The Deal With Geoff Ward

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by New Era

Everything points to Treliving's ego. You don't make the same mistake over and over again unless you are incredibly stupid or arrogant. Treliving isn't stupid. He just has to be the smartest guy in the room which is why he won't even talk to an experienced guy. Seriously, Trelving hasn't even reached out to the experienced guys that have been available. They all say that the Calgary Flames have not reached out to them. That is a guy not wanting to bring in someone that has the gravitas who could challenge him or question the job he was doing. There is no way in hell you continue to reach into the minor leagues when you have proven NHL coaches available, but Treliving has done it for seven multiple hires. You tell me what the issue could be here. And it is not like these coaches do not recognize that this is a game of musical chairs and when a seat is open you jump on it. Suggesting they will roll the dice until "next year" for a coaching gig is ridiculous.

No, not everything points to Treliving’s ego, but thanks for the condescension. People here have pointed out a half dozen legit reasons why it’s hard to get an outside coach in this season.

It’s not a stretch to say Gallant, who is still being paid by Vegas wouldn’t wait to see what the off season, and particularly Seattle, holds, as opposed to taking on a team that seems pretty disfunctional mid season.

Or Boudreau, who has flip flopped on his coaching desires a couple times, lives and has a team in Hershey, has made good money for 4 years, and would have to quarantine.

Aside from those guys there’s not a whole lot of talent out there. Especially ones who aren’t currently holding down a job they’d have to get out of, like, say, Todd Nelson.

[Infinit47]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

No, not everything points to Treliving’s ego, but thanks for the condescension. People here have pointed out a half dozen legit reasons why it’s hard to get an outside coach in this season.

It’s not a stretch to say Gallant, who is still being paid by Vegas wouldn’t wait to see what the off season, and particularly Seattle, holds, as opposed to taking on a team that seems pretty disfunctional mid season.

Or Boudreau, who has flip flopped on his coaching desires a couple times, lives and has a team in Hershey, has made good money for 4 years, and would have to quarantine.

Aside from those guys there’s not a whole lot of talent out there. Especially ones who aren’t currently holding down a job they’d have to get out of, like, say, Todd Nelson.

So if it's hard Trelieving shouldn't bother trying?

This team needs a better coach. Trelieving should be doing everything he can to make that happen. At this point I don't believe we need an elite coach to be better, just a competent coach. Ward is not competent.

Edit: I think it's fair to say ego played a part in why Ward was made the permanent head coach in the off season, when the covid barriers to hiring a new coach were not issues.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Infinit47

So if it's hard Trelieving shouldn't bother trying?

This team needs a better coach. Trelieving should be doing everything he can to make that happen. At this point I don't believe we need an elite coach to be better, just a competent coach. Ward is not competent.

Who said anything about not trying? There was a prediction about what will happen and NE said if that’s what happens it’s all down to Treliving’s ego and that there could be no other explanation. Which just isn’t true.

[Rollin22x]

Originally Posted by Infinit47

So if it's hard Trelieving shouldn't bother trying?

This team needs a better coach. Trelieving should be doing everything he can to make that happen. At this point I don't believe we need an elite coach to be better, just a competent coach. Ward is not competent.

Edit: I think it's fair to say ego played a part in why Ward was made the permanent head coach in the off season, when the covid barriers to hiring a new coach were not issues.

How does this equate to ego?

[Jacks]

It’s not a stretch to say Gallant, who is still being paid by Vegas wouldn’t wait to see what the off season, and particularly Seattle, holds, as opposed to taking on a team that seems pretty disfunctional mid season.

Or Boudreau, who has flip flopped on his coaching desires a couple times, lives and has a team in Hershey, has made good money for 4 years, and would have to quarantine.

Aside from those guys there’s not a whole lot of talent out there. Especially ones who aren’t currently holding down a job they’d have to get out of, like, say, Todd Nelson.

We dont really know what the situation with those guys is because by all reports Treliving hasn't contacted or interviewed any coaching candidates other than "his guy" for the last 2 hires. I'd say that's not really trying too hard.

[AustinL_NHL]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1363216251347103747

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jacks

We dont really know what the situation with those guys is because by all reports Treliving hasn't contacted or interviewed any coaching candidates other than "his guy" for the last 2 hires. I'd say that's not really trying too hard.

I know what the situation is with each of those guys. Gallant is living off the last year of his Vegas contract, supposedly in PEI.

Boudreau just moved to Hershey where he owns a new junior A team.

https://russianmachineneverbreaks.co...am-to-hershey/

[Lanny_McDonald]

Just reviewing the Ward announcement. This was just painful to read.

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/best...rd/c-319025312

"There were three key qualities that Brad Treliving wanted clear on the resume of his new head coach:

The ability to teach.

To inspire.

And to be disciplined and accountable.

When decision time came, a frontrunner emerged.

"Those are the three main areas (of coaching) and I think Geoff is excellent in all three," the Flames GM said Monday, emphatically announcing Ward - the former 'interim' bench boss - as the 20th head coach in franchise history."

"I was looking for the best coach for our team," Treliving said. "With Geoff, he's just now completed 40-some-odd games plus playoffs as a first-time head coach. I think he's got the ability to become a top, top coach in this league.

"That's what makes me excited."

This article does not age well at all.

