What's wrong with the Flames?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by sa226

A large part of the teams success and identity from last year was that players were almost interchangeable. How many injuries were there to start last season? Seemingly the whole centre ice position was injured.

You don't replace a guy like Brodie, but lets not pretend his absence is the reason for the poor start.

That was an effort issue IMO. The guys who came in (Granlund and Jooris) gave effort because it was their big break (along with Johnny who was probably feeling like he was an easy send down if he didn't perform). It was contagious.

Then when guys came back (for the most part) they had to bring effort as well, because the kids had done so well.

[Erick Estrada]

I will agree with Warrener and say it's the effort. The effort was poor in the preseason and they are finding it's not a switch they can just turn on. After a country club preseason (Warrener's words) they are scrambling to find that work ethic that defined them last season but if they don't do it soon they could find themselves in big trouble. It's worth noting their start is very similar to the Avalanche last season and they never really did get on track.

That said goaltending has been poor and as been noted teams are prepared for the stretch pass so the coaching staff really does have to adapt. Lots to get fixed in a short amount of time but it's still too early for full blown panic mode.

[sa226]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I would argue that the biggest difference between last year and this season is a personnel issue. Players who were needed to slot in for injuries last year just simply did a better job than this year, and I think that one of the reasons for that is directly connected to just how valuable Brodie is to this team.

I suppose that I would agree that it is a personnel issue. Players just aren't playing up to the level that is expected of them. But the list of culprits is long, leading me to believe that it is a more general issue than a specific one. The whole team seems to be in a lethargic slump. The spark that existed last year just isn't there. Maybe Brodie coming back provides that shot shot in the arm that the team needs, perhaps his presence has a trickle down effect. I just don't think that a team with the talent still available in the lineup can blame the slow start on one guys absence.

I think in the short term this team needs 2 things. One is to hit the road, they need to get away from the Saddledome. Two is to have a goalie steal a game a la Hiller against Chicago last year. You can never truly throw all of the blame at a goalie, but the complete and utter averageness of their play isn't helping anything.

[Igottago]

I'm actually gonna say leadership. The leaders need to lead. Gio, Backlund, Hudler, even guys like Wideman and Hiller, all need to start bringing their A games. The young stars on the team are still very young and can't be expected to carry the full load for the team yet. JG is in his 2nd year, Monahan in his 3rd, Bennet is a rookie. The vets (especially the high paid vets) need to steady this ship.

[sa226]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I will agree with Warrener and say it's the effort. The effort was poor in the preseason and they are finding it's not a switch they can just turn on. After a country club preseason (Warrener's words) they are scrambling to find that work ethic that defined them last season but if they don't do it soon they could find themselves in big trouble. It's worth noting their start is very similar to the Avalanche last season and they never really did get on track.

That said goaltending has been poor and as been noted teams are prepared for the stretch pass so the coaching staff really does have to adapt. Lots to get fixed in a short amount of time but it's still too early for full blown panic mode.

Is there any context for the bolded? Hartley's training camps have famously been very difficult and intense. Is he suggesting that that wasn't the case this year?

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Where's the voting option for "not enough talent"?

[GioforPM]

Missing a box for "regression".

[Flash Walken]

I think it's 2 things:

1) Effort. There is clearly more to give.

2) Skill: Players in key positions for Calgary just aren't good enough at their roles to have success without a tremendous amount of hard work from everyone around them. Backlund isn't good enough out there if his linemates aren't dragging the offense out of him. Kris Russell isn't good enough without Wideman/centre dragging him through his shift. Ramo/Hiller aren't good enough if the defenders in front of them aren't clearing pucks/the zone with regularity.

So, it comes down to effort, but Calgary need to be the hardest working team every night because they don't have the personnel to take shifts off and still remain competitive.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Pick any team that loses its best player who is on the ice for 25 minutes every game and they will also be in big trouble...

LA without Doughty, Nashville without Weber, Montreal w/o Subban....

The Blues have gone 5-1 with Shattenkirk out (and Stastny). The Lightning are 4-2 with Hedman out. Good teams can overcome even injuries to top players in the short term. The Flames shouldn't completely fall apart without Brodie in the lineup.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Handsome B. Wonderful

Where's the voting option for "not enough talent"?

There's more talent than there was last year. Look at the teams we've lost to, do you really think any of them are significantly more talented than us?

The two biggest issues are:

Goalies: At this point I'm convinced we could keep the shots against under 10 and those two would still find a way to let a couple softies in.

