The trials and tribulations of Glen Gulutzan

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

This is a great point. The biggest problem I see with the PP is not with who is on it, nor the set up. It's the speed and accuracy of passes. That's not going to get better by (a) changing the set-up or (b) changing personnel constantly.

Yeah - the coaching has been part of the problem but the other part of the problem is execution. The PP is just lethargic and there is no urgency in the players game, especially on home ice.

For me this is something the coaching staff AND players need to take responsibility for.

I was looking at this season and the Flames have 8 1 goal or OT losses where the PP went 0'fer.

Oct. 19 vs. Car - PP 0-1
Oct. 27 vs. Dal - PP 0-2
Nov. 22 vs. CBJ - PP 0-1

Dec. 12 vs. MIN - PP 0-3 (SO)
Dec. 14 vs. SJ - PP 0-3 (SO)
Dec. 29 vs. ANA - PP 0-3
Jan. 22 vs. WPG - PP 0-4 (OT)
Jan. 24 vs. LAK - PP 0-5 (OT)
Jan. 25 vs. EDM - PP 0-4 (SO)

It's especially been a problem over the last month and a half.

We have had 6 1-Goal games, all against western conference teams we are in direct competition with for a playoff spot, and we went a combined 0-22 on the PP in those games.

That is a huge swing in those games. Win those 5 games that go to OT in regulation and that is 5 more points for us, and 10 day fewer points for those other teams.

The PP is the Flames biggest issue at this point, and it getting to the point where it could cost them a playoff spot. Time for Gulutzan and Cameron to figure it out (or find a PP coach who will). Also Gaudreau, Monahan, Brodie, Giordano, Backlund, & Tkachuk lead the team in ice time on the PP, time for them to figure it out and play with some urgency on the PP.

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by Red

Well I said change the system, not necessarily the personnel.
2 D on the points would be a start. With the threat of a bomb from Gio and Hamilton you would hope for more room for the down low plays that JG and Monny like.

The system we have now is great if you have good shooters in the slot. We have none unfortunately so it's not working well. Versteed is a good shooter so that's why it looked better with him.
We do however have Dmen that can shoot from the point. But not being utilized.
I like that Gio took over for Brodie on the first unit, it helps. But he is still the only player holding the line. That's a lot of ground to cover for Gio. It was easier for Brodie to do it, but he has no shot so not rebound chances.

And in no time has GGs formula worked consistently. They had some hot streaks here and there last year, but overall the PP has always been unreliable to say the least.

Saying we have no good shooters in the slot seems inaccurate when you have Mony parked there and also some strong shooters like Ferland, Janko, and Tkachuk.

On the back end, they don't have one D man holding the entire line. They run an umbrella for the most part, thus it is the responsibility of the wingers to hold the boards and 1/3 of the zone while the D in the center takes center ice while providing some support on the board side.

At the end of the day, the point of the umbrella is to provide options to maximize passing in the offensive zone as well as an outlet for a quick shot.

Yes, you risk having the other team dump the puck out, but that's a risk that is worth it on the powerplay to maximize your offensive potential. Your not focused on who can hold the line, you're focused on gaining puck possession and maintaining control of the Ozone as quick as possible.

Now the adjustment you've seen is that our system (along with most pp's, it isn't a groundbreaking formula) is that it cycles between the umbrella and standard positioning in the O zone. The problem is you need all 5 players to be in unison to maximize the possibility of maintaining possession. It's tough to script and you need everyone to be on board.

More than anything, it's an issue of IQ and practice. Versteeg is known for having good puck control and IQ in those situations, thus he's very useful in PP scenarios. Skill and speed is a bit lower, thus why we don't see significant impact from him on 5-5.

Another reason why you'll see Janko getting more time on PP compared to Bennett right now. Janko has solid IQ and skill, just needs the practice, while Bennett's IQ isn't as strong.

The PP is a much different game than 5 on 5 and you can't implement a 5 on 5 system. It's more tactical and precise. Right now, It just seems that the precision and practice is more of an issue, especially against some strong PK teams.

[Red]

Originally Posted by smiggy77

Saying we have no good shooters in the slot seems inaccurate when you have Mony parked there and also some strong shooters like Ferland, Janko, and Tkachuk.

