The trials and tribulations of Glen Gulutzan

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

The team is sliding down the standings and is not showing any improvement in areas theyve struggled under GlueGun's tenure here.

Were playing well visually? Is that a moral victory for us? Is this similar to how Craig MacTavish said the Oilers were visually playing better even though they were continuing losing games? Were in trouble if were using Oiler logic to justify our mounting losses.

And youre right, there is no guarantee a new coach turns things around and gets us into the playoffs, but there not being a guarantee shouldnt be a reason to do nothing and stick with the failing GlueGun.

Where exactly has Gulutzen even failed? We were a non playoff team in 15-16, then he came on board and we made the playoffs despite that horrific start. This season, we’ve lost a lot of games due to individual player mistakes and despite a slow 5-6 start, we’re still entrenched in the race. Where exactly is this egregious failure that should result in a firing 1.5 seasons in?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

We only compare to Nashville because we’re defense heavy. Outside of that, this current Flames team hasn’t proven that we’re close to being a Stanley Cup contender. That was an unrealistic expectation going into this season. Just like in 15-16, we were told that we had one of the top defenses in the league by adding Dougie Hamilton and then we subsequently went on to miss the playoffs.

Adding a big name doesn’t just automatically make you an instant Stanley Cup contender. It’s a big jump from being a playoff team to winning multiple rounds in the playoffs. This is a young team with a lot of players who are still learning how to win night after night, maybe they’re just not there yet in their development.

Should they not at least be further than the Canucks who sport a nearly identical record? Nobody is saying this team should be winning the Presidents Trophy but their record puts them 21st in the league amongst mediocre/bad teams like Carolina, Vancouver, Colorado, Detroit, Florida. The Flames on paper should not be amongst these teams in the standings. It's really as simple as there's no major injury excuses and you can't blame the goaltending this season as this team is simply underachieving.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

We only compare to Nashville because we’re defense heavy. Outside of that, this current Flames team hasn’t proven that we’re close to being a Stanley Cup contender. That was an unrealistic expectation going into this season. Just like in 15-16, we were told that we had one of the top defenses in the league by adding Dougie Hamilton and then we subsequently went on to miss the playoffs.

Adding a big name doesn’t just automatically make you an instant Stanley Cup contender. It’s a big jump from being a playoff team to winning multiple rounds in the playoffs. This is a young team with a lot of players who are still learning how to win night after night, maybe they’re just not there yet in their development.

Maybe they just need more time. And that was my view last season. While there were things about the team and some coaching decisions that concerned me, I was willing to be patient and let them develop and grow. It takes time to find your way.

But it's been a year and a half and they aren't progressing. Not only are we seeing the same issues, it seems like they are getting more acute.

Maybe, like Nashville a couple years ago, we need to be patient. Or maybe, like Chicago, we have a talented young team that needs the right coach to take them to the next level.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

And if you believe the coach isn't a huge factor, just look at Toronto.

There’s only one $6 million dollar coach in this league right now and we’re not the one paying him. The Maple Leafs are where they are because their futility over the last decade has gifted them great players like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and etc. They’re a much deeper team than we are and more importantly, they’re not relying on 1 line to produce 50% of their offense.

[monkeyman]

Missing the playoffs and watching the Islanders stroll up to the podium with our first pick(lets hope it's not the first overall) would be a massive, massive misstep by this organization and one that could haunt it for years to come. If they had no intention of being competitive this year, it makes the decision to trade that pick even worse.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Should they not at least be further than the Canucks who sport a nearly identical record? Nobody is saying this team should be winning the Presidents Trophy but their record puts them 21st in the league amongst mediocre/bad teams like Carolina, Vancouver, Colorado, Detroit, Florida. The Flames on paper should not be amongst these teams in the standings. It's really as simple as there's no major injury excuses and you can't blame the goaltending this season as this team is simply underachieving.

