Elliot Friedman believes Treliving may not be back next season

[Flamescuprun2018]

85% approval rating of GM even though a 4 game losing streak with terrible losses. I fear ownership will panic and dump BT. That would be a big mistake.

85% approval is a huge vote of confidence for GM when you consider our critical the CP crowd can be.

The ongoing goalie debacle could not have been predicted.

The combined save percentage of Elliott and Johnson last year was 0.925. Hiller/Ramo before that was 0.917. Why both tandems have faultered so profoundly is so puzzling. Not sure if Sigalet deserves some heat. Perhaps we need a sports psychologist for our goalies since such a mental position.

BT does get some criticism for undervaluing passion in a head coach. My very big criticism in GG is no passion. Passion and enthusiasm was something Hartley had. GG seems to be a good tactician (PP and SH improvement this year) but he has much to learn to motivate pros. Even his rant tonite was unconvincing with regard to emotion.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Flamescuprun2018

The combined save percentage of Elliott and Johnson last year was 0.925. Hiller/Ramo before that was 0.917. Why both tandems have faultered so profoundly is so puzzling. Not sure if Sigalet deserves some heat. Perhaps we need a sports psychologist for our goalies since such a mental position.

That stat, as Haynes pointed out, was actually 1st in the entire league.

Don't forget that both goalies, prior to coming here, had very solid career numbers with a proven body of work. Chad had just played 40ish games on a bad team and put up very solid stats. And if you compare Elliott's stats from last season, including some of the 'advanced' metrics (high/med/low danger sv%, Adjusted sv%/60, etc) to other elite starters in the league, he's right up there with the big names like Price, Lundqvist, Schneider.

Brad did his homework. You simply can't expect a pairing with that sort of numbers to BOTH just completely fall a cliff. I'm still in shock. If there's any kneejerk move to be made, the lowest risk move is canning Sigalet. I hand you an elite starter and an elite backup and you turn them BOTH into dog#### within a season? Gtfo of this organization, you fake.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Some posters will say it is a mistake on Treliving's part to not have made in-season moves last year. While I don't quite disagree, Darryl Sutter provides a cautionary tale for not doing so.

I have stated a few times that the rarest position on this team was not a #1 center, but rather a good coach. Sutter also did a heck of a lot more good than bad in his tenure as GM, but 3 poor coaching hires resulted in a knee-jerk attempt to save the season, and it cost him both his job and his reputation.

I hope Treliving doesn't buckle under the pressure to do 'something' to salvage this season. Well, at least not something stupid. I am sure the sharks are already circling.

This team has a huge inability to hire competent coaching staff.

[4X4]

Is Al MacNeil still around? It'd be an honour for him to take the bench again.

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Is Al MacNeil still around? It'd be an honour for him to take the bench again.

Well if history repeats itself the Flames should hire Greg Gilbert then replace him with MacNeil. Then next season Stanley Cup finals!

[Jay Random]

Here's a silly idea that might lighten the mood with the torch-and-pitchfork crowd:

When he was running the Central Hockey League (and before that, the league he started himself), Treliving had a ferocious reputation for getting public money to build new arenas for his league's franchises. Maybe he won't be GM next year because they're canning Ken King and putting Treliving in charge of Son of CalgaryNext?

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Is Al MacNeil still around? It'd be an honour for him to take the bench again.

He in his 80's and probably enjoying Cape Breton life again but if he ever did take the bench the players would work at least as hard as bluenosers.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

Didn't Treliving learn everything from Mahoney? If Mahoney is the replacement I don't think it would be that bad.

It's a very bad thing if you consider the owners have a past reputation for meddling in the hockey ops department. It's also a very bad thing if a GM is willing to vacate a coveted GM position when the team itself, apparently wants him to stay.

If he walks away I would be very concerned/disappointed in the franchise.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

It's a very bad thing if you consider the owners have a past reputation for meddling in the hockey ops department. It's also a very bad thing if a GM is willing to vacate a coveted GM position when the team itself, apparently wants him to stay.

If he walks away I would be very concerned/disappointed in the franchise.

If Treliving walks away and we want him back, that will say one of a few things:
- Burke and Tree don't have a good relationship. The jump most will make there is that Burke is actually over controlling, which is absolutely a realistic outcome, or it just might mean they don't get along.

- Or it will mean the ownership group is meddling too much

- Or it could be a combination of the above.

If the Flames don't want Tree back, in my estimation it will mean they lack the patience many of the fans on this board also lack and are far too emotional and reactionary, which does not bode well for success. The only caveat I'd put on that is if they let him walk because a dream candidate comes available that they simply couldn't pass up on.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Great post!


2. His first coach hire should have been a safe pick, with Boudreau available this should have been easy for him.

He is rigid and misses opportunities because of it; we could have outbid teams for Jones and Talbot. Should have grabbed Boudreau the second he was let go.

Bwoah, hiring Boudreau would have been stupid considering Scotty Bowman was available.

