Practice Notes March 9 - Surly Rancher 2.0

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

I kinda like the look of these top 3 lines.

Mixes things up a bit and gives us some looks we haven’t really tried.

I think in the tight games where it's physical and perhaps along the walls Gaudreau - Monahan are both guys who haven't excelled (recent history), especially together. However maybe Bennett added can get Monahan going more. I think you need to structure where Gaudreau isn't asked to win 50/50 physical battles.

In that vein: Tkachuk and Lindholm can work the walls and physical battles. Plus 19-28- 13 might be the three most skilled forwards. I like that Gaudreau can be the high guy in o zone (Lindholm is smart and skates well and could switch with Johnny: not to mention Lindy was a winger, ie knows how to play walls )plus Lindholm can carry the puck (less pressure on 13)

Bennett and Dube work well together. They can play the playoff style and if they are driving the net, Monahan coming late to clean up the garbage seems like it could work. Plus for identity and Darryl you have all Canadian line.

EDIT: I'm not saying they can't improve and do more (Ex: Gaudreau in physical battles) but I don't think Gaudreau should be looking for heavy contact. Win races.

[Johnhitbox]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Glenn Campbell @CTVGCampbell
Darryl basically playing the role of observer for the first part of practice. Ryan Huska running things. Sutter keeping a close eye on things.

I get the feeling that he's going to treat this team like his baby

Sent from my XQ-AT52 using Tapatalk

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Great gifs, but he's an actual Oilers fan. So yes, he wants the Flames to miss haha.

[868904]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

I don't know why some of you keep saying this. there isn't much of a friggin hole at all. one 3 game series swings thing totally the other way.

every game your team wins is a 4 point game. all you have to do is get a small 3-4 game winning streak and you're right in the mix of the top 4.

missing the playoffs is up for grabs for every team but Toronto.

I don't want the flames to make the playoffs, but I think it's stupid to say they're not going to do it.
not at this point in the season.

I'm keeping my expectations low so I don't get disappointed!

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Great gifs, but he's an actual Oilers fan. So yes, he wants the Flames to miss haha.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

Wouldn't a good coach also notice the repeated player mistakes and address them with the player, and if the player refuses to adjust then bench said player? It seemed like they had no accountability to Ward at all. I get it, he was the good cop to the Peters bad cop, but being a good cop did not work for him as head coach.

IMO a good coach benches players if that's the best way to address that player's mistakes or bad habits. That same coach might show support for the player and let them work through it if that's what's best for that player. Right or wrong, Ward benched Bennett, Dube, and Kylington, and I assume they were for repeated defensive mistakes. He didn't bench Lucic for some bad passes, and I think it's because he figures Lucic is a guy who knows his mistakes and is better off working them out as opposed to being benched, and the same applies to guys like Backlund or Gio (who doesn't make mistakes so much as just is unable to do certain things at as high a level).

I think we also miss a lot of semi-benchings - just reductions in ice time, not taking the player out completely.

[Geeoff]

This would be a good time for "playoff Bennett" since it basically is the playoffs already for the Flames

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

But I thought the system was the problem?

For fan-level conversations, 'system' and 'style' are largely synonymous and interchangeable. We're talking semantics here.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Flames1217

Tkachuk and Monahan as a pair may not be fast enough.

Having two "slower" players on the same line may not be the best idea.

The puck is faster than both of them.

[timbit]

Style?

Darryl will bring absolutes to the Flames that have been missing for too long.

They will outwork and outcompete the opposition because everyone can do that.

They will play hard and efficient team defence because everyone can do that.

[djsFlames]

A 5 game win streak with wins against direct competition probably puts you firmly in a spot.

They just have to actually do it.

[Geeoff]

I believe believe Sutter saying the system will be the same is mental manipulation of the players to convince them not much has changed, while actually changing a lot of things.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Great gifs, but he's an actual Oilers fan. So yes, he wants the Flames to miss haha.

Was not aware...explains a LOT.

