[News] Flames hire Bill Peters as the franchise's 19th head coach

[Reign of Fire]

Originally Posted by Monahan For Mayor

I didn't think ownership would allow him to give a 3 year to a unproven coach again. If we miss next season go to think Tre is fired. Which means new GM would have to deal with 2 years of the previous regimes coach, unless we fire yet another coach haha.

Hopefully, Peters will have an out-clause in this contract too...he did say a new GM should get to pick his own coach. That's why he opted out of the Carolina contract.

[Racki]

Originally Posted by Freeway

I'm curious who the assistants end up being, to be honest.

Think there’s any chance Huska gets promoted? It’s not the typical path but he’s long been considered excellent at working with defensemen?

[dieHARDflameZ]

If things go south this season, Treliving will be gone, he’s no dummy. He obviously likes Peters and chose to go with somebody he’s familiar with.

I’m excited to see what he can do. There’s zero point in losing sleep over it.

If you can’t handle it, stop going to or watching the games.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I’m not making a point, I’m just honestly surprised by how many people claim to have watched several Carolina games just for fun.

Wacky.

I’m diving down this rabbit hole! 2 games into the season so far! I’m going to watch a good many this summer.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by Freeway

I'm curious who the assistants end up being, to be honest.

Really hoping it’s AV and Trotz.

[cannon7]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I’m not making a point, I’m just honestly surprised by how many people claim to have watched several Carolina games just for fun.

Wacky.

This season it was increasingly difficult to stick on a Flames game feed. Gamecenter makes it rather easy to start bouncing around from game to game. I didn't watch Canes games specifically, it was a search for more entertaining hockey than the Flames product. The Canes got lit up quite a few times this year, though.

[zamler]

Carolina had almost exactly the same record as the Flames. I know different circumstances but still a bit eerie.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I've warmed up to the idea of Peters since we first started looking into him.

Things I like:
-He seems to be a bit gruff and blunt. These were qualities that I liked about Sutter

-
- I know people hate the idea of possession because Glen failed with it but IMO Glen failed more due to how he composed his lineup and how long he stuck with mediocre lines. Possession is what almost every modern coach is preaching so to dislike Peters because he wants possession is silly.

Personally I don't think he had anywhere near the depth in CAR that he'll have in CGY. He had very little star power. I think CGY's top trio of Gaudreau, Monahan and Tkachuk trump CAR's equivalent by a large margin. I think CGY's goaltending is quite a bit ahead of CAR's. I think our defences are probably the closest of any of the areas. If Treliving gets another depth scorer I think our team has the depth to contend. If Peters proves to be an upgrade on GG and I don't see how he wouldn't be, I think we're looking pretty good for next season.

GG was horrible for many reasons we've talked about. Peters does not seem to have the same shortcomings. Peters knows that ice time is the way he gets players to play the way he wants. GG just seemed to trot out the same groups over and over regardless of performance. Peters has a history of developing young players and putting them in situations to succeed. GG IMO put Bennett and Jankowski in a tough spot to succeed and we didn't really see any progression from Bennett under his watch.

I see lots of reasons for optimism. Doesn't surprise me the same negative nancies are whining and bitching like they usually do. Only time will tell. It will be interesting to see who the assistants are and if Treliving makes a major move to add another offensive depth piece. My outlook on the team is very different now that GG is gone. Hope has been restored.

These are all good points, but they may also be glossing over a lot of criticisms that Peters has accumulated with his time in Carolina.

-He seems to have put some young players in positions to succeed and had them develop well. Case in point guys like Aho, Teravainen, Slavin, Pesce, etc. It's promising for the future of guys like Jankowski and Bennett

What about Skinner? What rationale is behind him being pushed down to the third line? Also, that's an awesome group of young defencemen, but again, they are not providing offence.

He demands hard work above all else. As fans its easy to cheer for teams who bust their ass off and try hard. What we can't stand is lazy, lackadaisical play.

I agree that we can't stand lazy and lackadaisical, but in reading up on him, he has only held rookies and 4th liners accountable for poor efforts. Is that true? We will see. Now you may argue back that it is just some fans' opinions on the matter and can just be swept under the rug or completely disregarded, but what evidence is there to say that the Canes play hard?