By this measure, half the coaches in the NHL should’ve been fired after the rebuilding Flames made the playoffs in 14-15. Every season unfolds differently and some teams catch fire early on and then fizzle out. Ultimately, I like the way this team is playing right now especially at even strength. I would say if anything, we’ve got to be one of the more unlucky and snake bitten teams in the league this year. We’ve made a lot of goalies look like Vezina candidates this season.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

By this measure, half the coaches in the NHL should’ve been fired after the rebuilding Flames made the playoffs in 14-15. Every season unfolds differently and some teams catch fire early on and then fizzle out. Ultimately, I like the way this team is playing right now especially at even strength. I would say if anything, we’ve got to be one of the more unlucky and snake bitten teams in the league this year. We’ve made a lot of goalies look like Vezina candidates this season.

Again how can they be unlucky if they haven't lost any major contributors to injury? I don't think this team is snake bitten at all. They just don't play with a lot of confidence. They don't come out in the first period ready to go out and win games as they are usually tied or behind to start the 2nd period. Even the worst team in the league has held more 1st period leads. It's simply a fragile team that doesn't have a lot of confidence. When's the last time this team just dominated a team and blew them out? It's been weeks since they have won a game that wasn't close as they have to fight tooth and nail just to get to overtime. It seems like everything including the simple things for this team is a monumental challenge.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Maybe they just need more time. And that was my view last season. While there were things about the team and some coaching decisions that concerned me, I was willing to be patient and let them develop and grow. It takes time to find your way.

But it's been a year and a half and they aren't progressing. Not only are we seeing the same issues, it seems like they are getting more acute.

Maybe, like Nashville a couple years ago, we need to be patient. Or maybe, like Chicago, we have a talented young team that needs the right coach to take them to the next level.

It took them a lot of time to figure it out last season but they were one of the top teams in the second half, and not just during the win streak. It is beyond frustrating that they haven’t built on that.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Maybe they just need more time. And that was my view last season. While there were things about the team and some coaching decisions that concerned me, I was willing to be patient and let them develop and grow. It takes time to find your way.

But it's been a year and a half and they aren't progressing. Not only are we seeing the same issues, it seems like they are getting more acute.

Maybe, like Nashville a couple years ago, we need to be patient. Or maybe, like Chicago, we have a talented young team that needs the right coach to take them to the next level.

New coach or not, turnovers will happen, bad penalties will be taken, lack of finish will still be a problem and special teams will probably persist. We were a top 10 team in both pk and pp last season. We have the same systems in place, but individuals are not executing right now. Right now if you ask me, I’ve seen good things from every line and every pairing except the 4th line. If anything should change, it’s these guys. Completely ineffective on most nights, offen trying to stay even, but most times just not helping this team win. Offensively, they’re dead weight. With all these close games we’re playing, it would be nice to have a 4th line who pulls their own weight, who can provide energy and pot the occasional goal rather than be consistently the slowest line game after game while playing under water on most nights.

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by edslunch

It took them a lot of time to figure it out last lesson but they were one of the top teams in the second half, and not just during the win streak. It is beyond frustrating that they haven’t built on that.

This says it all. Some better breaks and goaltending against ANA in the first round last year and who knows what might have happened in that series and beyond. Team has regressed significantly since then and honestly I don’t get how the coaching staff has not been fired. Maybe management is of the view that the team was not as good as its record last year but that was not my impression in listening to Tre’s interviews at the end of last year.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Again how can they be unlucky if they haven't lost any major contributors to injury? I don't think this team is snake bitten at all. They just don't play with a lot of confidence. They don't come out in the first period ready to go out and win games as they are usually tied or behind to start the 2nd period. Even the worst team in the league has held more 1st period leads. It's simply a fragile team that doesn't have a lot of confidence. When's the last time this team just dominated a team and blew them out? It's been weeks since they have won a game that wasn't close as they have to fight tooth and nail just to get to overtime. It seems like everything including the simple things for this team is a monumental challenge.

They’re definitely snake bitten. We’ve had great 1st periods in recent times and we’ve either hit posts or have been robbed by goaltenders. They’ve looked pretty confident to me outplaying most of their opponents, but they’re not burying on the critical chances they have had. That’s not the coach’s problem, that’s a personnel issue. Brad Treliving even said in the off-season that scoring enough goals wil keep him up at night. Maybe this is just a team filled with individuals that need more than the average amount of chances just to bury one. That’s very possible.

