[PGT] Canes 4 - Flames 2 FML

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

We put ourselves out of playoff contention in October last season due to league-worst goaltending. But with dramatically improved goalies this year, we are all of one point better through five games because the entire team is a mess. And it is clear that everybody is still so focused on figuring out whatever the hell Gulutzan wants them to do that they are messing up even the basic fundamentals.

So we're a hot mess just as our schedule is about to become dramatically more difficult. Great.

Though I do love Gulutzan's PP strategy of having the puck carrier rush up to the attacking blue line, only to drop the puck back to a player on our own blue line. Because gaining the zone when the opponent already has four player stacked and three or four of our own guys are now stuck standing around adding to that traffic jam sure is proving effective.

You are like me in that you are skeptical of the coaching hire. I get that but your response doesn't mirror the majority of posts around here that are calling out players left and right. Calling them garbage, etc. I am very concerned that the head coach doesn't seem to have a system that the players can grasp or if he even knows himself what type of system fits this team but some of the mistakes we are seeing are not entirely the fault of the coaching staff. It seems like the team was pretty engrained in Hartley's system and are having trouble grasping a different system. This isn't uncommon so I think we all need to accept that the growing pains are likely going to put the team behind the 8-ball and hope that in the coming weeks the team gets things together and plays the way Treliving envisioned the team playing under Gulutzan.

I will repeat the fact that I didn't and don't like this coaching hire but regardless of my feelings I don't want Gulutzan to fail because that will only serve to set this franchise back. I'm hoping for better but if it doesn't happen and this is a miserable season I will shift my focus not to Gulutzan but the man that hired him because I still would like an answer from the GM of why a head coach with a top 5 winning percentage all-time was not even interviewed for the job. This organization has only had two really good head coaches in its Calgary existence and I'm getting tired of GM's hiring the wrong guy for the job over and over.

[belsarius]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

The last few years of the Iginla era were easily the most frustrating times to be a Flames fan and that's saying something when you're looking at the late 90's. Some fans need to realize that this team is still in a rebuild and not yet a playoff team. Management has done a nice job at speeding this process along, however, just look at the fact we have Versteeg playing a legitimate role in the top 6 most games as evidence for how poor the depth still is.

The Flames are not going to be an elite level team until players like Bennett and Tkachuk are able to raise their games to become legitimate scoring threats on a second line behind monohan/guadreau.

The Flames are not going to be an good level team until players like monohan/guadreau become legitimate scoring threats this year. Seriously did Johnny take Taylor Hall lessons in how to drive the puck 1 on 5 and turn it over?

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

The Flames basically have a 6 year window to win that was set when Gaudreau signed his contract. Some even say 4 years when Brodie's deal is up?



Treliving bringing in Brouwer and Frolik on long term deals and spending to the cap is not the sign of a rebuilding team. This is also year 4 of the rebuild when an organization wants to be taking big steps forward.



To date I have been very supportive of the moves management has made however the goaltending solution and coaching hire were suspect. I supported Elliott because the cost was low and the cap hit allowed the Flames to go out and add Brouwer. Gulutzan was a puzzling hire from the get go but I trust the GM. If this move proves to be an Eakins type hire for the organization then I hope they do something soon or else Treliving is going to lose support from the fanbase.



Dave Cameron was fired from Ottawa due largely to horrible power play and he is in charge of our PP that vowed to be better yet is the worst in the league

Does anyone know why exactly Cameron was hired? I haven't seen much on it.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Things look bleak mostly due to the terrible style this team has played all year. They look lost, lazy, and disinterested in the game.

Gio and Brodie have looked off most of the season so far. Dougie has looked like a solid second pairing guy but not a $5.75M Dman

The players I have liked this year are Brouwer, Backlund, Frolik, Jokipakka, Engellend, and Johnson

I don't see lazy and disinterested. I see frustrated and too many wheels spinning in their heads.

Agree about the 6 players you mentioned....don't think it is a coincidence that there are 5 long time veterans on that list. A guy like Brouwer has learned 3 systems in a couple years now.