He seems very well prepared and seems to have successful systems in terms of possession.

Again, according to a number of Canes fans, they often came out of the gates flat to start the game often this year. Maybe it is just as simple as a gruff coach running out of tarmac, but that is evidence against the Canes being prepared.

Also, I don't think anyone really hates possession hockey. That's not why people took a dislike of Gulutzan. People disliked his transition (which is neither pro nor is it against possession). People didn't like how the team didn't seem to be ready to start games. They didn't like how there were too many perimeter shots (which even Versteeg talked about). People didn't like how it SEEMED Gulutzan was coaching for CORSI, more than actually trying to score goals.

When looking at the advanced metrics, people are now seeing similarities between the two coaches - both in what worked and what didn't.

I think a number of people on these boards - some of the mods included - are selling some of the 'negative posters' short for having criticisms before the season starts. That's not fair in light of quite a lot of evidence - some direct, some unsubstantiated. It isn't like the Flames hired Darryl Sutter and now people are crying about him being a dinosaur who can't coach a game and is going to bring team morale down. There is quite a lot of evidence that shouldn't just be ignored, with a finger at posters bringing them saying they are just being negative, or that they are flat-out wrong, and so forth. Calling people negative nancies and bitching about them is a terrible response, and I think it drastically brings down the level of conversation on these boards.

With that being said, there are two things that keep me from being upset (disappointed, incredibly... but I won't say I am upset). One is that we don't know if Peters is able to construct a system to fit a team. Maybe that was his best bet for Carolina? Maybe he can come in and figure out that this defence can actually score and generate offence on their own, and design a system where the defencemen are more integral to the attack. Maybe he will realized that this team can skate well for the most part, and design a transition that fits this team better. Maybe he will tweak a lot of what Gulutzan was doing and make things work. That may in itself be enough.

The other thing is that it isn't Gulutzan. Having Peters - though disappointed generally with the hire - means not having Gulutzan. I would not have any sort of optimism at all for this team had Gulutzan been returning. I did not think this season's playstyle was interesting or exciting. I think with another year of Gulutzan, I may actually have started watching other teams play more often, and that is crazy to me as a Flames' fan. With Peters, at least it will be interesting to see how the team responds, what changes he will make, and what happens... there is a reason to watch, and as an entertainment product, it has to give you a reason to watch. I am open-minded even though I am disappointed. None of us know how this team will respond next season. Heck, we may be a lottery team next year (doubtful - some serious stuff has to go off the rails for that to happen) or we may win the cup (much more plausible, but not likely).

I am looking forward to the season, and learning what he brings. I also think that trying to push away the criticism that many posters have is wrong, however. The people who are going overboard (and on both sides, btw) are the issue, but there are a lot of people bringing up reasonable data and they are just being disregarded as just complaining or having the wrong opinion, or not having enough information to form their opinion. Sorry, but 99.9% of this board NEVER has enough information to form an opinion, so what is the point of this forum if that is going to be the rule?

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Hull, I think you might want to rebook at Trotz record in Nashville in his first four seasons (which is what Peters had in Carolina). I wouldn’t really compare Carolina to Toronto or Winnipeg either.

Trotz was widely heralded as a coach that was squeezing blood from stones in Nashville. They were an expansion franchise that had horrible talent (expansion rules as they were in those days). He built a very strong reputation for getting a lot out of his team and his team playing responsibly defensively.

[GullFoss]

Has anyone looked at the Hurricanes roster? Its actually not bad...its a team that could have been competitive this year, and its probably a team that could have made the playoffs. Arguably Peters underachieved with the roster.

Also, listening to Commodore's interview on the Fan960...you don't have to even read between the lines to hear Commodore's views that Peters is not a good coach

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

Has anyone looked at the Hurricanes roster? Its actually not bad...its a team that could have been competitive this year, and its probably a team that could have made the playoffs. Arguably Peters underachieved with the roster.

They were pretty competitive for most of the year, but with the goaltending they had the Hurricanes did not have a chance to make the playoffs in the same division with Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Columbus. Suggesting that Peters underachieved is laughable.

