Huberdeau's agent: "Negativity sucks the joy right out of players"

[sonq]

Since the speculation is wide open and public now, I hope some of our reporters have the balls to ask Sutter or players whether there is locker room problems or not. Sure, there is a possibility that they would not say anything publicly, but as a fan, it would be nice to know why this team shows up for approximately 50-60% of games a week

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by keenan87

Anymore fuel to this fire yet by reporters? I want to see chaos - then changes.

Pagnotta's retweeting his story about the Flames being a "hot mess" that he posted prior to last night's loss and Walsh's tweet. I expect others to follow suit.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Do you honestly think Huberdeau has been excellent defensively, or he's been on when things haven't gone poorly?

That's not being snarky, but defensive stats are line wide and I just don't see him doing all that much to break up plays, get the puck out of his own zone, or lead things in transition.

I think you need three forwards to create offensively and get expected goals up, but not sure you need all three to win on defensive metrics.

I just haven't seen it.

Really? One guy missing his assignment can easily result in a loss of possession or a shot attempt against.

[Major Major]

I imagine the practice press avails will be interesting. I wonder if this precipitates a BT availability.

If huberdeau didn't appreciate the "did you really need to poop?" questions, I wonder how he and the team will enjoy the "so you don't like the coach?" questions.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Sure, thats part of it. But to echo comments from Pinder or even Krahn last night on AfterBurner, does anyone on this team (aside from Markstrom) show any emotion? Any anger?

Everyone can focus on what they want to I guess.

Teams that have more shots and scoring chances than the opposition are clearly trying. It's not working but they're trying.

And to bring that game most nights means they care not sure why anyone outside would try and judge something that internal from a distance.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I dont think he's Patrice Bergeron or anything.

But I have seen a guy that is trying hard defensively, who is not cheating his defensive responsibilities, and who is generally in the right position defensively to break up plays.

And his defensive metrics support that - near the best on the team in GA/60, xGA/60, and HDCA/60.

There has been a clear attention to detail on defense in his play since game 1 this season.

I'm not debating the numbers.

I'm just not seeing his contribution to the numbers. I see a guy not sure where to be and running around a lot. Lots of turnovers.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Bingo

And to bring that game most nights means they care not sure why anyone outside would try and judge something that internal from a distance.

I mean, its pretty apparent there are issues and damn near every reporter who has touched on the Flames is coming to the same conclusions.

Seravalli even had his podcast with Kadri where he drew the same conclusion based on the closing remarks.

This feels like the meme with the dog sitting in the middle of a fire.

I would also suggest throwing that many shots on goal and not getting the results isn't an indication of caring so much as putting in the minimal effort.

That or Hellberg, Soogard, Stauber etc are all just incredible goaltenders with bright futures directly in front of them.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Major Major

I imagine the practice press avails will be interesting. I wonder if this precipitates a BT availability.

If huberdeau didn't appreciate the "did you really need to poop?" questions, I wonder how he and the team will enjoy the "so you don't like the coach?" questions.

I doubt that there is press availability as that reinforces that if an agent tweets something that there is a response. They wouldn't want that.
It'll be business as usual. And if reporters ask about it, they won't get much back. Doesn't mean they shouldn't ask, but I wouldn't expect the Flames to pretend that they've even seen the tweet. They won't acknowledge its very existence at all, at least externally.

[PuckSlap]

Hurry up and either trade, or fire someone. This season is ####ing boring. I would be happy if BT was fired, and Sutter stepped aside. But, maybe a good trade could happen

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

[Naitix]

I do tend to agree with Walsh here. I have been saying all year these guys look too serious, to much like they basically don't like each other and they look like they do not have fun.

Obviously it is hard to have fun when their expectations were to be a strong playoff team and they are not that. This brews frustration and negativity within the team, some guys I bet are pissed at Huby or Markstrom (internally). I think the only way to get them on the right track is to go on a win streak, which they have not done all year, or to play under a different coach.

Of course Huby needs to play better, but I do think that some things are on Sutter that makes the players feel frustrated. He refuses to make adjustments to lines for a very long period of time, I have no doubt in my mind that if you would ask Huby behind closed doors he would tell you that Kadri does suit playing with him, and I think that is what Walsh is referencing to.

Sutter keeps relying on the 4th line when the Flames are down in the 3rd period time and time again. Flames literally have zero comeback wins in the 3rd period. Like it is just simple, the 4th line (the way it is now) does not score basically at all, what's the point of playing them when you need a goal. You think Flames top players are not frustrated when Lucic and Ritchie go out there with 3 minutes left in the game? Sometimes it is good to do that to show your top players that they need to do better, but when it happens every game it just destroys your confidence and frustrates you.

Why hasn't Huby play with Lindholm in so long, when it clearly is not a match with Kadri? Sure he played with him at the start of the season but Lindholm was also not great then, even now I would not say he has some crazy chemistry with his linemates that require him to not be moved from that line. Dube looked great with Kadri, but him back there why not.

Huby looked great in the first and second period, created many scoring chances, you see that he was feeling it, give him more ice time, reward him, build his confidence, instead we just keep rolling 4 lines. I do not see what Sutter does that requires him to be on the bench if he refuses to make any basic adjustments to reward his players

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

I think today will be when you see a lot of former players talking about how great it is to play for Darryl. He has coached for a long time and there are a lot of guys who fondly remember him and will come to his defence on twitter.