Chemistry: New players coming in and older players struggling to mesh with them. Gio/Hamilton is the biggest example but Frolik and Kulak are also new and their presence has changed the team dynamic. It's going to be very hard to rectify this if the goalies keep deflating the team with their AHL-level shenanigans. There is simply no way to get the horses running to their potential if they're nervous about every single shot that the other team generates.

The idea that this is an effort issue is laughable. When the other team plays better, it can make you look ineffective, you can't confuse that with a lack of effort. These aren't the Playfair/Keenan Flames. Give them, and the team's they've played thus far, some credit.

[troutman]

Maybe an average team that got the breaks last year, and is not getting them this year.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

The Blues have gone 5-1 with Shattenkirk out (and Stastny). The Lightning are 4-2 with Hedman out. Good teams can overcome even injuries to top players in the short term. The Flames shouldn't completely fall apart without Brodie in the lineup.

It is not just Brodie out of the lineup.

It is Brodie out of the lineup + Giordano getting back up to speed + Hamilton adjusting to a new team.

Any team that is either missing or making major adjustments with their top three defensemen is always going to suffer.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by sa226

Is there any context for the bolded? Hartley's training camps have famously been very difficult and intense. Is he suggesting that that wasn't the case this year?

It sure looked to me like some of the forwards like Monahan were just going through the motions at times. IMO they did not play well at all this preseason. I believe Warrener was pretty focussed on the two games against the Jets to end preseason where the Jets were hustling like it was a regular season game and the Flames were just coasting and you see one team come out of the gate 4-2 and the other 1-4.

I can understand a veteran team coasting through preseason but a young team like the Flames need to play every game like it's their last and every player needs to play like he's playing for a roster spot. Maybe this is just a case of a young team having issues dealing with success? Read too many press clippings in the offseason and thought they were better than what they really were. I would argue the team needs to play better this season than last season as it's fair to expect they won't get some of those 3rd period breaks they did last season. So far they look far worse.

[bob-loblaw]

I'm not too worried but I also think it's a bit of injuries and other teams figuring us out (coaching) that have slowed them. The team never played with a lot of urgency last year (e.g. late period comebacks) so maybe it's just being stretched out over the first games.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by troutman

Maybe an average team that got the breaks last year, and is not getting them this year.

I agree that the team is possibly not as good as their record last season but five games in is a bit much to expect many breaks. IMO they are an average team that played better than the sum of their parts because of effort and dedication of each and every player. So far there's been way too many individuals and poor play. Some of this is correctable but sometimes the magic simply can't be recreated and they could simply be taking a step back this season. Better goaltending certainly wouldn't hurt. Time will tell.

[Locke]

The Flames are just playing the long-game.

They think that teams have figured them out from last season so they've decided that the only solution is to colossally suck this season in order to throw off opposing team's strategy for next season where they sneak in and win the cup.

Step 1: Be Awesome
Step 2: Suck Colossally
Step 3: ....
Step 4: Profit!

Its brilliant. Sheer, unadulterated Genius.

[Phanuthier]

The "country club" term is just spill over from the last genre of the Flames, I don't think its valid in this case.

I've said this before, but its Giordano+Brodie that set the pace of the play with our transition game - not Monahan, not Gaudreau, etc. The 2 compliment each other since both are great skaters, so I think Gio misses Brodie more than Brodie missed Gio last year. Those 2 set the foot steps for Wideman and Russell to follow in, and those contributions from the D set up by Gio-Brodie are what leads to successes from our top line, IMO. Even if its Wideman getting the points, its the game plan set by Gio-Brodie. To me, Brodie is a little better in that (the transition play)... Gio is dynamite in the offense zone. To me, thats what we're missing. Not sure if we can get that back mid-season or whenever Brodie gets back...

IMO Brodie is our MVP... nothing against Gio or anything, who is a star.

[nightfx]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I pick "Dougie Hamilton is about as good defensively as Brett Kulak, except he gets a free pass to play top pairing when he should be sheltered"

I actually think Kulak has been better defensively, no real glaring mistakes. Although he is facing much weaker competition.

[Firebot]

Giordano - Kulak
Russel - Engelland
Wideman - Hamilton

Roll these 3 pairings in this order. Stop forcing Giordano and Hamilton until one or both of them gets where they should be. Divide up Wideman and Russel, playing well in their own zone all the time is because they are unable to keep the offensively zone. Engelland can still play tough minutes if needed and frankly has been as good as either Hamilton or Giordano right now. After 5 poor games it is time to change it up.

Oh and Ortio

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by nightfx

I actually think Kulak has been better defensively, no real glaring mistakes. Although he is facing much weaker competition.

On that one great save by Hiller, Kulak was victimized badly. Kulak on the first pairing is a huge mistake.