On the back end, they don't have one D man holding the entire line. They run an umbrella for the most part, thus it is the responsibility of the wingers to hold the boards and 1/3 of the zone while the D in the center takes center ice while providing some support on the board side.

At the end of the day, the point of the umbrella is to provide options to maximize passing in the offensive zone as well as an outlet for a quick shot.

Yes, you risk having the other team dump the puck out, but that's a risk that is worth it on the powerplay to maximize your offensive potential. Your not focused on who can hold the line, you're focused on gaining puck possession and maintaining control of the Ozone as quick as possible.

Now the adjustment you've seen is that our system (along with most pp's, it isn't a groundbreaking formula) is that it cycles between the umbrella and standard positioning in the O zone. The problem is you need all 5 players to be in unison to maximize the possibility of maintaining possession. It's tough to script and you need everyone to be on board.

More than anything, it's an issue of IQ and practice. Versteeg is known for having good puck control and IQ in those situations, thus he's very useful in PP scenarios. Skill and speed is a bit lower, thus why we don't see significant impact from him on 5-5.

Another reason why you'll see Janko getting more time on PP compared to Bennett right now. Janko has solid IQ and skill, just needs the practice, while Bennett's IQ isn't as strong.

The PP is a much different game than 5 on 5 and you can't implement a 5 on 5 system. It's more tactical and precise. Right now, It just seems that the precision and practice is more of an issue, especially against some strong PK teams.

How many goals have these guys scored from the dot or beyond?
Our PP goals seem to mostly be from up close. We lack the big shot.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Red

How many goals have these guys scored from the dot or beyond?
Our PP goals seem to mostly be from up close. We lack the big shot.

Not many goals are scored from there, PP or otherwise, in the NHL.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Not many goals are scored from there, PP or otherwise, in the NHL.

No, but if you factor in tipins and rebounds, things look very different.

Also, you need a high threat to spread the defensive coverage out and give the low plays some room.

[Classic_Sniper]

My personal belief is that the powerplay right is too predictable and too slow. You watch the good powerplays in this league and they all move the puck quickly and efficiently with touch passes and etc and allow their star players to be creative and make plays. Right now, all I see are weak predictable shots from the flanks or point that get blocked or miss the net and Monahan is constantly covered because we’re not forcing the opposition to respect our shooters.

I did this last season and I think it’s worth mentioning again. The key should be to create more threats so we can open up more options and force the opposition to respect every threat equally I say we move Gaudreau to his off wing so he has more options and we get more one timers out there which can make this PP so much more dangerous.





Shot for Gaudreau
Slap pass to Monahan
One timer by Hamilton
Slap Shot by Giordano
Tip in for Tkachuk
Tip in by Monahan from Giordano
One timer by Monahan from Tkachuk
One timer by Giordano from Hamilton
One timer by Monahan from Hamilton
Rebound foe Tkachuk
Rebound for Monahan

[I_H8_Crawford]

Fire this bum. NOW

[Joborule]

Glen Gulutzan is the best coach Edmonton has ever had.

[Stay Golden]

Glen can't be Edmonton Gully. Nice loser hire you still pumping his tires up Treliving.

[Infinit47]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Not many goals are scored from there, PP or otherwise, in the NHL.

Yes, but having the threat of a shot from the point forces the other team to neutralize that threat, which can open up things down low. It also creates the possibility of a rebound and goal.

Also, what is the downside of trying something different?

[kukkudo]

Todd Mclellan making GlueGun his B**** for 7 games now.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

-Flames go on a 7 game winning streak
-Points in 11 straight


FIRE GLUE GUN!!!1!!

[Infinit47]

Originally Posted by Hey Connor, It's Mess

-Flames go on a 7 game winning streak
-Points in 11 straight


FIRE GLUE GUN!!!1!!

Flames win 7 games in a row due to heroic goaltending, then stop scoring and lose 4 games in a row, including two losses to bottom feeder teams. Regulation wins are barely above .500 over 2 years, special teams are a mess, and player usage is mind boggling.

Fire GG.

Ps. Home record sucks, swept in playoffs.