[Hockeyboy2]

This entire thread is a tribute to why I decided not to become a sports broadcaster and instead chose a more private career in supply chain management.

[bigrangy]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Great post!

Your points have the opposite effect on me, swinging me to the new GM camp.

1. BT is willing to burn a whole season before making changes (goalies last year).
2. His first coach hire should have been a safe pick, with Boudreau available this should have been easy for him.

He is rigid and misses opportunities because of it; we could have outbid teams for Jones and Talbot. Should have grabbed Boudreau the second he was let go.

Getting Talbot or Jones means no Hamilton, and even worse, means Hamilton in Edmonton.

BT failed this summer by signing Brouwer and hiring GG. He can fix these problems (expansion, fire GG) and knowing his track record, he will. I only hope that he gets another attempt at filling those holes.

[Hockeyboy2]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

Getting Talbot or Jones means no Hamilton, and even worse, means Hamilton in Edmonton.

BT failed this summer by signing Brouwer and hiring GG. He can fix these problems (expansion, fire GG) and knowing his track record, he will. I only hope that he gets another attempt at filling those holes.

To play devils advocate (great movie by the way) I would much rather have Talbot or Jones in goal than have Hamilton on defense.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Hockeyboy2

To play devils advocate (great movie by the way) I would much rather have Talbot or Jones in goal than have Hamilton on defense.

To play devil's advocate to you, do you think that either of those goaltenders would perform nearly as well, playing behind a Flames defense that has been lackluster.

Talbot didn't propel the Oilers to the playoffs last year, it was only when their defense improved that he started to win the games.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Great post!

Your points have the opposite effect on me, swinging me to the new GM camp.

1. BT is willing to burn a whole season before making changes (goalies last year).
2. His first coach hire should have been a safe pick, with Boudreau available this should have been easy for him.

He is rigid and misses opportunities because of it; we could have outbid teams for Jones and Talbot. Should have grabbed Boudreau the second he was let go.

I'm not sure how the Flames can outbid the Sharks for Jones since the Bruins got a first round pick in 2016 for Jones.

[Iniggywetrust]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

So you're suggesting GG was the best guy that was interested in the job?

I don't really mind the concept of a younger, "emerging" coach for a young, emerging team. And Dallas obviously saw something in the guy when they hired him. But I do wonder what Burke and others think of the search for a coach and if all appropriate options were considered. I don't subscribe to the theory that bigger names weren't interested in the Flames.

I can't say that GG was the best one available for the job. But hating on Brad because he didn't get Boudreau or Talbot without knowing whether they want to come here is redundant.

[Hockeyboy2]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

To play devil's advocate to you, do you think that either of those goaltenders would perform nearly as well, playing behind a Flames defense that has been lackluster.

Talbot didn't propel the Oilers to the playoffs last year, it was only when their defense improved that he started to win the games.

Hey bud great to hear from you.

I think that Martin Jones and Cam Talbot have shown great numbers this year and would both be great playing for the Flames like Chad Johnson.

The argument will ever be raging though, how much of a goaltenders performance is dictated by the team playing in front of him.

It's a debate that goes round and round and round and round.

I'll private message you in a bit.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Some posters will say it is a mistake on Treliving's part to not have made in-season moves last year. While I don't quite disagree, Darryl Sutter provides a cautionary tale for not doing so.

I have stated a few times that the rarest position on this team was not a #1 center, but rather a good coach. Sutter also did a heck of a lot more good than bad in his tenure as GM, but 3 poor coaching hires resulted in a knee-jerk attempt to save the season, and it cost him both his job and his reputation.

I hope Treliving doesn't buckle under the pressure to do 'something' to salvage this season. Well, at least not something stupid. I am sure the sharks are already circling.

This team has a huge inability to hire competent coaching staff.

I think Sutter's downfall was taking the Flames recruitment fairs to his family reunions and surrounding the organization with more brothers and cousins than the Italian mob.

[Freeway]

Al MacNeil still informally consults on a few things. I've seen him at several WHL games this season.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Al MacNeil still informally consults on a few things. I've seen him at several WHL games this season.

Thank you for the interesting info. I do love that guy. But I was kind of joking that I'd take a dinosaur over GG.

Bertween all these threads, there seems to be two factions. The people that think GG completely sucks at his job (I'm in this camp), and the people that think that the players need to step it up.
I don;t understand how the players are the ones at fault, when the coach is making such persistently confusing decisions. I mean, Brodie. COME ON! GIVE IT UP! But no, GG is going to stick to his glue guns and keep playing Brodie where he sucks, instead of where he kicks ass.

At some point, you have to take what you can get, and GG isn't doing that. He's also not inspiring a poop to fall into a toilet. Yeah, there are 5 high end guys that are not performing at all, kind of suspicious, I think. Almost like the guy in charge isn't deploying his troops very well. But half the board want to blame it on the troops.

I should just go ahead and Godwin this topic and point out that Hitler was to blame for dividing his forces and attacking Russia in the winter. It wasn't the troops that failed, it was the battle plan. GG is worse than Hitler. lol