[Macindoc]

In the middle of the season during a pandemic, Darryl Sutter seems to be the obvious choice. He's already in Alberta, and there are rumours that he has shown some interest. He may have a short shelf life, but he has a way of getting the best out of his players for several years (which would be a great way to transition to a top-shelf permanent option when a good candidate is available). He left town on a low note because he was a way better coach than GM, but went on to coach the Kings to their first Stanley Cup after taking the team over mid-season when Terry Murray was fired after leading the team to a last-place standing in the Pacific Division. He still works as an advisor for the Kings, but I'm sure he would (and would have permission to) leave that post for a head coaching job.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Macindoc

In the middle of the season during a pandemic, Darryl Sutter seems to be the obvious choice. He's already in Alberta, and there are rumours that he has shown some interest. He may have a short shelf life, but he has a way of getting the best out of his players for several years (which would be a great way to transition to a top-shelf permanent option when a good candidate is available). He left town on a low note because he was a way better coach than GM, but went on to coach the Kings to their first Stanley Cup after taking the team over mid-season when Terry Murray was fired after leading the team to a last-place standing in the Pacific Division. He still works as an advisor for the Kings, but I'm sure he would (and would have permission to) leave that post for a head coaching job.

I believe he is an advisor with the Ducks.

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by timbit

I believe he is an advisor with the Ducks.

Oops, you're right, it's the Ducks, but as an advisor, he likely has as out clause in his contract if offered a full-time coaching job.

[dustygoon]

The thing I don’t get...Ward seems to coach the same way at beginning of game, as he does when leading as he does when behind (by a little or a lot). An easy adjustment is when down by a lot, play like you have to play them 5 more times....dump it in and hit to hurt. Make it a hard check finishing game to set you up for next game.

[Vedder]

The whole issue strikes me as a budget one. Would explain why assistants would be stepping in if Ward is fired.

I think it'd be wiser to spend under the cap to ensure you're getting a coach with pedigree. False economy to cheap out on a coach to manage an 82 million dollar roster.

Honestly I hope this was the limiting factor for Treliving. He'd be paying lip service to Ward either way so the quotes in that article don't mean much to me. Hard to imagine he thought this was legitimately the best route given his previous experience with Gulutzan.

[JurassicTunga12]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Boomer said this morning that if Ward is fired, he is quite sure that Edwards/Huska would step in as head coach. The team would not bring someone from the outside in.

Saw this on reddit, haha.

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by New Era

Just reviewing the Ward announcement. This was just painful to read.

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/best...rd/c-319025312

"There were three key qualities that Brad Treliving wanted clear on the resume of his new head coach:

The ability to teach.

To inspire.

And to be disciplined and accountable.

When decision time came, a frontrunner emerged.

"Those are the three main areas (of coaching) and I think Geoff is excellent in all three," the Flames GM said Monday, emphatically announcing Ward - the former 'interim' bench boss - as the 20th head coach in franchise history."

"I was looking for the best coach for our team," Treliving said. "With Geoff, he's just now completed 40-some-odd games plus playoffs as a first-time head coach. I think he's got the ability to become a top, top coach in this league.

"That's what makes me excited."

This article does not age well at all.

Smartest guy in the room. He found a real gem.

[shadowlord]

If the team splits one game with Toronto and wins 4 vs the Sens, that's 5 wins out of 6 for 10 of 12 points.

Is that good enough to save Ward's job? And should it be? I'm not convinced that success in these next 6 games shows that the team has turned a corner.

[Stanley]

Originally Posted by shadowlord

If the team splits one game with Toronto and wins 4 vs the Sens, that's 5 wins out of 6 for 10 of 12 points.

Is that good enough to save Ward's job? And should it be? I'm not convinced that success in these next 6 games shows that the team has turned a corner.

I'm willing to bet my entire life savings they will not win all 4 vs Sens

[pepper24]

I think Ward was capable after Peters was let go but issue I have with him moving to full time coach was that I didn't hear much about them talking with Gallant or Boudreau. Were they available? Did they have interest? If so, that's on Treliving. Ward isn't as terrible as many are thinking but better options with those 2 coaches IMO.

It's also a big jump going from assistant coach to head coach as we've seen with Playfair and Gulutzun. After being good assistant coaches they had brief failed runs as head coach then eventually went back to being good assistant coaches.

[Red_Baron]

Has Ward ever called a timeout?

A lot of posters called him out for it last year and I have read a recent study where the stats did not back up any significant advantage to the trailing team calling a time out so I was not seeing it as an issue this season.
https://hockey-graphs.com/2020/05/28...alysis-part-1/

There have been a few times this year where I feel the team could have used a quick re-set or adjustment as a whole group but no time out was called. Or Saturday Feb 13th where the flames were down a goal with 2 minutes to play and chose to ice a 4th liner (Leivo) with almost zero offensive production rather than rest up the top guys for an extra 30 seconds and get them out there.

I don't know, maybe I am just trying to find some sign of an in-game adjustment as nothing has been apparent to me.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Red_Baron

Has Ward ever called a timeout?

A lot of posters called him out for it last year and I have read a recent study where the stats did not back up any significant advantage to the trailing team calling a time out so I was not seeing it as an issue this season.
https://hockey-graphs.com/2020/05/28...alysis-part-1/

There have been a few times this year where I feel the team could have used a quick re-set or adjustment as a whole group but no time out was called. Or Saturday Feb 13th where the flames were down a goal with 2 minutes to play and chose to ice a 4th liner (Leivo) with almost zero offensive production rather than rest up the top guys for an extra 30 seconds and get them out there.

I don't know, maybe I am just trying to find some sign of an in-game adjustment as nothing has been apparent to me.

That used to bug me about Gulutzan....saving timeouts and challenges in case they were needed later, as opposed to right now when the game is slipping away