[Classic_Sniper]

I can see the fire GG chants are back. I remember this happening and we went on to win 7 games in a row. Hopefully that means we can put together another string of wins after the All Star break.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Infinit47

Flames win 7 games in a row due to heroic goaltending, then stop scoring and lose 4 games in a row, including two losses to bottom feeder teams. Regulation wins are barely above .500 over 2 years, special teams are a mess, and player usage is mind boggling.

Fire GG.

Ps. Home record sucks, swept in playoffs.

Flames were full marks on that 7 game win streak. Goaltending was good but it wasn’t just the goalies stealing games during that streak.

The PP is really the only real complaint at this point, and the reason we have a 4 game OT losing streak right now. GG has some blame for that as the head coach but it’s Treliving that hired Cameron to come here and coach the PP, not Gulutzan.

[browna]

Gg lit a fire under them for a few games and they found a way to win those close games, along with a few blowouts.

That fire went away, GG doesn't have any further bullets in the gun to lite any more firs under the playees, and the team is back to being prepared, playing well, but not having that extara gear and that killer instinct, despite the decent overall play the lat 4 games, and losing them all.

Its now a fairly defined trend given this is what we saw certainly through December before the Hamilton/Jagr/stick toss trifecta and Treliving laying down the law, and goes to show that this team needs something to more consistently push them, forwards especially, to be that very little better and get that goal to tie it or go ahead, and to not keep a team in it when ahead by two goals in the second.

If you're Treliving or Burke you can not be pleased with this last week, giving up points against a reeling Buffalo, LA and Oilers team, in the same fashion you gave up points to SJ and ANA before Christmas which sparked Treliving's moves in the early new year. Never mind that he sees time running out in the season and the trade deadline and had to figure out where the Flames are going to be....and not waste this defensive and goaltending effort this year.

[Brick]

GG and DC should be canned.

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by Infinit47

Flames win 7 games in a row due to heroic goaltending, then stop scoring and lose 4 games in a row, including two losses to bottom feeder teams. Regulation wins are barely above .500 over 2 years, special teams are a mess, and player usage is mind boggling.

Fire GG.

Ps. Home record sucks, swept in playoffs.

All the heat when we lose, no credit when we win.

At least try to hide your biased views a little.

[badradio]

There was way too many line mismatches this game, and not because they had last change. Their first line against our fourth line or our third pairing. We also had pressure in their zone and they iced it and GG counters with the 4th line on an icing, that’s some minor league line management if you ask me.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by browna

Gg lit a fire under them for a few games and they found a way to win those close games, along with a few blowouts.

That fire went away, GG doesn't have any further bullets in the gun to lite any more firs under the playees, and the team is back to being prepared, playing well, but not having that extara gear and that killer instinct, despite the decent overall play the lat 4 games, and losing them all.

Its now a fairly defined trend given this is what we saw certainly through December before the Hamilton/Jagr/stick toss trifecta and Treliving laying down the law, and goes to show that this team needs something to more consistently push them, forwards especially, to be that very little better and get that goal to tie it or go ahead, and to not keep a team in it when ahead by two goals in the second.

If you're Treliving or Burke you can not be pleased with this last week, giving up points against a reeling Buffalo, LA and Oilers team, in the same fashion you gave up points to SJ and ANA before Christmas which sparked Treliving's moves in the early new year. Never mind that he sees time running out in the season and the trade deadline and had to figure out where the Flames are going to be....and not waste this defensive and goaltending effort this year.

I agree with the sentiment but not some of the specifics.

Over the 7 game winning streak it came down to the usual suspects flat out being even better than they already have been.

Gio Point Per Game
Hamilton Point Per Game
Backlund Point Per Game
Ferland and Tkachuk 9 points
Monahan 10 points in 6 games
Gaudreau 13 points

The bottom half of the roster:

Brodie 2 points
Stajan 1 point
Bennett 1 point
Lazar 1 point in 6 games
Hathway 1 point
Hamonic 1 point
Stone 0
Kulak 0
Mangiapane 0

I thought Gaudreau was awful tonight but it's tough for me to really fault him when he's otherwise been lights out in the previous 45 games. I don't know how much more you can squeeze out of the top end of the roster offensively.

It's been almost 50 games now. I don't think the rest of the roster has it in them to produce offensively without sacrificing a huge amount of defensive positioning to do it.

Trelilving's cold sweats must've returned.