Thanks.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

For fan-level conversations, 'system' and 'style' are largely synonymous and interchangeable. We're talking semantics here.

I think there were plenty of posters here who criticized "system" pretty intentionally. And had long, detailed analyses of what they preferred.

I prefer strategy to system, because system seems rigid sounding and that can never work in hockey, no matter what system you use. I'm sure the coaches thus far have coached options on things like breakouts, but the players have sure not acted like they had options - they do the same defendable plays over and over.

I also think pretty much every so-called system can work, as long as there's buy-in and execution, and maybe that was the failure of Ward, GG (especially his second season) and Peter's second season. Failure to get buy in is a mutual problem between players and coach.

[howard_the_duck]

Sutter: "The game in Edmonton, the first period that I watched was the best period of hockey, of any teams I've seen play this year."

For someone with the reputation of being a hard a@@, I really liked his first public message to the guys being one of positivity.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I might be way off base but I see Gio - Andersson defending a lot because they don't win races to retrieve pucks. Opponents get possession, they defend and get tired, they don't make great passes when fatigued.

The best one on one defenders:
1. Tanev : gaps up great even on fastest guys in league.
2. Hanifin : is way better with gaps because of Tanev but hope Noah confident
3. Gio
4. Andersson

Balance it out:
Gio - Tanev : they already kill together so familiarity and chemistry
Hanifin - Andersson: played well together last year

Hanifin had issues when playing with Hamonic of backing in too much. If his partner retreats so did he so this hinges on increased confidence of Hanifin.

I think this gets better play as d corps. Speed, retrievals, transition.

I think this also makes Andersson better on PP because his confidence goes up as he's feeling better with his play 5v5.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm very interested and hopeful that Sutter will have an impact, but lets not assume that the team was playing as Geoff Ward was directing.

Don't think a modern NHL coach would ask his team to play slow, to turn pucks over in low percentage risk situations, or to pinch without support for example.

They may not have been scared enough of the guy to be on their toes, which makes the group weak, and a stronger hand needed, but Ward wasn't necessarily the whole problem.

I think this misses one aspect of coaching - maybe the most important one: getting the players to play the right way, and to the best of their abilities, both individually, and as a team.

Of course Ward didn't ask them to play slow or to turn pucks over, but it IS the coach's job to get his team playing well.

The Flames have been playing slow, they have been mistake-riddled, they have been soft, they look out of shape, and they have been mentally weak. And it is the coach's job to ensure that none of those things are happening.

They are not the most talented team in the league, nor are they the toughest - mentally or otherwise. But I think it is pretty safe to say that they should be a lot better on all of these fronts than they have been.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

I wonder what tunes are on today

Highway to Hell?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

I might be way off base but I see Gio - Andersson defending a lot because they don't win races to retrieve pucks. Opponents get possession, they defend and get tired, they don't make great passes when fatigued.

The best one on one defenders:
1. Tanev : gaps up great even on fastest guys in league.
2. Hanifin : is way better with gaps because of Tanev but hope Noah confident
3. Gio
4. Andersson

Balance it out:
Gio - Tanev : they already kill together so familiarity and chemistry
Hanifin - Andersson: played well together last year

Hanifin had issues when playing with Hamonic of backing in too much. If his partner retreats so did he so this hinges on increased confidence of Hanifin.

I think this gets better play as d corps. Speed, retrievals, transition.

I think this also makes Andersson better on PP because his confidence goes up as he's feeling better with his play 5v5.

Totally agree.

Giordano-Andersson has been a big disappointment this year, and I believe their combined lack of speed is a key component of that.

Giordano - Tanev
Hanifin - Andersson

makes way more sense, IMO

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Sutter: "The game in Edmonton, the first period that I watched was the best period of hockey, of any teams I've seen play this year."

For someone with the reputation of being a hard a@@, I really liked his first public message to the guys being one of positivity.

You have to dangle the carrot and set that bar.

It was a really, really good period played by them. They simply did not allow the Oilers to play with the puck from start to finish and drove the play north every opportunity.