The trials and tribulations of Glen Gulutzan

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

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.

I agree with you on Sutter I think he could get a lot out of this team which really has a 2-3 year window before they likely need to shed a player or two. What we see in LA now is a team that needed a fresh start and the Flames felt the same when they let Hartley go. It wasn't easy but with some huge streaks the Flames made an appearance in the playoffs and were supposed to take a big step forward after landing a legit number 1 goalie and top 4 D in his prime. The fact the team is still spinning their tires at Christmas and on the outside leaves me zero confidence in the coach.

Well the Richards and Carter deals for LA were moving picks, prospects and young players form2 in prime forwards signed long term. An Evander Kane rental doesn't really compare. Simmonds also doesn't really compare as he also is due a raise sooner than later. I look at Buffalo and think there could be something there with RoR. I also think that if the Flames are looking at RoR it would be Hamilton which would be the target for Buffalo (what I read on HF from Buffalo fans is a right shot offensive D is their biggest need) If that is the case the Sabres are eating a significant portion of that salary or adding to the deal.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

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.

Darryl is a great coach (and upgrade on Gully) but if you think the defense isn't involved enough under Gulutzan, you're gonna hate his take on how defensemen should participate in the play.

We need a coach who takes full advantage of our blue line, and Darryl is not that guy.

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.

Neither Evander Kane nor Wayne Simmonds are remotely a Mike Richards or Jeff Carter level add. Kyle Turris was that level of add and we missed out. The next best pending-UFA-possibly-on-the-block that could take a team over the edge happens to be....

...Mikael Backlund

[JT96912]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I don't see the point of firing GG mid season. Sorry but i do not want Sutter or Tippet coaching this team. Rather they give him to end of season , for better or for worse, and then go coach hunting in off season. Never know if a good head coach from other team gets let go at end of season. ( and yes, GM had a chance to grab a good established coach before hiring GG, but i'm not sure he would make that mistake again).

This is a great post in my opinion. This team is too fragile to go through a coaching change mid season. We should give Gully a chance, he is growing along with this team. I think the next ten games tell the Fortune of our season. When the players play, like with all out balls to the wall effort, this team can be unstoppable. We've seen glimpse's of this all season, like last night. The defense has turned a corner, we are starting to get secondary scoring, and we've found a good backup goalie. Let's hope the rest comes together soon.

[colbym72]

Originally Posted by JT96912

This is a great post in my opinion. This team is too fragile to go through a coaching change mid season. We should give Gully a chance, he is growing along with this team. I think the next ten games tell the Fortune of our season. When the players play, like with all out balls to the wall effort, this team can be unstoppable. We've seen glimpse's of this all season, like last night. The defense has turned a corner, we are starting to get secondary scoring, and we've found a good backup goalie. Let's hope the rest comes together soon.

If the defense continues to play the way they have lately, and the first line finds its way again, they will eat W's often

[bubbsy]

Woot Woot, no brodie, no brower on the top PP Unit !!!!

Pat Steinberg‏Verified account @Fan960Steinberg
#Flames
PP units today:
Gaudreau-Monahan-Tkachuk
Giordano-Jankowski

Ferland-Backlund-Bennett
Brodie-Hamilton

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Woot Woot, no brodie, no brower on the top PP Unit !!!!

Is David Cameron sick and someone else is in charge today?

Even better, no Brouwer on the PP at all!

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Woot Woot, no brodie, no brower on the top PP Unit !!!!

It's a Festivus miracle!!

[Manhattanboy]

Is Stone that bad a puck carrier/passer that he sees no PP time?

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Is Stone that bad a puck carrier/passer that he sees no PP time?

Hamilton is a better passer so he gets Stone’s spot.


I would prefer Gio on the top unit and Brodie/Stone on the second unit just so we have a bomb from the point on both units. I think that is what our power play is missing.... Hamilton and Brodie just don’t have great power in their shots. I think Hamilton is solid 5 on 5 but he has never really impressed on the power play

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Is Stone that bad a puck carrier/passer that he sees no PP time?

He's not as good as the four that were practicing on the point, that's for sure. His asset is the big shot, but IMO it's an overrated asset. I haven't seen it get to the net for a long time, let alone score or create a rebound (either on the PP or otherwise). I think Gio and Hamilton are much more dangerous shooters with their hard wristers and probably Jankowski too. And all of those guys outskate and outpass Stone. I guess you'd see him there if one of those guys are in the box as well, or otherwise unavailable.

[AC]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Woot Woot, no brodie, no brower on the top PP Unit !!!!

It was neat seeing the PP progress last game.

1st PP:
77-23-79 13-7 = shorthanded chance against
19-93-68 5-27 = Jagr in. Tkachuk almost scores on a rebound.

2nd PP:
77-23-79 13-5 = Gio in for Brodie. Ended early due to penalty.

3rd PP:
13-23-79 5-77 = Several shots, including Gio onetimers.
93-11-19 7-27 = Backlund in for Jagr, Bennett to the wing. Several shots, including a Bennett onetimer and Brodie chance in the slot.

4th PP:
13-23-79 5-77 = Chances including Gaudreau to Jankowski in the slot, Monahan and Ferland in the slot smacking at rebounds.
93-11-19 7-27 = Not much time to work with, also ended early.

5th PP:
13-23-19 5-77 = Tkachuk swapped for Ferland. Chances off Janko and Gaudreau shots, Tkachuk rebounds on each.
93-11-79 7-27 = Chance off a Brodie shot with Ferland screening, followed by Ferland's goal.

[Robbob]

Brouwer hasn't played any significant PP time recently. I think his last two games were a combined 29 seconds.

[Inglewood Jack]

management and coaching staff still reading CP and FN, just veerry slowly. like a lag of 1-2 months between initial suggestion and on-ice implementation. if there are any other roster or deployment changes you want done by the All Star break, better ask now.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by 4X4

So then what was the point of your post? You didn't say anything that Bingo hasn't said. I understand Bingo being "nice" to the Flames. What's your excuse?

Probably that he’s a fan, and being a fan of a hockey team is generally considered a leisure activity, and not an exercise in masochism.


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[jayswin]

Originally Posted by VilleN

Probably that he’s a fan, and being a fan of a hockey team is generally considered a leisure activity, and not an exercise in masochism.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He's a former NHL coach, and tends to talk down to "fans" speaking about the game and discourage everyone from doing so. This is another example of that.

It's fine, we all have our biases and his is that he likely empathizes with how tough it is to coach at the NHL level. But he also needs to understand that the NHL is a do it league and this is a fan message board and we're going to attempt to discuss coaching strategy and inefficiencies because that's what all fans do, that's why we're here.

He needs to just use his expertise and experience to counter what he perceives to be ignorant opinions on NHL coaching and spare us the lectures on not discussing things we aren't qualified to speak to.

[Cactus Jack]

Maybe Gulutzen is the right guy and needs to grow with the team and grow as a coach for a few years. I really don´t know. But I do know Burke and Treliving make the big bucks to make those calls. This team is good enough to win a round or two, we can´t just settle for being first round fodder anymore. Let´s see if those two earn their keep and make the right calls.

[Backlunds_socks]

Nothings changed this team plays timid.

[Otto-matic]

Can't get the team motivate the team to save his life.

[ComixZone]

This team just is what it is under Gulutzan. They’re a fringe playoff team at best.

[Brick]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

This team just is what it is under Gulutzan. They’re a fringe playoff team at best.

And, at the moment, the Calgary Flames are a lottery team.