[News] Flames press conference Fri 10:30 AM to introduce Glen Gulutzan as Head Coach

[Otto29]

Ok. Rebuild done. Guess the Flames will win the cup this year!

Seriously, I like this hire. I hope the product on the ice reflects what he is saying. If so, it will be a fun season to watch...if we fix the goal tending position. You can be fast and a possession team but if your goal tending sucks it doesn't matter much.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Far be it from me to argue with an NHL head coach but isn't that exactly what the Pens did to the Sharks in the finals? To perfection I might add. Sharks went long stretches without a shot on net and would be difficult to say the Pens system failed.

Thought it was more that the Pens had the puck all the time. But sure, if it comes to it you block the shot.
I think a big part of the Flames d strategy the last couple years was to block shots.

[Caged Great]

Blocking shots should never be the first line of defense. Part of that was born from the fact that the Flames had mediocre goaltending throughout the entire duration of Hartley's tenure, and that the Flames had several players willing to do so.

What should be done is utilizing your defender's speed, whether they are a forward or defenseman, to pester the player with the puck. Cut down on their time to make decisions. The less time they have to act/react, the greater the likelihood of making a mistake which results in a turnover. Having active sticks and the ability for players to collapse into the area around the "Home Plate" will also limit the chance for cross ice passes and would keep the opposition to the perimeter, which is ideally where you want them. Shots from the perimeter are less likely to go in, regardless if they are from the point or from the half wall.

The gap was an enormous problem between the forwards and defensemen. If I was the defending coach, I would just have the defensemen cheat up to be closer to the forwards and have them use their sticks in order to intercept the stretch passes and rely on the forwards to clog up the space between the Flames defenders and their targets. The handful of teams that did that completely neutered the Flames offense in those games (The Ducks game after Christmas for one). The lack of adaptability also sunk the team.

If Gulutzan is more adaptable in in-game situations, the team will be better off.

[Roof-Daddy]

Liked hearing that he is aware of our D's ability to score and will continue to utilize that strength. Liked the line "our big players will play big, our fast players will play fast, and we will play as 5 man unit". Says to me that he isn't expecting all our players to play the same way, but will utilize each players strengths.

Anyways, liked what I heard, but that's nothing new really. Talking the talk is always easy, can't wait to see if he can walk the walk too.

Good luck GG, welcome to Calgary.

[djsFlames]

The Penguins demonstrated it best. Rushing the opposition players with the puck to give them no time to set up and being tenacious. It's effective. Moreso than collectively collapsing, waiting to drop down in front of shots. It just leads to bad bounces and rebounds and boy did that happen a lot this past season..

[Textcritic]

I like that Gulutzen was not hired by Dim Benning and Trevor Linden, but rather that he was retained from the previous regime. Admittedly, I would be more concerned about his aptitude if he were hand picked by Simple Jim.

[djsFlames]

No coaching strategy change will matter if we don't address the goaltending, though. Brad has some work to do.

[Roof-Daddy]

I wonder what Carlyle or Boudreau would have said if they asked them to climb a mountain with Connie? Haha

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I like that Gulutzen was not hired by Dim Benning and Trevor Linden, but rather that he was retained from the previous regime. Admittedly, I would be more concerned about his aptitude if he were hand picked by Simple Jim.

True, but I dunno if being hired by Gillis is much of a ringing endorsement either

(assuming that's who hired him)

[Galakanokis]

I like what he has had to say so far with regards to the on ice play. I have hated the Flames team defense for a few years now, felt so passive. Proper positioning and support are key in all zones of the ice and I liked that he stressed the connected 5 man unit. Short quick passes as the team moves up the ice, Pittsburgh did it beautifully and I think the Flames have a lot of the right players to play a similar style.

[EVERLAST]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

He likes juice

Prefers grape drink baby

[Coach]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

Prefers grape drink baby

I want that purple stuff...

[EVERLAST]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I want that purple stuff...

Sugar water purple

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

True, but I dunno if being hired by Gillis is much of a ringing endorsement either

(assuming that's who hired him)

Gillis was smart enough to recognise how good a coach Vigneault is, but regardless of how low your opinion is of him, I don't think there is any disputing that he was a demonstrably better manager than his replacement.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

After listening to the press conference I'm convinced the new coach's nickname should be Juice.

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I want that purple stuff...

Sippin on some sizurp

[CaptainCrunch]

He doesn't wear a fedora and smoke cigars so this is yet another failed hiring.

[Dajazz]

I love reading the first and last page of a thread like this. Its amazing how different they are.

[McLintock]

Nice guy.. BT likes him.. and his wife is a Calgary girl..
What else can you ask for?

i like it...

[MarkGio]

Meh, people are excited now but you never know if he works out or doesn't until after two seasons.