[Resolute 14]

Not so much "lazy and disinterested" as dazed and confused. So many turnovers are happening because players aren't where their teammates expect them to be.

Nobody but Gulutzan really seems to know what the system or "process" is supposed to be.

[Husky]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Hes slow. Cant forcheck. Cant backcheck. Will take penalties 200 feet ftom goal.

So all the fast players have provided what so far on your list??

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I'm starting to lose hope for this season already which really effing sucks.

Elliott looks terrible and has 0 confidence right now. He fell twice trying to scramble and get back into his net. He's lucky they didn't result in goals.

The team in front of him has no confidence in him either and they're playing like it. Engelland was trying to be a goalie on the powerplay and ended up being the only screen on Elliott for the goal. Elliott also had no desire to try and peak to the sides of Engelland. At least Johnson has the sense to fight to see the puck.

This powerplay is vomit inducing. With the units that we can put out, there is no excuses for this crap powerplay. It's seriously so pathetic to watch even after they get setup in the zone. It revolves around passing to the point and shooting from the far point hoping the puck will get through lanes. But nobody is making an effort to skate into an open lane so it get's blocked every god damn time. I have seen 0 I REPEAT ZERO attempts to shoot the puck from down low or for the forwards to pass to anyone but the point.

[belsarius]

Originally Posted by BigFlameDog

I don't see lazy and disinterested. I see frustrated and too many wheels spinning in their heads.

Agree about the 6 players you mentioned....don't think it is a coincidence that there are 5 long time veterans on that list. A guy like Brouwer has learned 3 systems in a couple years now.

That's a really good point. Gaudreau, Monahan, Bennett, Brodie have all basically only trained under Hartley's system in the NHL and haven't been exposed to much else. Johnny's time with Team NA really doesn't count as it was a system of shinny. Maybe they do deserve a little more leash. Bennett is worrying me because he had the full preseason and looked good in games imo and has disappeared for 5 games.

I haven't fully grasped what kind of system GG is implementing but it seems more complex than score off the rush.. I'm holding my breath this will work itself by game 10. I started wanting to knee-jerk mix up the lines but keeping them basically the same lets guys learn the system together without the added stress of new linemates to learn. Breath. Its a Process. Drink. Breath. Its a Process. Drink.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by BigFlameDog

I don't see lazy and disinterested. I see frustrated and too many wheels spinning in their heads.

Agree about the 6 players you mentioned....don't think it is a coincidence that there are 5 long time veterans on that list. A guy like Brouwer has learned 3 systems in a couple years now.

Yeah maybe lazy and disinterested wasn't the right description. The team is not working hard like they did under Hartley and that is likely because they are overthinking everything and with the confidence being shot they second guess everything as well

[zamler]

After 5 games the Flames have allowed the most goals in the league and have the worst goal differential. Still early but whatever the system is supposed to be, so far it is a complete failure.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Gaudreau appears to have placed a lot of pressure on himself and is over thinking, almost trying too hard.

Monohan, I thought looked better last night actually. Not great, but better. Should have scored the tying goal.

Giordano, Stajan, Frolik, Backlund, Ferland, and Engelland all positively stood out for me at times.

Brodie was meh, and Bennet was very meh, super very meh. This especially disappoints me as he was late round pick for me in my hockey pool. Thought he'd break out this year. Not even close in the first 5.

I thought Tkachuk was here to stay. Last night could have changed that for me. He's got to realize there's some pretty hungry guys playing pretty good hockey in Stockton at the moment.

None of this matters if the special teams don't start performing. And, at this point, I'll take average.

[polak]

Originally Posted by zamler

After 5 games the Flames have allowed the most goals in the league and have the worst goal differential. Still early but whatever the system is supposed to be, so far it is a complete failure.

Just like last year.

Maybe it wasn't the goalies.....

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

I agree with firing Gully now. If we keep him, I think we will look back in hindsight and see what a disaster his 1 or 2 years were and that it would have been wise to fire him early in season one. Its similar to Edminton trying to ride out Eakins and hope things would turn around for him and they never did.

