[PGT] Flames 3 Hiller -5 Sabres 1 into an empty net

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by AC

I prefer to think the NHL is trying their hardest to get the Flames a great draft pick rather than a conspiracy of punishment.

until they rig the lottery and the Flames pick 6th

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by codynw

That's a good reason to turn down a good coach.

If you were a millionaire hockey player whose job is to be in the best shape in the world and work hard to stay fit, and you're playing for this guy:



I'd imagine he'd get tuned out quickly unless your team is stacked.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Iggy3x

It's just so weird for Hartley to start Hiller. Maybe it is old school royalty, but it is career suicide at this point. I guess that's one way to show that you have the player's back. But then that's going against the "always earned" motto.

I took it to mean Hiller had earned backup status behind Ortio. BUF is a good team to start your backup against aren't they?

I'd expect Ortio to get the majority from here on out. Backstrom will get at least 1. I don't think we'll see a lot of Hiller from here on.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Hiller sucks

Game was okay

Refs hate the Flames and the NHL is a joke for allowing them to punish a team like this...when the broadcast crew is calling a spade a spade on national TV you know something is up

It's either incompetence or willful ignorance on the part of the refs.

The number of penalties they have called on Calgary after Widemangate is becoming tiresome.

Teams are just taking it to the Flames with zero regard for penalties, because they don't get called.

The Flames need to take a fine and blast the league for this crap.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

If you were a millionaire hockey player whose job is to be in the best shape in the world and work hard to stay fit, and you're playing for this guy:



I'd imagine he'd get tuned out quickly unless your team is stacked.

Yeah the Wings sure tuned out Scotty Bowman.

[CroFlames]

I'm very concerned at the quality of defense and overall team play.

Are they literally tanking or do they just all suck?

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I took it to mean Hiller had earned backup status behind Ortio. BUF is a good team to start your backup against aren't they?

I'd expect Ortio to get the majority from here on out. Backstrom will get at least 1. I don't think we'll see a lot of Hiller from here on.

When you're the Flames and one of the worst teams in the league, you don't pick crappy teams to play your back-up. You are the crappy team that good teams play their backup.

[Firebot]

Slightly off topic, but sorry about the thread title that I made, did not expect such a bad reaction, and a different thread title likely would have had a much more fair discussion on what to do for next year. Was a play on the other threads currently on the main page and nothing more.

[FireItUp]

Everyone needs to calm down in here. So what if we suck this year, it's only one season and right now the odds of getting a solid pick are good, we still have a young core and Hiller won't be playing next year on the Flames or any NHL team for that matter.
Rebuilds don't happen over night, last season tricked some of us but lots of things went right for us to get in the playoffs last season.

At this point, we aren't making the playoffs, so the best thing for the Flames to do is compete hard till the end of the season and get a top 3 pick.
Cheer up folks, for once we may get to be excited for an NHL draft.

[N-E-B]

I think they miss Wideman.

Or at least the minutes Wideman eats. Gio and Brodie have looked a bit off lately.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I'm very concerned at the quality of defense and overall team play.

Are they literally tanking or do they just all suck?

It's a tough league these days. No sure wins. CGY has weak scoring depth combined with the worst goaltending in the league and refs handing out penalties against us like candy and the result lately seems to be a lot of losses.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

If you were a millionaire hockey player whose job is to be in the best shape in the world and work hard to stay fit, and you're playing for this guy:



I'd imagine he'd get tuned out quickly unless your team is stacked.

It's incredibly shallow to harp on an individuals physical appearance at any point, not to mention the fact that has no baring whatsoever on him as a hockey coach.

[Iggy3x]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I took it to mean Hiller had earned backup status behind Ortio. BUF is a good team to start your backup against aren't they?

I'd expect Ortio to get the majority from here on out. Backstrom will get at least 1. I don't think we'll see a lot of Hiller from here on.

That's a good point. Ortio hasn't been able to win and that's the bottom line - trying to light a fire under Ortio? Backstrom is probably not ready to start yet. So Ortio needs to earn his starts. Weird psychology. Geez I am thinking too much. I hate losing.

[Inferno]

[Yanda]

I hope we continue to ride Hiller to first in the reverse standings

[AC]

Jets up 3-2 late. 1:26 left in that game.

We're tied with them at the moment with 56 points.

Edit: Fuuuuuuuuuu, Isles tie it with 26 seconds left.

[browna]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

If you were a millionaire hockey player whose job is to be in the best shape in the world and work hard to stay fit, and you're playing for this guy:



I'd imagine he'd get tuned out quickly unless your team is stacked.

Hitchcock gets tuned out, like all coaches do. However, his teams are well prepared and play to the best of their abilites. He's a teacher, and a hard ass too, just like Sutter was. His teams seam to underachive a bit come playoffs but, he gets them there consistently, outside of CLB. But Dallas, Philly, and now St. L all were perennially strong and consistent teams, having good players but getting the most out of them, and winning breeds winning and attracting better players. Unlike Hartley, who had his one success over a decade and a half ago and 1 swept playoff appearance before last season.

I'll worry about the players tuning him out after 5 years and multiple playoff series wins in the meantime.

No matter what, Hartley is not going to be this coach to take the team to the next level. I said that before last season even started; that he'll get this team to a certain level, but someone a little more progressive will get this team to take the next step.

He stepped out of his friend and previous GM's shadow and impressed Burke (surprising Burke himself) to get an extended gig and made the most of it last year.

Is this the year to make the move? Not sure. But his style is less teaching and more motivating. That's why his friend brought him here in the first place, for the GM to use his final card to try and get the veteran roster into the playoffs. He's translated that into getting young guys to tow the line, but that hard style is hard to pull off with credibility when the team doesn't have success. Toss in utterly pathetic special teams that have been at the bottom of the league all year, and in the lower 1/3 last year too, and there's a few things to be concerned about.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

I get when the home team losses it's always the coaches fault for somebody, but the Hartley bashing has jumped the shark now.

[Burner]

But his style is less teaching and more motivating. That's why his friend brought him here in the first place, for the GM to use his final card to try and get the veteran roster into the playoffs. He's translated that into getting young guys to tow the line, but that hard style is hard to pull off with credibility when the team doesn't have success. about.[/QUOTE]

Really agree with this - I think we saw his coaching style at its best in the playoffs last year. But this year he has refused to try diifferent players even when it was apparent to observers that the incumbents were not doing their job.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

I get when the home team losses it's always the coaches fault for somebody, but the Hartley bashing has jumped the shark now.

Has it? I don't think so. He's a decent coach but if we want to be a real contender at some point, I don't think he's that guy