[News] Flames and Treliving agree to part ways. Maloney promoted to PoHO and interim GM

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by badradio

My tinfoil hat theory is that Sutter wanted Tre gone… he didn’t like the Huberdeau add or any roster decision, so he got an extension signed then completely sabotaged the season so Tre wouldn’t want to come back… He never gave Tre’s younger players many games, kept saying the team built wasn’t good enough, kept rolling out vets and if they did well he could say “see look these guys have experience and know what to do.” If they sucked he could say “this is all I have to work with…the team isn’t good enough.”

Kept trying to put square pegs in round holes on purpose… Next season will be interesting… if they hire a puppet GM or Sutter himself, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a different coaching method and that might come with better results. That’s my theory anyways… too many bad coaching decisions from a guy that knows what he’s doing and a master at mind games to be a coincidence.

Were Markstrom and Vladar part of the cabal with Sutter?

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by butterfly

https://twitter.com/user/status/1644726591325347845

Well done. Thumbs up to you, Meghan Chayka and STATHLETES.


Based on a cursory glance, I think those numbers tell me that the team, despite all the personnel changes, still managed to play pretty much the exact same system that won them the division last year.

But losing the team's most skilled/talented/players in Gaudreau and Tkachuk hurt the team's ability to create scoring chances on the rush, cross ice passes and passes into the slot. That's exactly what those 2 were so good at last year, breaking down the opposition's DZone structure and finding each other in the slot for easy goals regardless of in-transition or not.

The goaltending performance especially by Markstrom was terrible. The GAA shouldn't drop that much if the expected goals against was roughly the same the year before.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

Tough to see Treliving go, I believe he's a good man who worked his tail off for the organization. Shortly after he got hired in 2014 my buddy and I recognized him at Cowboys tent and had a great convo with him where we chatted about the team and had some laughs. He definitely didn't need to give a couple early 20's bros as much time as he did. You saw that same spirit come out with most everything the guy did in his time here, always gave the best answer he could, worked hard, called people by name, was a great representative of the team and the community. For all the jokes about "the process" and other mannerisms he said there is a limit to what you can and cannot talk about as a GM and Treliving was better than most, he would lay out his thought process clearly and consistently which I think spoke to his steady hand and intelligence. My big prediction is like many former Flames employees he'll find ultimate success somewhere else in the league.

Did you call him Bradley?

[badradio]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Were Markstrom and Vladar part of the cabal with Sutter?

He kept starting Markstrom cause he’s the “#1 guy” even though he was lights out bad… Vladar should have got more games.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Did you call him Bradley?

He called him B-rad. Extreme to the max yo!

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by badradio

He kept starting Markstrom cause he’s the “#1 guy” even though he was lights out bad… Vladar should have got more games.

Sutter was hoping that Markstrom could play his way out of the funk.

[DiracSpike]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Did you call him Bradley?

His full name is actually Bradford III

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

From the Friedman article:


The Flames had factions this year, which included player-versus-player. That happens when your season doesn’t go how you wanted or expected. The priority must be injecting youth into the roster and making Jonathan Huberdeau work. Some of that is on the player, but it’s also on the environment around him.

This is honestly what I understood from the garbage day interviews. There were likely two factions

1) Some star players didn't mesh with Sutter

2) Other long-term players didn't mesh with the star players that didn't like Sutter

• Kadri spoke of disagreements with coach AND players.
• Huby spoke of needing to be better and adjust to the system and went of his way to say "we both need to be better." No one who has the clear high ground would say that.
• Weegar walked the line between best friend on one side and the other faction on the other.
• The look between Coleman and Lewis before Lewis answered the question.
• Backlund specifically talking about wanting to win and not sure if he could do that here was possibly an indirect shot a Huby and/or Kadri
• Lindholm saying lets see, but taking the same tact as Backlund
• Zadorov and Hannifin and Toffoli saying how much they like it here

There will be spin from the Treliving camp and the Huby/Kadri camp, especially through guys like Alan Walsh who leak stuff through the media. But there's another side to this story. If there wasn't, Sutter would have been gone already.

If the problem is Kadri and Huby, there was zero chance Tre was going to do anything to address it. It would have skewered his reputation with players to move guys months after signing them to a long-term deal. But a new GM? A new GM can do that.

Huby to me seems like it could be a Chris Drury situation. Sutter's first move as GM was to trade Drury - a sulking, moody player who didn't want to be here - somewhere else.

[Strange Brew]

Didn't see any of the press conference, but having a POHO could be helpful here. Especially if Maloney is given enough authority to hire who he wants. He should be capable of hiring an above average GM, and I am kind of excited about a potential change of direction.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by badradio

My tinfoil hat theory is that Sutter wanted Tre gone… he didn’t like the Huberdeau add or any roster decision, so he got an extension signed then completely sabotaged the season so Tre wouldn’t want to come back… He never gave Tre’s younger players many games, kept saying the team built wasn’t good enough, kept rolling out vets and if they did well he could say “see look these guys have experience and know what to do.” If they sucked he could say “this is all I have to work with…the team isn’t good enough.”

Kept trying to put square pegs in round holes on purpose… Next season will be interesting… if they hire a puppet GM or Sutter himself, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a different coaching method and that might come with better results. That’s my theory anyways… too many bad coaching decisions from a guy that knows what he’s doing and a master at mind games to be a coincidence.

You honestly believe a future Hall of Famer in Darryl Sutter would purposely sabotage his own career, legend and mythology with this fanbase/ownership who use to adore him (In Sutter we Trust anyone?) just to spite Treliving? Honestly man, CP sometimes...