Also, listening to Commodore's interview on the Fan960...you don't have to even read between the lines to hear Commodore's views that Peters is not a good coach

Commodore in the same interview also makes it abundantly clear that he does not think Mike Babcock is a good coach either. Clearly, Commodore's opinion needs to be taken with a massive dose of salt—he is a tabloid persona.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

Has anyone looked at the Hurricanes roster? Its actually not bad...

I was looking at it earlier expected to see a very poor roster given how quite a few people have been saying Peters had nothing to work with. Canes roster is decent, Peters certainly did not over achieve this past season.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

...I think a number of people on these boards - some of the mods included - are selling some of the 'negative posters' short for having criticisms before the season starts. That's not fair in light of quite a lot of evidence - some direct, some unsubstantiated...

The problem a number of us have had is not with the criticism—lots of which is most valid. The problem we have had is with the insistence of several posters to draw premature conclusions about whether or not Peters is a good coach. He may be. He may not be. But based on the evidence at hand there is far too many holes, and too much noise to say with confidence one way or the other.

[GullFoss]

Mike Commodore skewers the guy hard!

Originally Posted by Mike Commodore

To be honest, I'll be honest - the carolina hurricanes aren't going to miss him. They tuned him out a year ago.

I don't get why everyone is so gung-ho on this guy - he's done a grand sum of zero the whole time he was there. And this year especially the Hurricanes were a popular pick to be in the mix and at least challenge for a playoff spot - and they weren't even serious contenders.

I don't get they hype on this guy. There has to be other options out there.

I don't think Bill Peters can't work - but what i hear in Carolina is this guy tries to act like Babcock. Talk like Babcock. Scowl like Babcock. Scream. Talk to media like "I'm the man." Be basically a mini-Babock - basically acting like a dick. And players will put up with that if you're successful - if you're making the playoffs. You go into Carolina and you act like that for three years and have no success...it comes across like a front. Its phony. And then the fourth year comes around - the players can see through it.

Its funny to me how a guy who hasn't made the playoffs for four years in four years of coaching is opting out of contract because Treliving wants him so bad? I dont get it.

Its a great move for Bill Peters to go to Calgary Flames. A great move for him.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by zamler

I was looking at it earlier expected to see a very poor roster given how quite a few people have been saying Peters had nothing to work with. Canes roster is decent, Peters certainly did not over achieve this past season.

I wouldn’t say he really underachieved either though.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

Mike Commodore skewers the guy hard!

Honestly, who gives a **** what Mike Commodore says? Not every player likes every coach.

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

The problem a number of us have had is not with the criticism—lots of which is most valid. The problem we have had is with the insistence of several posters to draw premature conclusions about whether or not Peters is a good coach. He may be. He may not be. But based on the evidence at hand there is far too many holes, and too much noise to say with confidence one way or the other.

Right - so maybe Peters is a coach. Maybe. Lol...ok Maybe. But not really. But sure - maybe. Maybe. Maybe. I doubt it. But maybe. At best, he's maybe a good coach.

Is Darryl Sutter a good coach? Yes. Not even a debate.

Is AV a good coach? Yes. Not even a debate.

Why the #### would Tre take the "maybe at best" when there's two great coaches available.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by dieHARDflameZ

Honestly, who gives a **** what Mike Commodore says? Not every player likes every coach.

It’s a perspective. Who is to say if he is wrong?

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

Right - so maybe Peters is a coach. Maybe. Lol...ok Maybe. But not really. But sure - maybe. Maybe. Maybe. I doubt it. But maybe. At best, he's maybe a good coach.

Is Darryl Sutter a good coach? Yes. Not even a debate.

Is AV a good coach? Yes. Not even a debate.

Why the #### would Tre take the "maybe at best" when there's two great coaches available.

I’m sure he has his reasons. Why don’t you write the Flames a letter and ask.

[Husky]

You could bring in a scotty bowman in his prime but with no top 6 rw, the flames will continue to struggle.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

It’s a perspective. Who is to say if he is wrong?

None of us are in a position to say whether he’s right or wrong. It’s just laughable the hate the guy is getting when he hasn’t even coached a single game in Calgary.