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

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by jayswin

One thing worth pointing out is that Burke is a business guy with now lifelong friendships with people in the Flames organization. He would absolutely go on TV and defend Flames ownership against a claim that they are cheap whether they were or weren't during his time there.

I just hate this argument.

People say something that is a fact that actually isn't.
There's an actual insider that has contrary information.
Insider is making it up.

Sigh ...

[bax]

Another positive:

Having some consistency year over year will help. No need to come into training camp wondering what the new guy will be like. Ward gives his players ownership in team strategy and in their own development. I don't think motivation will be an issue under Ward.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Table 5

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

True.
At least it's better than the Oilers, their motto is just "That bad".
I wonder which players are projected to go 13 to 20 in the 2021 NHL draft, because that's where the Flames will probably pick again, like always.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

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.

Does this match whats left on Treliving's deal?

[The Professor]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Isn’t this rinse and repeat?

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

Or maybe ‘Ward is juuuust right’

[Bunk]

God, the Flames are such a low rent franchise a lot of the time.

This franchise has a long run of very unproven head coaches. Unwilling to spend on someone who has a real record of success. I fully expect to be on the search again in two years.

[browna]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

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.

Lines up with Treliving’s contract term remaining.....

[Fire]

I would have preferred Gallant, but I don't hate Ward coming back. The Flames had one of the best records in the NHL after he took over.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Toonage

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.

There you go again.

You don't know who was on their radar, and how those discussions went.

I think it's more than likely that there are two or three names of coaches that the Flames pursued in the last five years that didn't want to come to Calgary.

Can't say I know that for a fact, but it's a pretty easy jump given the UFA world in the last ten years.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by browna

Lines up with Treliving’s contract term remaining.....

Nope.

Tree's contract runs through the end of 2023.

G-dubya's contract runs through the end of 2022.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by FlamesNation23

I dont even understand why tre couldnt just at least interview some people prior to this. This is the same #### as when bill peters was hired. I hope it works out but this is just par for the course. I cannot get excited about a mediocre team that loves making mediocre decisions

And Gulutzan. Knows who he wants, and doesn’t hunt around. It feels strange to me, but what the hell do I know.

[Flash Walken]

Totally normal for a former GM to go on the local radio station to defend the owners from the fanbase perception that they are cheap.

Happens in every market.

Totally normal.

[burn_this_city]

Not surprised.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Toonage

To be fair this was a result of circumstance rather than coaching genius. He still plugged Ryan back in there before coming to the realization that he had something with Bennett & Dube

To be (actually) fair, this is essentially what NHL coaches do when they are looking for lines and matchups. More often than not, they try something new because of extenuating circumstances and either it works or it does not. It seems odd to me that anyone should withhold credit from Ward for doing what NHL coaches do. I think the fact that Ward started the playoffs with a new combination when he had the option of a different look speaks quite positively of his decision.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by browna

Lines up with Treliving’s contract term remaining.....

That may be but that means he is not looking out for the organization first if Ward fails and they both get canned. Then not only are you paying the last year of BT contract but you are paying a year of Ward not coaching for no good reason.

[bax]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

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.

More term = Less money

[Bingo]

I'm hoping there is more to Ward than we've seen.

He took over a team midway through a season in a rain storm of chaos. I would think he didn't change what he would have changed from Peters' system if he had the team from training camp on.

So maybe there is more systemic change to come?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

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.

I don’t know any examples of a one year coaching contract. Standard is three years. Two years is pretty much “yeah, we can fire you and only have to pay out one extra year”.

[djsFlames]

Well if you're not changing up the coach then you damn well better shake up the core.

Something need to change with the make up of the top six.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I’m not furious, but upset that we didn’t at least interview anyone else.

If nothing changes, here’s to hoping Ward can get this core somewhere.