Guys that worked for it. You either work for it or you pout about it. Huberdeaus colours are shining.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Toonage

I mean, its pretty apparent there are issues and damn near every reporter who has touched on the Flames is coming to the same conclusions.

Seravalli even had his podcast with Kadri where he drew the same conclusion based on the closing remarks.

This feels like the meme with the dog sitting in the middle of a fire.

I'm not debating whether or not there are issues in the dressing room. I have no idea.

I just don't see a lot of lack of effort games, nor do I think anyone from 1000 feet away can judge passion based on outbursts or lack thereof.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm not debating whether or not there are issues in the dressing room. I have no idea.

I just don't see a lot of lack of effort games, nor do I think anyone from 1000 feet away can judge passion based on outbursts or lack thereof.

I’m with you on the effort side of this. In the vast, vast majority of the games this season the team has worked hard to execute the system that they’re playing. That’s how you get the high volume shots, and low shot volumes against that they have.

Effort isn’t at the core of the problem with this team, or with Huberdeau individually.

Prior to Sutter coming back, I think there was an effort issue with the team - but he’s stomped that out…only for a bunch of other leaks to pop up elsewhere.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Guys that worked for it. You either work for it or you pout about it. Huberdeaus colours are shining.

We should post all the tweets from former players talking about how great Darryl is. Imagine how many there will be.

[Naitix]

I 100% think that Flames do not have an effort problem and have a confidence problem. We have plenty of good players on this team, you think they feel good about loosing to bottom feeders all year long and not being able to string together wins.

This is probably the first year in a long time where we had an actual solid top 9, like any player in that top 9 would be a top 9 player on basically any team in the league. The issue are poor goaltending deflated their confidence all season and Huby is not playing to his potential as he also lost confidence (but it is looking better imo)

[gvitaly]

The only thing this will accomplish is alienating half the fan base against Huberdeau and the other half against Sutter.

This team tunes out coaches after a successful season. It happened with Hartley, Gulutzan(if you can call making the playoffs a success), Peters, and now Sutter. Two of those coaches actually won the Jack Adams with the Flames, and Peters was also in the conversation.

The funny thing is that the boys will look like world beaters next year because they will be playing for contracts. This year everyone is secure in their job. It's very evident in the effort we see when they defend a 2 on 1, or the amount of times our forwards drive to the net.

Warner has been beating that the dressing room is rotten drum since the 15 game mark of the season. He also mentioned that if things are great your best players don't simply leave at the first chance they get. I'm starting to agree with him. Changing the coach is like putting a bandaid on the problem. We need a full overhaul of personnel, and this management couldn't figure it out over the last 4 coaches, so they also need to go.

Finally, It's time for more call ups, while some of our 'stars'(I'm looking at you Looch, but not only) sit for a game or 3.

[TheRealPepman]

Originally Posted by AustinL_NHL

Sorry Huberdeau thought he'd come in and have Sutter adjust to him rather than the other way around when one of them is a sure-fire HoF'er with multiple rings that came out of retirement because he unnecessarily felt he owed something to the city of Calgary (the area he calls home & that his family gives so, so much too and cares so much for) while the other talked the talk all summer, came into the season fresh off a brand new contract that grants him & his family generational wealth, with zero ties to the city, and then can't walk the walk so he whines to his agent to try and make the only person who's been loyal to this city and fanbase look like the bad guy?

Yea, I think I know which side I'm on here.

I guess the narrative of "Sutter gave more leeway to the Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk line than the other lines last year" that I was told or I saw somewhere online (don't remember how I learned about it) isn't true then.

Can anybody confirm if Darryl let the first line do their own thing unlike the next three lines?

[TheIronMaiden]

If he let them do their thing it is because they scored goals on command.

[Buff]

My take:

Huberdeau came here after a hot season in Florida and signed a huge contract. You can read Huberdeau's body language. He was full of confidence, even had a bit of arrogance about who he is.

Sutter is a team first kind of coach. The team comes before individual accolades. You win by being a team. Sutter won't pander to egos, he'll work to stamp that out to make sure everyone is playing for the team.

Huberdeau came here thinking he was going to be THE guy and probably even thought he could have some input on how the team plays or at least how his line plays. Sutter and Huberdeau didn't see eye to eye on this and a power struggle happened.

9.9/10 the "taking a sh#t" comment would not have been ill received by the players. Sutter was not making a comment on Huberdeau's play, he was just not answering a question based on a percieved injury. He never talks about injuries. Huberdeau, already frustrated with Sutter, took that the wrong way. If the player is good with all the players then the players will always side with another player vs head coach and the rift started to spread across the room.

We saw Kadri start the season like a beast. Lately he has been a distant memory of that player. Just one of many signs that something stinks in the room and it has spread.

Walsh is a prick. I don't like this tactic of going public with dirty laundry.

[Fuzzy14]

Looking forward to post-practice comments from coach:

"Darryl, any comments following Allan Walsh's tweets from last night?"

"Allan Walsh, what number was he again?"