The trials and tribulations of Glen Gulutzan

[redforever]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

I think GG is smart, but I don't think his assistants are getting the job done. GG probably trusts their decisions which is why he won't make the obvious decisions\changes. If it were a guy like Darryl he would be telling the assistants how he wants it done and then he would make the on ice decisions from there. In order for GG to become a better hands on coach he should be an assistant to a guy like Darryl; But even then I don't know if that would translate passion, emotion, leadership behind the bench.

The Flames sorely needs someone who knows how to push the right buttons, make appropriate changes and who knows that winning at all costs is the difference between making the playoffs. I am speculating but I think the reason we don't see GG making those types of changes is because the assistants are pulling a lot of the on ice strings.

Edit: GG is a smart hockey coach but doesn't appear to be a master motivator.

If GG blindly trusts the decisions of his assistant coaches, even though those decisions do not equate to a good product on the ice, then GG is not smart.

Smart coaches would make those adjustments.

[Mattman]

Seeing the players reaction after we get scored on normally doesn't affect me. But I don't think I've seen any team look so afraid, so utterly hopeless, so dumb-founded and shell-shocked when the camera pans up to them seconds after being scored on.

The toughest part about watching this team right now isn't the losses, it's seeing the struggle, the emptiness, and the lack of emotion in players who are being put in the path of failure.

Best example I can think of for this so far is Mike Smith and his "WTF" type of reaction to goals at the start of the season.
Hot-headed? Maybe.
Passionate? Yes
On Saturday night, when he was left in net, you could see how quickly he lost that emotion as the Oilers kept scoring. This is a textbook example of how a player loses faith in a coach. He played fine, not great but he's still left in net too look like a dud. Mike Smith has been one of the MVP's on this team and possibly the most solid starter since Kipper. What does being left in net like that do to someone's confidence?
Well we're already starting to see an emotionless Mike Smith.

A direct result of Glen "Apathetic" Gulutzans coaching.

This team needs an attitude adjustment, and I don't think that's coming from this coach.

[Ashasx]

From Tyler Dellow of the Athletic today:

The thing that kind of catches my eye about Calgary is that they're a team that I perceive to have some real depth issues up front but they don't really try to mitigate that by getting more minutes from their top forwards. The first line plays less than a typical first line. The Backlund line doesn't play much more than the typical second line. The fourth line plays more than the typical fourth line. It's strange, given the makeup of their team.

The fact that the Johnny Gaudreau/Sean Monahan line is playing less than you'd expect while the fourth line plays more than you'd expect is very easy to see here. Over the course of the season, the Monahan line will play about 60 fewer minutes than a typical first line if things continue as they have. An interesting question for the Flames to consider would be whether they're getting fewer minutes out of that line in high leverage situations – situations where the game is on the line. It's one thing to pull back on the Monahan line in games like last night's loss to Philadelphia but if Calgary's doing it with the score close as well, they might be leaving some value on the table.

The funny thing about Calgary's equitable usage of the forwards is that it definitely isn't happening with the defencemen. The third pair gets fewer minutes and is heavily sheltered from top six forwards. Subject to issues of guys burning out, this seems pretty sensible to me.

https://theathletic.com/173683/2017/...n-5-this-year/

So the Flames have worse depth than other teams, yet play their depth on average more than other teams.

[Ashasx]

Whether it's an inability to line match or an inability to understand the importance of it, that's rookie level coaching and is simply unacceptable at any professional level.

What does Gulutzan even do behind the bench if he's just rolling four lines? It's pure insanity. He doesn't even need to be there.

[Otto-matic]

I have a feeling if the flames go 0-2 on the back to back. GG is being served his walking papers.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

From Tyler Dellow of the Athletic today:



https://theathletic.com/173683/2017/...n-5-this-year/

So the Flames have worse depth than other teams, yet play their depth on average more than other teams.

I generally don't like to criticize coaches too much because ultimately I think it's the players on the ice that win you or lose you games. But I will admit, this is one of the more perplexing decisions Gulutzan tends to make in games. There's an obvious ledge between the top-6 and the bottom-6 in terms of effectiveness and driving play. The top 6 can win you games by themselves, especially the 1st line. So it's hard to understand why Gulutzan doesn't play the top 2 lines more than the average, especially because of the steep drop off.

It's like if Mike Smith represented the top 2 lines and Eddie Lack represented the bottom 6 lines. There's a big difference there, so why is he ok with riding Mike Smith so much, but unwilling to do the same with the forwards. I don't know if he's one of those player's coaches who feels bad for not giving fair ice time to all his guys, but it's very clear that the 4th line is a detriment to the team and should be playing less.

It's a very simple concept to me: Play the top 6 more = higher chance of winning the game. Play the bottom 6 more = higher chance of losing. Don't live or die by the 4th line.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

From Tyler Dellow of the Athletic today:



https://theathletic.com/173683/2017/...n-5-this-year/

So the Flames have worse depth than other teams, yet play their depth on average more than other teams.

