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

[dino7c]

Gallant and BB have never made mistakes? Amazing considering they have never won

[bax]

Ward took over in the middle of a chaotic season where Brodie collapsed on the ice during practice, the team was thrown into a whirlwind of drama due to a racist coach, and a global pandemic paused the entire season and he still had them playing pretty good hockey. It would have been all too easy for the players to pack it in.

Ward had the team motivated and playing for each other. It's well documented that the players loved him for his communication and teaching style, while implementing ownership in the teams systems and individual development. For the first time since Hartley the team seemed to have some self belief.

He is still a rookie head coach so he isn't perfect, but I think he will only get better with more experience. Like Scorp said, the big names didn't start out as big names. Even then he does have a cup to his name and runs a really strong powerplay.

I think he can be a great coach in this league. On the scale of coaches his style is much more Jon Cooper than he is John Tortorella. Communication, teaching, empowerment, and ownership. He has a really good formula, it's just a matter of putting it all together.

It makes sense to bring him back just to bring some stability to the team after that crazy season. Everyone will know what to expect right from the hop. More time to implement any system changes that he may want to as well.

And I won't be mad if his presence helps lure in Taylor Hall.

[DomeFoam]

I would be upset if hiring a big name meant not shaking up this core. This likely means we get much needed roster changes with Wards input based on what he saw.

He almost took out the Dallas stars with his third line. Imagine what he could do with a competent first! I look forward to seeing what he can do, hopefully with a much different group heading into next season.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Did the players tune out Ward like they did the others? I don't believe so.

Honestly, does it even matter who the coach is with this group? The existing composition isn't going to adjust or evolve further than they have. At this point, they are what they are.

With lackluster offensive talent down the middle, this team needs exceptional wingers to pick up the slack. Hopefully another tweak via trade and possible addition via prospects and free agency will give the group some additional firepower. Unless Treliving is willing to make another massive trade as he has in the past, I don't see the fortunes changing anytime soon no matter who is at the helm.

[Flash Walken]

Ward is the best coach that was willing to come to Calgary on a 2 year deal, I have no doubts about that.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Dissapointed by this move.

Boudreau and Gallant both available and the Flames end up with a guy that made some obvious mistakes in the playoffs (keeping line out for last 3 minutes of game 4, pulling Talbot in game 6)

Probably never on the cards for ownership to agree to pay more for a coach though when they never have before, and especially with the economy the way it is.

From a few years ago:

Boudreau should be fired for the simple fact that he's not a very good coach in the postseason.

Boudreau's mistakes are head-scratching, and they almost always seem to stem from his goaltender selection. He has a habit of meddling with his netminders at ill-opportune times in the playoffs, and his risky gambles never seem to pay off.

The feud between Boudreau and starting goaltender Jonas Hiller started late in the regular season but carried over to the playoffs, where it escalated in the second round. After trailing 2-1 in the series, the Ducks won the next two games after Hiller was replaced by 20-year-old rookie goaltender John Gibson.

It wasn't the first time Boudreau changed up his goaltender in the playoffs.

Gibson was shredded for four goals in Game 7 against the Kings before getting pulled early in the second period. Los Angeles would go on to win 6-2.

Boudreau's history of questionable calls in the playoffs has always hurt his team, and he has never even advanced to a conference final. It's no secret that Alexander Ovechkin and Boudreau didn't see eye to eye when the latter was in Washington. How long before Boudreau alienates more of his players in Anaheim?

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...n-performances

Point being, people here think BB is a overall a good coach and yet he's made the same kind of mistakes as Ward did once.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

But the Flames usually go for retreads who haven't succeeded on their previous NHL stops.

I'm not sure that's really building your case. Whether you qualify them as retreads or rookies, none of their unproven hires ever go on to be a big name...at least not on this continent.

The last time they hired someone with a track record who was still considered a legit top-tier coach, they went to the Finals. Lesson not learned I guess.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I'm not sure that's really building your case. Whether you qualify then as retreads or rookies, none of their unproven hires ever go on to be a big name...at least not on this continent.

The last time they hired someone with a track record who was still considered a legit top-tier coach, they went to the Finals. Lesson not learned I guess.

Nah, the last time they did that, they got Brent. And they became the worst team in the NHL to watch.

[Atodaso]

I hope a year from now we can all look back at this thread with the benefit of hindsight and laugh at the negative reactions aging like milk.

