[GDT] Will we win? CGY @ MIN 6PM Sportsnet West

[Fire in the disco]

Flames win tonight and turn the corner, by mid December were top 3 in the division. It all starts tonight!

[northcrunk]

#### Francis:

http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/11/14...ransition-team

Francis: Calling for Glen Gulutzan's head is absurd, knee-jerk talk

Some wonder if his new system is too complex for the players, others suggest he’s been unable to command respect in the room.

Many don’t care why – they simply want him fired.

It’s as absurd a notion as it is symbolic of the world we live in today. Everyone wants instant results, and instead of trying to strive for solutions they propose the easy, knee-jerk reactions.

[GioforPM]

Francis is just regurgitating his last TV commentary.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

#### Francis:

http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/11/14...ransition-team

Francis: Calling for Glen Gulutzan's head is absurd, knee-jerk talk

Stupid article. He's just saying "blame the players, all the players and excuse the coach because it's too early", while taking a shot at the "world we live in today" where everyone wants the easy out.

...would've been neat to see him dive deeper into the actual struggles on the ice. Some real analysis would be nice.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Stupid article. It's effectively "blame the players, all the players" and excuse the coach because it's too early.

...would've been neat to see him dive deeper into the actual struggles on the ice. Some real analysis would be nice.

I see you are unfamiliar with the works of Mr. Francis.

[Flash Walken]

I would have no idea Eric Francis existed if people on Calgary puck didn't post his articles angry with what he had to say.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Minnesota 3 Good guys 1.

Empty net goal.

Lots of talk about how close we were and are going to catch a break, rinse and repeat.

Still a few more losses before hitting rock bottom, which itself will be a stretch of 3-4 games of melancholy.

God if this isn't rock bottom I don't want to live to see the day.

[belsarius]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Panicking to win some games is yet again coming at the cost of player development.

Remember when Monahan was a rookie and he played extremely sheltered minutes to learn the game as a Centre? The priority was on teaching Monahan.

Last year, Hartley had Bennett on the wing because the team needed to win, and the focus on the standings didn't allow the team to take the bumps that naturally occur when such a young player is developing at centre.

This year, rather than sheltering Bennett - Gulutzan fed him to the wolves. Now that he's struggled against the likes of Getzlaf, Toews, Thornton, Pavelski, Kopitar, Seguin etc., Gulutzan is taking a shortcut, shuffling Bennett off to the wing and hoping it results in a few quick wins right now.

That playoff series win against Vancouver seems to have cut short this team's "teaching" phase of the rebuild. Now, it's a win now mentality, and teaching is no longer the most important thing. This will hurt the team, and the young developing players on the team. There are no shortcuts. I really wish the team trusted the process on the ice, rather than just paying it lip service.

Bennett has had to face a lot of those guys on the road, where the opposing coach was doing the matching, so I can't really blame GG too much for that. I think Bennett has been identified as a weakness defensively and attacked. Putting Stajan with him fills that hole, and putting Bennett on the wing helps him see and feel how Stajan is playing the center position and mentor what needs to be done.

This is a very good developmental move in my head. Stajan plays a simple game and has very good defensive positioning. Bennett will be free to have his offense but he will also get a feel of where Stajan is on the ice so when he is ready to move to center again he will have a mold to work off of.

[Mister Yamoto]

I think that the Flames will win this one.

If they are serious about being a 29th place team they are going to have to win a game every now and then. I say tonight is the night!

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Back to Bennett for a minute, I knew people would freak out if he was put back on the wing, especially if it wasn't on one of the top 2 lines. However, there are some things that need to be pointed out:

1) Bennett has played pretty poorly at center all year long, but it's been really bad in the last 4 games (all losses). He didn't put up a single point, had 3 shots on net over 4 games, and was a collective -5 (not one game was he even or on the positive side). He is struggling badly right now, and they need him to get some confidence in his game. Putting Bennett on the wing lessens his defensive responsibilities and allows him to be aggressive, where he's at his best.

2) Bennett was much more effective at wing last year than at center. That doesn't mean he can't play center, but perhaps it needs to happen later on. Look at Galchenyuk in Montreal. IIRC, he only started playing center last season, his 4th in the NHL. It's ok if Bennett takes some time to develop at center since we have some veterans to fill in the gaps for now (Backlund, Stajan).

3) If Bennett moves forward as a winger, would that really be so terrible? Honestly, if he's a better player and contributes to the team in a more positive way on the wing, why do we care? It's not like he's the only guy to play center in his junior career, only to play wing in the NHL. It's not even a knock on him either. Perhaps his aggressive game is more suited to the wing anyways.

Honestly, Glen seems damned if he does and damned if he doesn't here. The team is doing terribly right now. There are two options:

1) Stick with the same guys and the same combinations. People would be screaming at him to change something since things aren't working.

2) Change things up and move guys around in the lineup until you find a winning combination. People are screaming at him for disrupting chemistry and hindering development. What chemistry? What development?