I'm not sure how anyone can defend that. The frustrating thing about Gulutzan's unorthodox methods is that the end game isn't clear. I suppose he feels that deep into games his first line should have more energy due to less utilization but that only makes sense if they are playing in a lot of tight games. Their losses are usually blowouts and when you are behind you should be playing your top lines as much as possible in hopes of closing the gap. Also if his thinking is that his top line will be fresh at the end of the year that's not going to help if you are out of the playoffs. Just bizarre and quite frankly I don't understand how the GM has allowed this to continue.

[Toonage]

So to those folks that suggest the 4th line isn't playing as much as is being complained about, there you go.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm not sure how anyone can defend that. The frustrating thing about Gulutzan's unorthodox methods is that the end game isn't clear. I suppose he feels that deep into games his first line should have more energy due to less utilization but that only makes sense if they are playing in a lot of tight games. Their losses are usually blowouts and when you are behind you should be playing your top lines as much as possible in hopes of closing the gap. Also if his thinking is that his top line will be fresh at the end of the year that's not going to help if you are out of the playoffs. Just bizarre and quite frankly I don't understand how the GM has allowed this to continue.

This is one reason I think his assistants are running the show, and GG just doesn't have the ability to take the reins. It just makes no sense; almost as if someones trying to sabatosh any potential advantages. Line choices, defensive pairings, putting players into positions for extended periods of time that may not be a fit.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

almost as if someones trying to sabatosh any potential advantages.

Hmm, a coaching kudatah?

[Racki]

If you go back and look on an old HF Canucks thread about Willie Desjardins you'd see so many of the same complaints that you see here - particularly as it relates to the Tyler Dellow article referenced above.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Racki

If you go back and look on an old HF Canucks thread about Willie Desjardins you'd see so many of the same complaints that you see here - particularly as it relates to the Tyler Dellow article referenced above.

I remember it especially being a big focus of complaint during the 2014-15 playoffs. Just rolled 4 lines and people were angrily pointing at the lack of the Sedin twins icetime while they were being sat in favour of the 3rd and 4th lines.

I'm thinking it's a remnant of coaching under Desjardins. One coach I'd much rather he didn't take after one bit whatsoever.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Racki

If you go back and look on an old HF Canucks thread about Willie Desjardins you'd see so many of the same complaints that you see here - particularly as it relates to the Tyler Dellow article referenced above.

He did work with Torts as well and it's like he's almost anti-Tortorella. It appears he's picked the wrong coach to emulate. That said Desjardins did a lot more line mixing and I don't know if it can be confirmed if he was rigid in his LH/RH defense pairings like Gulutzan.

[Red]

His thoughts may be valid but first I'd like to understand how he concluded that the Flames depth is poor.

Is the bottom 6 a collection of bad players or good (relatively)players playing poorly/slumping?

Not that I want to stick up for GG or anything. But still, not all 3rd lines are equal so their usage should vary from team to team.

[Inglewood Jack]

well no sense rolling 4 lines if you don't have 4 to roll, but I don't remember a whole lot of complaints before opening night that we have a shallow roster.

so bad Gully for playing bottom lines too much, but also bad Tre for not addressing roster depth? or should we have been expecting the Flames to carry a load of deadwood into this supposed "all in" season?

[Toonage]

Even if depth is above average talent wise, the Flames top line was one of the hottest in the league but played below average time wise in comparison. Ride them.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Red

His thoughts may be valid but first I'd like to understand how he concluded that the Flames depth is poor.

Is the bottom 6 a collection of bad players or good (relatively)players playing poorly/slumping?

Not that I want to stick up for GG or anything. But still, not all 3rd lines are equal so their usage should vary from team to team.

But if the end result is the same, why does it matter? Whether the bottom 6 is inherently trash or good players playing like trash, they should not be getting as much ice time as they do. This is especially true since the 1st line has basically carried this team for a large chunk of their wins.

[Poe969]

I think the Flames are in a position where they can't really fix the bottom line that much. Brouwer is here with a bad contract. He's a mistake that needs to be dealt with but the team is stuck with him for now. Stajan is almost done so they're just riding it out at this point. They put a lot of stock in Lazar so they want to give him a chance to turn it around. I don't think there is much to be done. They're not going to send those guys down to the minors so baring some kind of injury, that's the line we're stuck watching.

[Red]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I remember it especially being a big focus of complaint during the 2014-15 playoffs. Just rolled 4 lines and people were angrily pointing at the lack of the Sedin twins icetime while they were being sat in favour of the 3rd and 4th lines.

I'm thinking it's a remnant of coaching under Desjardins. One coach I'd much rather he didn't take after one bit whatsoever.

Big reason why the Flames beat them.

[Shazam]

I listened to a post-game interview with the assistant coaches on the FAN, after a game where Jankowski did well. The coaches said that they didn't know what to expect with him.

I think this coaching staff is extremely conservative, basically to the point of being timid. They don't seem to be able to assess player talent.