Yeah, there is a 0% chance Gulutzan is fired. Firing your newly handpicked coach 5 games into the season would make BT the laughing stock of the league, and that title is reserved for Jim Benning. I could see Sigalet getting the axe though. Hiller, Ramo and now Elliott have all looked bad under him and he wasn't a guy Gulutzan chose as his assistant. Hopefully they also switch up some of the assistant roles because apparently Cameron's PP system is pure garbage. There is still lots of time to right the ship, but they better figure it out quickly because I just don't see a Pittsburgh/Anaheim type 2nd half turn around from this group.

[Badgers Nose]

I am pretty down on this team. The are boring to watch and they are not competitive. All these losses were against mediocre undisciplined and sloppy teams. That is scary as bigger teams loom on the schedule.

As I have said many times, I think most people would prefer an entertaining style of play and a so-so record more so than boring style and winning record. Right now they have neither.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Yeah maybe lazy and disinterested wasn't the right description. The team is not working hard like they did under Hartley and that is likely because they are overthinking everything and with the confidence being shot they second guess everything as well

Their conditioning looks lower than last year. I guess those hard Hartley practices were not such a bad idea.

[CroFlames]

Sometimes I think I could be a good coach to be honest.

When carrying the puck into the zone isn't working because the other team is playing a really good road game, there is absolutely zero wrong with dump, chase, change.

Of course, CHASE is the operative word there. Sometimes you gotta crash and bang and rough it up in the corners to make things happen, even if you fancy yourself a skill team. If you are crashing and banging in the corners, cycling the puck becomes the natural outcome. Cycling the puck in the offensive zone leads to good things.


Having said that, I think 5 on 5 play was OK vs the Canes. The powerplay is beyond bad. It's confounding how they simply can't get anything going with the man advantage. That seriously needs to be the top priority of the staff right now.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Well, I just got back from the 'Dome. What an atrocious game. I've never been so bored at the arena in my life. Say what you want about Bob Hartley's systems, but at least he had some. Glen Gulutzan's Flames appear to be under some sort of "every man for himself"-type trance. There's no cohesion or chemistry whatsoever. The Flames had absolutely zero 2-on-1 chances, and the few 3-on-2s which they could potentially have developed into scoring chances were always broken up at the blueline by a poor pass or good defensive stick. I see no future in these Flames until whoever is in charge of their offensive and special teams "systems" is gone.

The Pocket Dawg was disgusting. I typically enjoy them but this one was heinously awful. The Nachos were well-cheese-ified. The malt was delicious, as always. The Coke Zero was Coke Zero.

My Naina's burger was fantastic washed down with a Barracks Brown Ale. The Goose Island IPA I ad at the Dome was delicious. I gave all three stars to those.

[polak]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Sometimes I think I could be a good coach to be honest.

When carrying the puck into the zone isn't working because the other team is playing a really good road game, there is absolutely zero wrong with dump, chase, change.

Of course, CHASE is the operative word there. Sometimes you gotta crash and bang and rough it up in the corners to make things happen, even if you fancy yourself a skill team. If you are crashing and banging in the corners, cycling the puck becomes the natural outcome. Cycling the puck in the offensive zone leads to good things.


Having said that, I think 5 on 5 play was OK vs the Canes. The powerplay is beyond bad. It's confounding how they simply can't get anything going with the man advantage. That seriously needs to be the top priority of the staff right now.

Those who can't do, coach.
And those who can't coach, coach the Flames.

[hummdeedoo]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

My Naina's burger was fantastic washed down with a Barracks Brown Ale. The Goose Island IPA I ad at the Dome was delicious. I gave all three stars to those.

Love Naina's burgers

So can you buy Barracks Brown and Goose Island IPA at the Dome? That would be awesome!

How much are they charging?

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by hummdeedoo

Love Naina's burgers

So can you buy Barracks Brown and Goose Island IPA at the Dome? That would be awesome!

How much are they charging?

Barracks Brown was at Naina's, not the Dome.

The Goose Island was expensive. $10.25 I think?