When things are going poorly, you do as many different things you can think of to get something positive happening. I don't fault Gulutzan in any way for trying different things.

Christ, I know it's not gone well so far, but give the guy a chance to do his job, will ya?

[Fry]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

#### Francis:

http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/11/14...ransition-team

Francis: Calling for Glen Gulutzan's head is absurd, knee-jerk talk

It’s as absurd a notion as it is symbolic of the world we live in today. Everyone wants instant results, and instead of trying to strive for solutions they propose the easy, knee-jerk reactions.

The problem is that we do have immediate results, they are just unfavourable and we want change. It's not that we are a middle of the pack team needing to get over a hump. If it wasn't for our two extra games and one extra point on AZ we would be the worst team in the league. That is not acceptable.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Back to Bennett for a minute, I knew people would freak out if he was put back on the wing, especially if it wasn't on one of the top 2 lines. However, there are some things that need to be pointed out:

1) Bennett has played pretty poorly at center all year long, but it's been really bad in the last 4 games (all losses). He didn't put up a single point, had 3 shots on net over 4 games, and was a collective -5 (not one game was he even or on the positive side). He is struggling badly right now, and they need him to get some confidence in his game. Putting Bennett on the wing lessens his defensive responsibilities and allows him to be aggressive, where he's at his best.

2) Bennett was much more effective at wing last year than at center. That doesn't mean he can't play center, but perhaps it needs to happen later on. Look at Galchenyuk in Montreal. IIRC, he only started playing center last season, his 4th in the NHL. It's ok if Bennett takes some time to develop at center since we have some veterans to fill in the gaps for now (Backlund, Stajan).

3) If Bennett moves forward as a winger, would that really be so terrible? Honestly, if he's a better player and contributes to the team in a more positive way on the wing, why do we care? It's not like he's the only guy to play center in his junior career, only to play wing in the NHL. It's not even a knock on him either. Perhaps his aggressive game is more suited to the wing anyways.

Honestly, Glen seems damned if he does and damned if he doesn't here. The team is doing terribly right now. There are two options:

1) Stick with the same guys and the same combinations. People would be screaming at him to change something since things aren't working.

2) Change things up and move guys around in the lineup until you find a winning combination. People are screaming at him for disrupting chemistry and hindering development. What chemistry? What development?

When things are going poorly, you do as many different things you can think of to get something positive happening. I don't fault Gulutzan in any way for trying different things.

Christ, I know it's not gone well so far, but give the guy a chance to do his job, will ya?

I hear you. But if you change things up....and they win, then what next? Keep Bennett on Stajan's wing to work some "give and goes" with Chiasson for a few more games? Comedy. Its not a sustainable line combo.

[djsFlames]

This game and wednesday (since I have tickets) are basically the last honest chance I'm gonna give this iteration of the team to convince me to stick around and watch more. If it's just more of the last 4-5 games then I'm probably taking a break until some kind of change is made. Hopefully this week is a turning point because it has to come soon for the last 60 games to mean anything. No exaggeration there, and what troubles me is how little the coach and players seem to acknowledge the urgency of the situation.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I would have no idea Eric Francis existed if people on Calgary puck didn't post his articles angry with what he had to say.

That and those loud ugly suits on Sportsnet.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

I hear you. But if you change things up....and they win, then what next? Keep Bennett on Stajan's wing to work some "give and goes" with Chiasson for a few more games? Comedy. Its not a sustainable line combo.

I can see a new pairing of Bennett-Stajan being absolutely sustainable, with the last winger spot being interchangeable.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

#### Francis:

http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/11/14...ransition-team

Francis: Calling for Glen Gulutzan's head is absurd, knee-jerk talk

Francis is not always wrong, and he is sure as hell not wrong now. Firing a coach after 16 games reeks of a knee-jerk reaction, and it is the very definition of absurd.

The Flames win tonight, and I will watch because I love watching Flames hockey.

GFG

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

That and those loud ugly suits on Sportsnet.

Who watches sportsnet anymore? Product is awful, I'm always tuning into the away feed.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

#### Francis:

http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/11/14...ransition-team

Francis: Calling for Glen Gulutzan's head is absurd, knee-jerk talk

I'm guessing I'm leading with my chin on this one, but it's similar to what I've been saying for the last 2 weeks.

He's right!

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I can see a new pairing of Bennett-Stajan being absolutely sustainable, with the last winger spot being interchangeable.

Sustainable in that this is a combo we see for half the year? That's where you project Bennett? That's how we are going to have success this year AND develop him for future years? Come on.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

#### Francis:

http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/11/14...ransition-team

Francis: Calling for Glen Gulutzan's head is absurd, knee-jerk talk

Can't say he is incorrect with people wanting instant results. Unfortunately we didn't get them and the team is very likely to miss the playoffs with the lack of results at this point of the season though.

The only good reason for the Flames to replace the coach in the middle of this season is to avoid next year's slow start as players learn the new system. That is assuming that the Flames don't bring back Gulutzan next year.