- desirability of the Calgary market for top tier free agents (coaches and players)

[DomeFoam]

I almost wish they would've hired a Gallant or Laviolette and then lost in the first round again next year to really drive home the fact that when Gaudreau and Monahan are your 'guys', you aren't winning jack ####.

[dissentowner]

Not my first choice but I can live with it providing BT does the right things to compliment the system Ward was using or Ward changes things more to a puck possession game. There is no point in being upset until we see how the roster ends up looking when all is said and done and what changes if any Ward makes to the way the team plays on the ice. It is what it is, no point getting upset about anything until we see how everything shakes out.

[Cycling76er]

Disappointed. I really wonder how this team would perform under a marquis coach. Doubt that I ever see that in my lifetime.

That being said, Ward isn't horrible by any means but I'm not fully conifident in his ability to push us deeper into the playoffs.

[sureLoss]

News Update

Pierre LeBrun @PierreVLeBrun
Ward signed a new two-year deal.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Read this and immediately flashed back to John Elway saying Tebow had earned the right to come into training camp as the starter.

And then went and signed Peyton Manning.

I don't think this is similar at all.
Even if you ignore the difference in sport/position.
Tebow was inexperienced and an unknown commodity.
Geoff Ward has been a part of an NHL coaching staff since 2007 ( and has a Stanley Cup Ring)

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

I think the players didn’t like or respect Peters. Maybe this is Treliving saying, “okay, you want an approachable, likeable coach? Let’s try that!”

I think Ward is fine. I’d hoped for a big name coach to step in but Ward seems like a good fit, I guess.

Isn’t this rinse and repeat?

Hartley too mean
Gulutzan too soft
Peters too mean
Ward potentially too soft?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I feel its both.
Core is toxic but for whatever reason we haven't seen anyone get much out of our core since Hartley in 2016 and even then it wasn't a complete buy in.

I think you mean 2015.

In 2016 Hartley coached them to a .470 record.

As for the core, JG and Monahan had bigger seasons under both GG and Peters. Backlund and Gio Too.

[jayswin]

Pros


- Great players coach, they love him and want to play for him
- Decent system for general good play


Cons


- Doesn't adapt to other team's systems very well, when it's needed
- Has no answer if another team adapts to our system, this is especially concerning during a 7 game series
- In game changes are few and far between




Overall, I'm less mad than I should be, as if I believed in this build and core this would be a very upsetting hire for us to try to get over the hump and become a contender. As it stands right now, I've come to the realization that this team needs another rebuild before it can compete, so therefor I'd rather the mediocre/okay coaching hire now, and then hopefully next time around we'll pay the price when the time is right.


Or maybe Ward can even grow into a top tier coach over the next few years and be there through the rebuild, who knows.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by DomeFoam

I almost wish they would've hired a Gallant or Laviolette and then lost in the first round again next year to really drive home the fact that when Gaudreau and Monahan are your 'guys', you aren't winning jack ####.

You almost wish the team has another bad season next year? That’s weird

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

News Update

Pierre LeBrun @PierreVLeBrun
Ward signed a new two-year deal.

haha what

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Bingo

While I have Burke saying money's never been an issue in his time ... he was on the inside.

Peters wasn't looking for the cheapest guy. Not sure where salaries were when Darryl Sutter was hired, but he certainly wasn't the unproven bargain bin choice.

I just don't see how you can say clearly when it's "clearly" not.

Agree to disagree I suppose? I have to look back so far as the hires during Treliving's tenure. I can't go back and ask what they paid for a guy like Sutter or even before that. Markets change. Costs change. Members of ownership have changed I believe.

But for every time Treliving has been faced with a coaching hire, top tier coaches who demanded top tier salaries were available. They were passed on. Given the lack of playoff success, you would think ownership would want to see that straightened out. Especially given what they pay for the roster and the talent they have given the green light for Tre to go out and sign in free agency.

But here we are.

[DomeFoam]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

You almost wish the team has another bad season next year? That’s weird

Nah, I want them to rebuild, because people aren't getting that the core isn't going to do it and a coach isn't on the ice with the players doing it for them.

[FlamesAddiction]

I think Ward is due for his chance.

All the big name coaches had to start somewhere. Honestly, I see an upside to having a coach that already knows the players.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

News Update

Pierre LeBrun @PierreVLeBrun
Ward signed a new two-year deal.

This I don't agree with, the term. Why would you give him an extra year? This was an easy 1 year show me contract decision. Seems like BT is good at throwing money away.

[The Professor]

Meh. Not too disappointed. I was hoping for a big name but I see the many reasons this makes sense. So much turnover behind the bench can’t be good. I think he did remarkably well taking over in tough circumstances and then coaching this recent oddity.

Those upset they didn’t look at anyone else, that doesn’t seem at all likely to me. I’m sure they were doing their due diligence, gauging interest and balancing it against the pros and cons of Ward.

I hope he is successful! Excited to see some other changes over the “summer” now!

[browna]

Originally Posted by Bingo

While I have Burke saying money's never been an issue in his time ... he was on the inside.

Peters wasn't looking for the cheapest guy. Not sure where salaries were when Darryl Sutter was hired, but he certainly wasn't the unproven bargain bin choice.

I just don't see how you can say clearly when it's "clearly" not.

And look what the team paid for Brent Sutter as well to get him from NJ.

Murray Edwards spent a ton of money on Burke, fully aware this his hire of the former GM pulled this team’s reputation into the sewer. After earlier that year opening the vault for Shanahan to come here.

Burke didn’t want to come here because he didn’t want to leave Toronto for family matters, Edwards had to convince him, hard, and with money, which is why Burke was only here a couple weeks per month and flew back to Toronto a few times a month.

The owners have spent 90% to the cap I would suggest, in the 15 years there has been a cap, in addition to charity work and a lot of other community initiatives. Money for coaches would not be a problem or restriction for any GM, Treliving legitimately seems to need to share the same mentality as his coach and that will trumpet any big names that cost big dollars. We will see if it’s to his detriment or not.