The best snipers in the league get paid to finish on the chances that they get, that’s the difference between them and other average top line players. They don’t need a ton of chances to bury one. We could stand to find more of these guys.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

Missing the playoffs and watching the Islanders stroll up to the podium with our first pick(lets hope it's not the first overall) would be a massive, massive misstep by this organization and one that could haunt it for years to come. If they had no intention of being competitive this year, it makes the decision to trade that pick even worse.

Given the last (almost) 30 years, I am fully prepared for this to turn out as well as the Tom Kurvers trade to the Leafs.

[Stay Golden]

Since Treliving likely won't fire his boy Gulutzan unless they are dead last. How does one justify keeping Jerrad on payroll with his PP being ranked 20th and have not registered a PP goal since Dec 6 and the pk ranked 3rd from the basement.
That crap assistant that Gulutzan added to the Flames should remain why?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

And if you believe the coach isn't a huge factor, just look at Toronto.

Might be a bad example considering GG is a Babcock clone.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Adding a big name doesn’t just automatically make you an instant Stanley Cup contender. It’s a big jump from being a playoff team to winning multiple rounds in the playoffs. This is a young team with a lot of players who are still learning how to win night after night, maybe they’re just not there yet in their development.

This isn't entirely true. Other than Bennett (who already has a few seasons experience) Tkchuk and Jankowski the roster is full of guys with plenty of experience or in their prime. And these young guys can already contribute at an NHL level. This team should be competing with the best teams in the league, and it should be happening now.

I generally still really like the makeup of this team (other than the 4th line). I keep seeing the narrative that the team isn't good enough but I see a roster full of young high potential players, a couple of top line players playing their best hockey, good vets that can play 2 way hockey, what should be a rock solid D and now a solid goalie.

The Iginla trade was in 2013, its now almost 2018. When can we give ourselves permission to expect something from the rebuild?

[nemanja2306]

I find it hilarious that many are preaching about moral victories but continue to make fun of the Oilers for the same thing.

Sent from my WAS-LX1A using Tapatalk

[monkeyman]

Originally Posted by nemanja2306

I find it hilarious that many are preaching about moral victories but continue to make fun of the Oilers for the same thing.

Sent from my WAS-LX1A using Tapatalk

It's like someone took a oilers thread from 2013-2014 and replaced oilers with Flames.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Igottago

The Iginla trade was in 2013, its now almost 2018. When can we give ourselves permission to expect something from the rebuild?

The time is now. This league is about parity across the board, and you have to build a winning culture before you get to work on sustaining one. That’s why this team needs to address it’s two final deficiencies as far as I’m concerned. Those two deficiencies, in my eyes, are:

1) Below average coaching staff
2) Lack of a proven scoring winger

Neither of those issues are going to be addressed by being patient at this stage. Neither will be addressed from within the organization, so it’s time for Treliving to act and push the team forward. He went all-in this past summer, while not resolving the two points I mentioned - so go out and do it now.

1) Fire the coaching staff tomorrow morning, and hire Darryl Sutter. To those people citing shelf-life or “he may not be an upgrade”, fact is he has won two Stanley Cups in the modern NHL which puts him in rare company. He’s a measurable upgrade on Gulutzan, but any coaching change poses risks - so you just have to do your best - and a Darryl Sutter hire would be giving the team the best the market has to offer.

2) Make a Mike Richards/Jeff Carter trade in the same way LA did. It’s time to address the one gaping hole on the active roster, which yes - it may push Brouwer into the press box, but so be it. Action is required here, and the market does hold a few real options, and no it won’t be cheap. Evander Kane and Wayne Simmonds are both rumoured to be available - do it.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Might be a bad example considering GG is a Babcock clone.

I don't care who GG is trying to emulate.

The fact of the matter is some people have a high hockey IQ and they simply can't coach. They should stick with the analytical side of the game.

This is no different than some people simply should not be teachers. They might be smart but don't have the right tool box to teach.

Just because someone tries to employ the same system does not mean that system will work with a different team. It depends on the ability of that coach to get the system across and it depends on the roster they are trying to coach.

[IgiTang]

Who hired Dave Cameron? I’m really curious. Even though the Flames scores on one of their 6 PP (broken clock being right twice a day..) there was zero setup and it really looked like 5 guys running around trying to make something happen rather than a set play and how to react from a positional standpoint if the set play doesn’t score...