[News] Head coach Bob Hartley fired; Associate coach Jacques Cloutier not returning

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by wingmaker

goal tending was only truly terrible in the first two months. Doesn't explain why we sucked in January when Ramo was playing well but the power play was putrid.

The PP coach thus far has retained his job.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

So is Gelinas staying? The most incompetent part of the coaching staff?

One doesn't simply eliminate, the eliminator.

[Inferno]

Wow, a bit premature IMO. If the goaltending wasn't complete junk this season the team would have been fine. They must want Boudreau.

[AcGold]

I would say it's 99% due to the fact that Hartley had pretty basic and ineffective strategies. Terrible possession, zone exits, perimeter play and worst of all we were terrible at gaining the offensive zone. Hartley's gone because he wasn't a good enough coach for today. The zone entries and puck possession were not Hillers fault.

He had Gio, Brodie, Johnny, Sean, Dougie, Bennett to work with but could barely gain the zone. There was very little variation to their strategies and attack, they are a high skill team that never stretched the game out or slowed things down, Hartley was way too strict on everyone not named Johnny. They had a team of specialists but they were played like average players, there are 4 different main strategies for exiting the zone and the team would try the same one over and over... that's why he's gone, treating the team like children and not elevating their strategy past predictable single minded play.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

So it's agreed we are not cycling through capable coaches.

agreed, and let me go on record to say, that I hope we don't end up doing just that, and because of those concerns, the firing of Hartley makes no sense to me.

[domenichelly]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The problem I would suggest, is that our unexpected playoff run in 2015 left you with inflated expectations.

I disagree with inflated expectations. I think that 2015 playoffs was a miracle and there was no reasons we could repeat it this year. But even in times of rebuilt team must have progress.

[calgaryboy]

Really shocked. Came out of nowhere......I liked Bob very, very much, curious what will happen now......

[Mike F]

I was never the biggest Hartley fan, and if the team gets Boudreau I'll be content, but to a very large degree this is a coach taking the hit for a GM making a mess of the team's goaltending.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

The PP coach thus far has retained his job.

well, that's crazy.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Locke

I dont know, I'm with troutman on this, killing that Country Club attitude is a big part of where we are today and Hartley was largely responsible for that.

Then you start hearing things like the players 'hated' him. I can deal with the 'not respecting' him because these players arent idiots, if they dont respect him then something is up, but 'hating' him?

Of course they did, everyone hates the boss that makes them work the hardest. That doesnt mean you get rid of him.

We all know Hartley is the sort of coach who has a short shelf life because of his style - and it grates against players big time. He lasted four years plus a bit in Colorado, four years plus a bit in Atlanta, and now four years in Calgary.

He got a ton out of this team in 2014-15, but it is clear the work ethic wasn't the same this year. If you are management, and you see that the team has plateaued/regressed, and you know that the message is being lost, then this is a logical decision. It has nothing to do with a "country club attitude". Because if that is the case, then the NHL is a collection of 30 country clubs.

I have a lot of respect for Hartley, and I think he is a good coach. But it is clear that he just couldn't get this team moving forward this year. And the "three headed goalie monster" excuse simply doesn't cut it. The Flames could have brought him back next year in the hopes that he can turn it around, but evidently they feel it is better to start the year going in a new direction and when the coaching options are at their highest than risking having to fire a coach who is routinely fired in his fifth season, 20 games in when things are already lost.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

well, that's crazy.

Firing 3 coaches in one day would create a carousel.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Inferno

Wow, a bit premature IMO. If the goaltending wasn't complete junk this season the team would have been fine. They must want Boudreau.

See I don't get this, if people are accepting it's going to happen, just not yet, why would they wait if that doubt is already there?

Get the new coach in as soon as possible in the rebuild cycle.

[kukkudo]

Im not surprised I was expecting either all of the assistants to be fired during the summer or Hartley. Its time for a fresh voice in the dressing room and from the looks of it the expectations have gone to the next level for next season.

[wingmaker]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

The PP coach thus far has retained his job.

And? Doesn't change the fact that goaltending was not the only problem this year. People are making it seem like it was really that simple. However, look at the career years many players had, most of which were built in the second half of the season. Calgary was on the cusp of a playoff spot at the end of December and then went below .500 for six weeks, even though Ramo was playing well for much of that time before he was injured.

Coaching may not be fully to blame for the season, but that is about the best thing you can say about it. Definitely didn't solve any problems during the year, that is for sure.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by domenichelly

GM job can be judged where the team was and where it is now. Not by standings position but mostly by roster. I still think that 2 years is enough to understand who can be you #1 goalie and other problems. But all he says is: we need to wait, we will see and so on... I think we can buy him window for birthday )

But my main question for Treliving is - what kind fo team he wants to see. Feaster had a plan. It can be good or bad but he had it. He wanted fast players with good hockey skills or good skills potential. Some kind of Golden State Warriors in NHL may be...

Coach can work only with players he had. If he do not have good quality players than you cant ask him to make miracle every year...

P.S. I am not Hnat. He was player i liked when i was young )

Why...?

Originally Posted by Leeman4Gilmour

Treliving stated in a year end interview he wasn't happy with the system the Flames were playing. This firing isn't a surprise to me. Although, if Trevliving really didn't like Hartley's system, he shouldn't have extended him and he probably should have let him go after that terrible start.

And furthermore, Hartley was not Treliving's hire. A new GM hiring a Coach that fits with his philosophy is pretty standard. He gave Hartley a run, now its time to find 'his' guy.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Firing 3 coaches in one day would create a carousel.

a coaching vortex.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by wingmaker

And? Doesn't change the fact that goaltending was not the only problem this year. People are making it seem like it was really that simple. However, look at the career years many players had, most of which were built in the second half of the season. Calgary was on the cusp of a playoff spot at the end of December and then went below .500 for six weeks, even though Ramo was playing well for much of that time before he was injured.

Coaching may not be fully to blame for the season, but that is about the best thing you can say about it. Definitely didn't solve any problems during the year, that is for sure.

I'm just saying, you brought up a struggling PP. The Flames did not axe the guy in charge of the PP. I'm not saying anything else with my comment, you are reading into my comment.

[mdubz]

The writing was on the wall when Treliving said in the post-season presser that he wanted to be a possession team next season. Hartley's run and gun style simply doesn't fit that.

[Coach]

I think this has more to do with Hartley's stubbornness in the goalie situation than anything else. It was pretty obvious by the end that Ortio should have been given more of a chance in the early stages of the season. 2 games behind the way the team was playing was not enough to gauge anything of value IMO.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

The PP coach thus far has retained his job.

I think it is more accurate to state that Gelinas remains employed by the Flames. We don't know what role - if any - Gelinas will have behind the bench next year.