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

[FlamesAddiction]

Trelivings next work evaluation interview will go something like this:

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/1305590675740581888

This reads just like the Family Guy "mystery box" boat meme.

People will talk about some top coaches being available, but I think Ward is the best guy for the job. He could even be a top coach!

Process.

[ricardodw]

My guess is that Ward did not get a raise from what he got paid last season.

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The League in general is in a very tight spot financially.

37 % of league revenue is from ticket sales. I do not know if this includes box seat sales and likely does not include corporate sponsors and arena concession revenue.

That means that the 20-21 revenue projections will be down by 40 %.


Anyone object to this logic so far?

----------------------

TV viewership for all sports is down by 15 - 20% (expect golf). Likely because of political activism by players.

Will there be an influx of revenue from increase in TV contracts?

Not likely but say that it breaks even and does not go down at all.

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Simple mathematics say that a 40 % drop in total revenue means that the 50% of revenue that goes to the players salary as stipulated by the CBA should drop by 40% and the owner's potion of the revenue will be down by 40% as well.

Each team was generating 164 M in gross revenue. The Players on the team got around 82 M and the Owners got 82 M to pay for admin and coaching salaries and travel and accommodation and interest payment on their loans.

In 2020-21 gross revenue for each team will be around 98 Million or for purposes of this exercise make it an even 100 M. 50 M to the players and 50M to the owners.

There would be absolutely no escrow being returned to the players from the 2019-20 season.... 12 cancelled regular season games would mess up the projected revenue of 164 M


Now the CBA negotiated salary cap based on projected 20-21 revenue should be 50 M.

The league has made it stay at 81.5 M But holding back 20% in escrow... meaning that the players will actually get paid 65.2 M . No expectations at all of players getting escrow Money back. In fact the players are borrowing against future revenues to tune of 15M per team.

The average ownership group will be taking a 82-50 - 32M loss PLUS an extra 15 M that they are giving to the Players A $47M loss from 2018-19

The year after that escrow will be 14-18%..??? ie the revenue will exceed 2018-2019 revenues. Tell that to any banker when negotiating an interest rate.

It would be basic financial insanity for the owners of the best case break even franchises (2018-19) not to have an internal cap of closer to 63M so that they don't have to take out a loan to pay their players.

The teams that are best case break even based on their 2018-19 revenue generation are the ones that were below 164M


Edmonton Oilers $154M
Minnesota Wild $149M
Tampa Bay Lightning $140M
Calgary Flames $138M
Anaheim Ducks $137M
Nashville Predators $135M
Buffalo Sabres $135M
Colorado Avalanche $130M
Carolina Hurricanes $128M
Ottawa Senators $127M
Winnipeg Jets $127M
Columbus Blue Jackets $119M
New York Islanders $115M
Florida Panthers $105M
Arizona Coyotes $102M


Anything over 62 M of cap salaries will be paid by borrowing.

When you start borrowing money to pay salaries you look to cut back all salaries that you can.



Flames will not be signing Hall to a 7M contract. Every team owner is looking to dump salary for draft picks or prospects.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

This reads just like the Family Guy "mystery box" boat meme.

People will talk about some top coaches being available, but I think Ward is the best guy for the job. He could even be a top coach!

Process.

Maybe he could actually win unlike the two most popular names around here

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by wpgflamesfan

If there's any positive to this it's the fact that only 3 coaches (Scotty Bowman, Dick Irvin and Tommy Gorman) have ever one the Stanley Cup with multiple teams.

Badger Bob would have done it if he hadn't been pushed out here. Though I suppose maybe then he doesn't go to Pittsburgh.

[Strange Brew]

Darryl was awfully close.

sigh

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Darryl was awfully close.

sigh

True, and I doubt history would have worked differently afterward (GM/coach-just GM-leaves town).

[Itse]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

This reads just like the Family Guy "mystery box" boat meme.

People will talk about some top coaches being available, but I think Ward is the best guy for the job. He could even be a top coach!

Process.

Pretty much. Treliving isn't selling this very well.

The best coach just happens to be the guy already here? That's a convenient coincidence. Maybe he should have been hired as a head coach to begin with?

Meh. Obviously it doesn't change anything, I'm still okay with Ward, but Treliving is sounding like a phony here.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Itse

Pretty much. Treliving isn't selling this very well.

The best coach just happens to be the guy already here? That's a convenient coincidence. Maybe he should have been hired as a head coach to begin with?

Meh. Obviously it doesn't change anything, I'm still okay with Ward, but Treliving is sounding like a phony here.

I read his statement that he agrees that this team isn't that great. This coach got the absolute best out of it that any coach could.

Treliving basically putting the onus on himself to improve the team.

[Dion]

Brian Burke says he's happy with the Ward signing.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/

[N-E-B]

Four head coaches with the same result. Why get mad about coaching anymore? I think it’s pretty obvious this team needs significant changes and the coach isn’t really the issue anymore. Gulutzan was the only coach they had that I thought actively brought the team down.

