Hitchcock fired

[Buff]

Originally Posted by CSharp

Please No Hitchcock as a Flames coach. I haven't watched a full Flames game this year yet. Hitchcock would:
1) Ruin Gaudreau
2) Will put you to sleep immediately after the first opening faceoff.

If goaltending is so bad with the Blues, we can ship Elliot back for a first or second round if they're desperate. But please NO Hitchcock!

He would ruin Gaudreau because he ruined other players? I can't think of any that he ruined. A recent young star that played well for Hitchcock was Tarasenko.

I'm not sure why you think he would ruin Gaudreau?

[MarkGio]

I'm not a fan of Hitchcock because it's really boring hockey and the players stats are always low, but he does have a better resume than Gulutzan and it's not like Gulutzan hockey is fun to watch

[thefoss1957]

With Yeo on the bench to begin the season, this move seemed inevitable.

As far as Hitch, his style lends itself to a "heavy" team that sets picks on all zone entries/exits, and on all board battles. The Blues roster is softer this year, and so, along with poor goaltending, they are not playing with the efficiency that they had in the past. I despise the Blues, and, as Yeo was a bust in Minnesota, I don't see him improving in the Central with THIS squad.

[djsFlames]

Watch Treliving sit on his hands and whoever scoops up Hitchcock to go on a tear.

Strangely enough though I'd prefer Julien to Hitchcock for this team. Still, he'd undoubtedly be an upgrade.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Hitch had the blues dmen contributing almost 50% of their offense this season. Get him if you can.

[FireGilbert]

Didn't see that coming. I thought Hitch was untouchable and would finish the season before retiring. I know they needed a shakeup but firing the goalie coach would have seemed sufficient.

Also looks like the Blues cup window has slammed shut. Wouldn't be surprised if their drought buddies the Leafs win a cup before they do.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

In some weird way I hope the Flames grab Hitchcock just see watch the turn about in here. Right now our stupid GM is about to let an amazing opportunity pass him by to get Hitch and someone else will get him.

If we went out and got him, the second we hit a rough patch again like we just went through (and we will) the sentiment around here will be about how we hired an Old School coach at the end of his career and it was stupid.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

In some weird way I hope the Flames grab Hitchcock just see watch the turn about in here. Right now our stupid GM is about to let an amazing opportunity pass him by to get Hitch and someone else will get him.

If we went out and got him, the second we hit a rough patch again like we just went through (and we will) the sentiment around here will be about how we hired an Old School coach at the end of his career and it was stupid.

Wouldn't be the first time though. At least there wouldn't be any more stompings at the hands of the greasers.

Treliving should get him, no question. He's an instant upgrade. Problem is, he's already paying two head coaches.

[Robbob]

I don't get how he is an upgrade. He has one foot out the door and by the looks of things in STL isn't completely engaged. THe players there are no longer responding to him because they know he will be gone. Firing GG and hiring KH for 3 months only to have to hire another coach in 4 months is the last thing this teams needs. It would be Keenan 2.0 as having a task master coach only going through the motions will hurt more than it will help.

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by Buff

He would ruin Gaudreau because he ruined other players? I can't think of any that he ruined. A recent young star that played well for Hitchcock was Tarasenko.

I'm not sure why you think he would ruin Gaudreau?

He's going to be boring as hell for everyone, not just for the fans. Take a good look at Rick Nash. It's a shame that he coached a talent like that and basically Nash levelled off with the CBJ. Nash likely tuned out. With Nash's offensive skills, he could've blossomed way more with a coach that's more offensive oriented. Sure Tarasenko has been increasing his production mainly due to addition of more higher end players. I can see him levelling off as well if Hitchcock runs the show for a few more years and the team goes nowhere in the playoffs again and again. You can run the team hard defensively most of the season and then you run out of gas at the end. This is the type of hockey that wears down everyone when you're always playing playoff hockey from the start to end through 81 games. I think he'll frustrate a bunch of players if he does come here. His coaching style doesn't suit the Flames.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

The uproar to fire GG really baffles me. Who do these Flames fans think this franchise is? The Detroit Red Wings? In his first season he has the Flames in a playoff spot at the All Star Break. This is a franchise that has only made it to the second round twice in almost thirty years! Thirty years! This team has missed the playoffs six of the past seven years, including three of the four years under Bob Hartley. God forbid we give a coach who has us in a playoff spot in his first season with the team, a chance to finish the season.

The Flames are 23rd in the NHL and 10th in a brutally-easy Western Conference and 6th in a dismal Pacific Division. They are only technically in a playoff spot because other teams with better P% have games in hand.

[dissentowner]

I think people need to accept GG is not getting fired this year.

[Iceman90]

Keep Glen Gulutzan as head coach, and try to sign Hitchcock as Associate Coach. That's my suggestion.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Double Trouble.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

Wouldn't be the first time though. At least there wouldn't be any more stompings at the hands of the greasers.

Treliving should get him, no question. He's an instant upgrade. Problem is, he's already paying two head coaches.

Really, there should be no question about us getting a coach that last we heard was going to retire after this season on February 1st?

Not sure if that's a long term move by the GM.

Also, there will be no more stompings at the hands of the greasers regardless.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I think people need to accept GG is not getting fired this year.

Yup.

This isn't European Football and coaches don't get fired after 52 Games Played while still battling for a playoff spot.

Just crazy-talk to think that he would get fired this soon into his tenure - even if Hitch is available.

Plus Hitch said he was going to retire - why would he want to come to a hotbed market where they fire coaches after 6 months.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Yup.

This isn't European Football and coaches don't get fired after 52 Games Played while still battling for a playoff spot.

Just crazy-talk to think that he would get fired this soon into his tenure - even if Hitch is available.

Plus Hitch said he was going to retire - why would he want to come to a hotbed market where they fire coaches after 6 months.

Well the Oilers are doing better than us this year, so what about that?

[Young_Guns]

Maybe he ends up in Las Vegas?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I think people need to accept GG is not getting fired this year.

That and the fact that he's very likely going to be the head coach next season regardless of what happens this season. Only way he's not back is if Treliving isn't.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

The Flames are 23rd in the NHL and 10th in a brutally-easy Western Conference and 6th in a dismal Pacific Division. They are only technically in a playoff spot because other teams with better P% have games in hand.

And St. Louis is only just marginally better statsitically(based on 2 fewer games played), but with a better roster. How will Hitch help?