[GioforPM]

I don’t think it’s in Sutter’s DNA to try and lose. It definitely is in his DNA to disagree with player deployment and stick to his guns.

[Loyal and True]

Treliving was diligent and worked hard to be in every trade conversation, and did a lot of other good things. He was a smart manager and I was hoping he'd stay.

On the other hand, this team was a mess when they had to fire Ward, and I was surprised they kept Treliving when they hired Darryl. It seemed obvious that Sutter was not his hire. Treliving had lost some serious credibility by that time.

Ironically, Sutter ends up making Treliving look like a genius as of April, 2022.

I also wouldn't be surprised if Treliving was pressured by ownership towards Kadri, Huberdeau and Weegar instead of a full rebuild.

Looking ahead, I don't mind if Flames ownership/puppet gm double down for the next 3 or 4 years before we look at a bona fide rebuild. Re-sign or trade upcoming ufa's for current assets while spending to the cap. I think 90% of this same lineup could have 110 points in the standings next year.

4 years from now we they will probably have little choice but tear it down and dump contracts (25% to 50% retained salaries).

[badradio]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

You honestly believe a future Hall of Famer in Darryl Sutter would purposely sabotage his own career, legend and mythology with this fanbase/ownership who use to adore him (In Sutter we Trust anyone?) just to spite Treliving? Honestly man, CP sometimes...

Did you not read that this is my “tinfoil hat theory?” I do think it’s about control and Sutter wants more of it.

[PeteMoss]

If the problem is huberdeau and kadri.. then you have to figure out a way to make it not a problem because you are stuck with those guys. They aren't movable, so you have to make it work.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by badradio

He kept starting Markstrom cause he’s the “#1 guy” even though he was lights out bad… Vladar should have got more games.

This is where I can't defend Sutter. His Markstrom usage was pure insanity. Vladar was clearly the better goaltender for a while there and he should've played more.

I know Sutter is loyal to his #1's, but man, Markstrom was one of, if not the worst starters this season. I didn't even care for him last year, which is saying something since he was #2 in Vezina voting, but personally, I thought he was a product of his environment.

I don't know why Treliving fought so hard to sign him. We should've let the Oilers have him which would've solved 2 problems. Based on everything I had hear and all the hype, I thought the goaltending problems for this team were over, but here we are again with same questions in goal. Hiller, Elliott, Smith, Markstrom and etc. I honestly have no idea what to expect from him next year. He had a strong defense in front of him and somehow managed to crap the bed with a .892 sv%?

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

This is not a desirable job.

-the new interim GM, who is in Line for 0 GM jobs, doesn’t want it

These are the least worrisome arguments to me. Being a GM is a highly coveted job and people have to remember Treliving is basically doing it for kicks. He has worked pretty hard for a guy that is set for life. He can sit on a beach forever doing nothing.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

This is where I can't defend Sutter. His Markstrom usage was pure insanity. Vladar was clearly the better goaltender for a while there and he should've played more.

I know Sutter is loyal to his #1's, but man, Markstrom was one of, if not the worst starters this season. I didn't even care for him last year, which is saying something since he was #2 in Vezina voting, but personally, I thought he was a product of his environment.

Vladar would have had the same or worse stats than Markstrom if he had the same games played. He finished with a .895 sv%. The Flames didn't have a #1 goaltender this season.

[Flamescuprun2018]

I will miss BT. Best of luck to him! He served us well.

He got lots right and a few things wrong in hindsight.

But I never had to worry about him doing something truly bad unlike other GMs in the league.

His RFA contract negotiations were outstanding.

His reorganization of the club at the development level also outstanding.

His trades generally excellent (except Hamonic for picks).

The 2014-15 season was a menagerie that accelerated his plans for the rebuild and got him selling picks sooner than he should for attempts at playoff success.

Best of luck to him. I am certain he will even better the second time around. Who ever our GM is? Please do not trade with BT. He rarely loses.

Whoever is next. Let's give that GM a long lease with the patience of allowing a true rebuild that is not rushed. Conroy would be fine with me as he has learned from BT.

End of an era...

[FanIn80]

I said halfway through the season that it seemed like Brad was calling guys up to play, but Sutter was just ignoring him. Now I believe that even more.

I also said a couple years back that Tree would never hire a coach with a pedigree like Sutter's, out of fear of eventually losing a power struggle resulting in the owners choosing the coach over him.

I'm hoping Tree gets a solid shot someplace where he's just handed a staffing budget and the autonomy to build the team he wants.

[Savvy27]

Even if you don't blame Sutter at all for Gaudreau and Tkachuk leaving, it's a real problem the way he treats young defensemen.

Valimaki was a serious loss for the organization. A first round pick that is now playing at a borderline star level for another team after being lost on waivers of all things. Sure, he stunk up the joint and a lot of us understood why they favored Mackey over him at the time, but a coach should be able to get a read on a player's potential and management should know better than to let a promising defenseman go on waivers just because a coach doesn't like how he's playing.

But management didn't know better. And we know they didn't know better because they did the same thing two years earlier with Oliver Kylington. He played 38 games for Peters on a team that came in 2nd in the league and then the next year Sutter played him a total of eight games on a bubble team that missed the playoffs. The Flames put him on waivers and also exposed him in the expansion draft. They are actually fortunate that they only lost one top 4 defenseman under 25 years old on account of Sutter's coaching and management's inability to intervene.