Ward had them playing good hockey (and discounting the win streak is totally unfair, I could just as easily discount a losing streak to make his numbers better). Did he make some weird moves? Yup. But I think you see that with every coach. They’re easy to blame when things go wrong.

The issue with this team has always been the playoffs. I didn’t look at any of the last 4 series (4-1 loss, 4-0 loss, 4-1 loss, and 4-2 loss) and think “gee we’re a top tier coach away”. It has always been an on-ice issue. They’ve been completely outclassed, outworked, and overwhelmed by their opponent every single time.

I’ll save my anger for whatever moves they do or don’t make when it comes to the players. Ward seems like a good guy, they had a winning % of over .600 with him, and the players seem to like playing for him. I get the desire for a top tier coach but I just don’t think it’s worth it to be as upset as some of you are over this. It’s not a sexy move but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad move.

[bax]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

This reads just like the Family Guy "mystery box" boat meme.

People will talk about some top coaches being available, but I think Ward is the best guy for the job. He could even be a top coach!

Process.

It's all subjective what a top coach is though. A coach that has had previous success? Go back too far and he's a retread or a dinosaur who the game has passed by. An up and comer? You risk bringing on someone who is too green and can't handle the big role.

People scream for Gallant, but he had a Stanley cup favourite playing .500 hockey. He has been unceremoniously dumped by 2 teams in in relatively short order. Players seem to give up on him quickly.

Coaching is hard enough to judge when you are with the team every single day. Judging from watching games on the couch is near impossible. We don't see what happens behind the scenes, we don't know how the players feel, we don't know what conversations are like between the staff.

I don't think anyway here thinks the Flames have the perfect roster and are a favourite to win the cup. It's about putting building blocks in place. I have a ton of faith in Ward.

I guess my point is that this just doesn't seem like the kind of news to really get worked up about given the amount of information we as fans aren't privy too.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by 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.

Just for another example on these two points, let's consider Jared Bednar for a second.

Remember when Patrick Roy rage-quit in August just before training camp was set to begin? The Avs scrambled to hire someone and settled on Bednar since he was just coming off a Calder Cup win in the AHL in pretty convincing fashion. They liked him so much that the Blue Jackets franchise gave him a new 2 year deal in July of 2016 as the leader of their AHL team.

However, Bednar was put in an impossible situation to succeed in Colorado, so he largely didn't:

On August 25, 2016, Bednar was named head coach of the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL).[3][4] Bednar's first season as an NHL coach was not successful. Due to the timing of his hiring–less than a month before training camp–he did not have nearly enough time to implement his own system. He also did not have enough time to hire his own staff, and had to make do with holdovers from his predecessor, Patrick Roy. Despite having talented players, such as Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene on the roster, the team regressed considerably and finished with only 48 points, the worst record in the league and the worst since the team moved from Quebec City in 1995.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Bednar

That's a pretty terrible beginning, and my perception at the time was that he was a terrible coach that was a panic choice because they didn't have anyone else to do the job. But, when you consider the situation he was asked to deal with, along with having no real NHL experience, it's no wonder he struggled so much...but his talent was there and needed time to develop.

In his second season with the team, Bednar guided the team to a 47-point improvement. The team faced some adversity early in the season with the distraction of Duchene's public trade request. Following the trade, Bednar guided the team to one of the hottest second half records and snapping a four-year playoff drought in the process. After the Avalanche's first round exit in 6 games to the Nashville Predators, Bednar was signed to a one-year contract extension on April 23, 2018.[5] A few days after signing a new contract, Bednar was nominated for the Jack Adams Award, given to the coach who is voted best in the NHL.[6]

Now, consider that Ward stepped in on a dime and took over, and yes, he was already part of the coaching staff, so the transition isn't as abrupt, but don't tell me he didn't have severe adversity to deal with as part of his transition to head coach. Still, the team had a very strong winning percentage and honestly looked better in the playoffs than I have seen them in a very long time (Monahan and Gaudreau notwithstanding). They had a set back against a Stars team that seems destined to go all the way to the cup, but they were close. So be it.

I'm not saying that Ward doesn't have things to learn or do better. He clearly does. But what do you think Bednar did with that 48 point season? Was it all a waste or did he figure out how to become a better coach in that time? The results say the rest about him. Nobody gave up on Bednar after a 48 point season even if he made plenty of mistakes (he definitely did). We shouldn't be so down on Ward for a few mistakes, because he has a lot of positives going for him when it comes to this team.

I think he's a very good coach who is learning how to be in the top job at the NHL level. That's an adjustment no matter who you are. He has won championships before as a head coach (2014/15 in the German DEL league), so he does have some pedigree as a winning head coach at the pro level.

I think my only point here is that Ward earned enough good will to be made the coach, and with his established rapport with the players, which by all accounts is exceedingly positive, it gives him an advantage over another big name coaching hire that would possibly come in and not have that same chemistry. Players tend to be better under coaches they like, respect, and have a positive relationship with. I think that strong established relationship is worth more than a great established head coach's reputation.