We shall see.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Table 5

This is always the reasoning given with these coaching decisions, but when's the last time a Flames coach has went on to be a big name? Or even a consistent name.

If you're using the same strategy for 3 decades and getting the same crappy result, maybe try something new?

Have all coaches in the last 30 years fit the mould of a newer HC who might become a big name?

I don't think so.

Ward has as many Stanley Cups behind the bench as Laviolette, Boudreau, and Gallant combined. And he's the only one to get his name on in the last decade.

Feels like people just want a name because it feels good. What makes anyone believe that a big name/consistent name would strategically be any better than Ward?

I wanted Gallant because I like the system he plays and I think it would work in Calgary. Ward, I'm not sure, we'll have to see what he looks like with a full year to work with. Frankly, I don't give a #### if the Flames go after a "name," who cares? Keenan and Hartley brought us so many Stanley Cups, didn't they?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Haha I'm just having some fun with this at this point. Just responding to your post, but nothing really directed at you.

I just think it's funny how as fans we look for a missing piece or an explanation for some of these moves, because we obviously don't see any explanation on the ice. The only possible explanation is that we must expect some other change within the system, or some other shoe must drop. That's the only way these moves make sense.

I'm certainly not pro Ward.

But I dislike the make up of the team and the core more than I dislike the head coaching decision.

Guess it means to me that he'll have to change the core now or risk bringing back the exact same equation.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Nah, the last time they did that, they got Brent. And they became the worst team in the NHL to watch.

I know you keep trying to make it so, but Brent was not a legit top-tier coach with a proven track record. He had two years of NHL experience.

Besides, if he was a legit top tier coach, someone would've given him another chance after the Flames.

[DomeFoam]

I think the players are who they are and its tough to change a Monahan into a play driver, or tough to prevent Gaudreau from shying away from the corners. Gallant could scream at them until they hate him though.

[mrdonkey]

Based on historical precedent, those expecting big roster changes to accompany this are likely setting themselves up for disappointment...

More of the same appears to be the order of the day. Made the playoffs, mission accomplished.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Atodaso

I hope a year from now we can all look back at this thread with the benefit of hindsight and laugh at the negative reactions aging like milk.

We shall see.

I hope this every single season. Turns out the negative reactions are often correct.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Ward is the best coach that was willing to come to Calgary on a 2 year deal, I have no doubts about that.

Guessing this isn't really a two year deal.

It's a two year extension on his existing deal that was probably reworked.

Lands as a standard three year deal.

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by 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.

I'd love for someone to explain to me the importance of an interview when the hockey community is so small that you can get all the information you need about potential hires without even talking to the person? The only candidates that might add something important to an interview are assistant coaches and minor league coaches.

Burke has talked about this, an interview should be to confirm what you have already heard about the person. It is a formality and a good interview won't win you a job, but a bad one could lose you the job.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Gallant and BB have never made mistakes? Amazing considering they have never won

Stanley Cup-winning GMs and coaches are nice, but in a 32 team league, it starts to become a little less important.
Plus, luck is a large factor in the playoffs. Goaltending alone has a gigantic impact.

This is especially true when Chicago, LA, and Pittsburgh have won so many of the last 15 or so cups.

Plus, times change quickly. Sutter has 2 cups. But you can make an argument that the optimal styles of NHL play has already changed a lot since then.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I know you keep trying to make it so, but Brent was not a legit top-tier coach with a proven track record. He had two years of NHL experience.

Besides, if he was a legit top tier coach, someone would've given him another chance after the Flames.

Brent had just come off 46 and 51-win seasons. I don't think he was perceived that much different than how Gallant is seen now.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I find the whole narrative around how long he searched for, who he interviewed, what owners are willing to spend money on, etc. to be really strange.

Treliving is the GM. None of us actually know what goes on behind the scenes, but the result is what it is. Whether Treliving signs Ward or Gallant, he likely knows their success or failure at this point is his success or failure, and is going to dictate his fate. He's going to pick what he feels is the best coach available to the Flames because he knows what's at stake. If it works out, great, if not, Treliving is probably in trouble.

Doesn't matter to me how many people he interviewed or who was willing to come here. We don't know, we can only see how we go from here.

The problem is "what he feels best" has ended up in consistently poor coaching choices. He no longer gets the benefit of the doubt here.