Just for another example on the other side of the equation, look at the impact Joel Quenneville, likely considered one of the (if not the best) coach of the last 20 years, had on the Florida Panthers. They went from 86 points to 85 points (prorated) from Boughner's season to Quenneville's. Literally, no impact whatsoever. Quenneville was brought in to teach defense and create a stronger system, which he did overall, but not enough to have any impact on the standings.

In the end, it's not about acquiring the big name guy, it's about finding the guy who is the right fit for that team. It's no secret that the Flames have been coach killers in the past, so it might just be difficult to find that secret sauce in a coach that is able to communicate with them but also produce results. I think we saw some of that with Ward in his short time, and there's enough there to think he can be a very good head coach if given the opportunity to operate under normal circumstances. Let's hope he becomes our Jared Bednar and takes the team to the next level. Hoping for him to fail just to confirm a pre-determined narrative is so antithetical to being a fan. Don't let the past dictate how you feel about the team. Every year is a new beginning and therein lies hope. Whenever this next season starts, I will be hopeful. I sincerely believe you all should be as well. Otherwise, your time might be better spent reading a good piece of literature or starting a hobby.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Darryl didn't fire Keenan, the owners did.

Darryl should’ve stuck by his man and walked the plank then - the trust was broken at that point.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

What’s the story there? They didn’t like not practicing the power play?

The team didn’t look good in the playoffs against the Hawks. Game 1 was close, and even though they did win 2 games, the overall impression was the Hawks bumrushed the Flames, and they didn’t appear prepared to play. Keenan himself said that after one loss.

They completely no-showed for Game 6, and that was that. Darryl fires Keenan, tells him it’s not something he would prefer to do, and Keenan asks “then why are you firing me?”

Because Murray, that’s why.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

This reads just like the Family Guy "mystery box" boat meme.

People will talk about some top coaches being available, but I think Ward is the best guy for the job. He could even be a top coach!

Process.

Or if we flip it using the same mystery box meme, we could talk about Ward having a known record with the Flames in his time actually coaching this team's players which is a +0.600% win percentage while any other coach joining this group to coach them is a black box.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

In the end, it's not about acquiring the big name guy, it's about finding the guy who is the right fit for that team. It's no secret that the Flames have been coach killers in the past, so it might just be difficult to find that secret sauce in a coach that is able to communicate with them but also produce results. I think we saw some of that with Ward in his short time, and there's enough there to think he can be a very good head coach if given the opportunity to operate under normal circumstances. Let's hope he becomes our Jared Bednar and takes the team to the next level. Hoping for him to fail just to confirm a pre-determined narrative is so antithetical to being a fan. Don't let the past dictate how you feel about the team. Every year is a new beginning and therein lies hope. Whenever this next season starts, I will be hopeful. I sincerely believe you all should be as well. Otherwise, your time might be better spent reading a good piece of literature or starting a hobby.

Excellent post and great perspective.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I can't say that I am not disappointed. There is room for and against this hiring IMO.


For:

• Unquestionably, the Flames improved under Ward over Peters
• It isn't Gulutzan
• Ward is familiar with the roster
• There is also the chance that the slower-transition type of system currently in place is not Ward's design, and maybe he felt there just wasn't enough time to implement the system that he felt was right
• If the Flames are going to try and sign Taylor Hall, this helps with that

Against:

• Slow transition still under Ward, and you can see that with lower point totals among defencemen - *but maybe it will change as noted above*
• Some decisions have been perplexing under Ward - i.e. Backlund on the wing for so long
• That goalie pull fiasco to end the playoffs
• Either poor adjustments, or total lack of ability to adjust to what Dallas was doing as the series developed

I am disappointed, but hopefully having some abbreviated hands-on experience as the head coach of this team, coupled with an off-season to figure out a system that better utilizes this teams' players and the benefit of a real training camp will allow for this team to take a step forward.


I hope he at least has long discussions with Treliving and is in the loop with the roster turnover this off-season. I have always felt that Darryl was an excellent coach, and he was an excellent GM while he was also coach. The more years away from the bench he was, the less of a pulse he had on the team. I hope Ward figures out a system that he wants to use and Treliving is able to move players in and out that make a better fit.


Well, I guess we will see what other changes are going to be made. I expected fairly big changes personally, starting with the coach, but as I said numerous times, I do think you can win WITH this core, it just needs more support.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

The team didn’t look good in the playoffs against the Hawks. Game 1 was close, and even though they did win 2 games, the overall impression was the Hawks bumrushed the Flames, and they didn’t appear prepared to play. Keenan himself said that after one loss.

They completely no-showed for Game 6, and that was that. Darryl fires Keenan, tells him it’s not something he would prefer to do, and Keenan asks “then why are you firing me?”

Because Murray, that’s why.

Because the team was out getting wasted the night before games in Chicago.

[Azhouse]

I couldn’t be more underwhelmed.