[PGT] Coyotes 5 Flames ZERO

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Not making a roster or management change after this loss will tell the fans that losing 5-0 to a bottom team is acceptable.

Your move, Brian.

don't be impatient. it's a process.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Teams coming off the 5 day break are 3-8-1.

[kukkudo]

Glue Gun will get the Jim Playfair treatment this off-season if a few more top candidates pop up.

[bubbsy]

I agree that it's hard to really get too upset given that this team is exactly where they were slotted to be, a bubble team, in the standings.

However, they are extremely inconsistent, and seem to have some pretty severe flaws at forward, defense, goaltending. Is that a function of the roster, the coaching, etc, who knows.

i really think the position that the flames are where everyone expected in the standings is a cop out. They are fortunate that teams like the blues, kings, preds, stars have faltered a bit this season.

Generally speaking, this team is quite a ways away from moving from being a bubble team year in and year out to perennial playoff team. I am getting extremely nervous that this rebuild will have tried and failed after seeing what we have so far this season. Outside of tkatchuk looking like an immediate, solid part of this team's core, there are some very negative things that irk me about this season:

- not enough skill and talent at forward

- a dcore that fans can only hope have underperformed, and should be better. though, Giordano's regression, coupled with the losing of engelland, no real answer for who to play brodie with once we can forget wideman forever, means the defense actually has some major questions as soon as this next year

- Bennett not looking like he's progressed at all, in fact, looks to be a regression year has to be one of the most disappointing things for me this season. Realize it's early and there is more time needed to see what he really ends up becoming, but he looks completely undynamic offensively, not elusive, not fast, not nasty to play against as was advertised, generally lost offensively and defensively. I would have easily accepted this season as a writeoff/failure had it come with glimmers and hints of bennett showing that he's growing into a cornerstone center/forward for this franchise. Instead, i am really worried that the bottoming out season, where we got the highest pick in franchise history may not live up to the hype
- no line of sight to any solution short, medium, long term at the goaltending position

- outside of perhaps Jankowski, there are no 'senior' prospects that seem to be making a case that they will have any real future as impact NHLers. First round picks in poirier, klimchuk, shinkaruk are at the top of this group. successful rebuilding requires the stock piling of young assets and prospects when you are drafting early & often, where you are hopefully hitting on at least some solid talent and skill, outside of the lottery picks. I feel the flames may not have been successful enough in the bottoming out stage of the rebuild in this regard, and could be plagued with another few years of mediocraty before having to start a rebuild over again.

This isn't a overreaction to last night's game either unfortunately. It's been something bugging me for sometime now

[Strange Brew]

The NFL bye week gives teams a full week off and then they still get their normal week of preparation for the next game. It would be nice to give the NHL players an extended break, say 3 or 4 days of no hockey, and then 3 days of consecutive practice to be able to work on some changes.

I haven't really paid attention but is this just more of a holiday?

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

The NFL bye week gives teams a full week off and then they still get their normal week of preparation for the next game. It would be nice to give the NHL players an extended break, say 3 or 4 days of no hockey, and then 3 days of consecutive practice to be able to work on some changes.

I haven't really paid attention but is this just more of a holiday?

It is, yes.

[PlayfulGenius]

Not to be too gloomy, but it appear a Top 10 pick is more likely than the playoffs ... I guess the odds are decent for either to happpen, but my money is on the pick, unfortunately.

[Kipper_3434]

Think it's safe to say that playoffs are very unlikely. After this confidence should be at zero

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

The NFL bye week gives teams a full week off and then they still get their normal week of preparation for the next game. It would be nice to give the NHL players an extended break, say 3 or 4 days of no hockey, and then 3 days of consecutive practice to be able to work on some changes.

I haven't really paid attention but is this just more of a holiday?

Since the WC condensed the schedule, the NHLPA negotiated a solid 5 day break for each club, mid season. Hockey is different than football and the break is probably detrimental to a club. Rhettzky actually said so on the radio this morning, and he's played at the top level.


It's hard to be patient with the rebuild since the 5 preceding years were horrible too. Those early 90s teams were good, but I barely remember any of it. I don't have a living memory of Neiwy getting traded. Then came the Dark Times, shudder. Iggy being the lone bright spot. 2005 to 2009 was fun, but so disappointing at the same time. 2010 to 2013 very disappointing. 2014-2017 has been hopeful, but hard, given all the past history.

I will forever be grateful to Bob and Brad for that magical season in 14-15 that was so much fun. Fun has been hard to come by for a late 20s Flames fan.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Teams coming off the 5 day break are 3-8-1.

3-9-1 after the Flames loss. I know Hrudey briefly talked about it and how a lot of people don't like the break and it may change as soon as next year. I would prefer a few less back to back games in the year instead of some random days off in the middle of the season.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Someone should make a gif of Wideman getting embarrassed by Martinook and just repeatedly post it everywhere that Treliving might see it. Good lord that was bad.

[SuperMatt18]

Maybe Gaudreau does need to be called out.

10 points in 20 games in 2017, and hasn't looked good for the majority of that time.

Time to wake up.

[PlayfulGenius]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Maybe Gaudreau does need to be called out.

10 points in 20 games in 2017, and hasn't looked good for the majority of that time.

Time to wake up.

Having been demoted to the 4th line might have the same impact... let's hope so.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by CGY12

We should safely assume both the coaching staff and the players were aware of the following coming into tonights game;

- The league wide lack of success from teams coming off the 5 day lay off
- The fact the Coyotes aren't a very good hockey team
- Where they sit in the standings
- The possibility that this was a huge let down spot considering the break and the opponent

Basically all the facts the team should have been plenty aware of that would prevent them from coming out and stinking the joint out, and they come up with a 5-0 loss...

I am not a GG fan at all and I hope this is the only season we see him behind the bench, but tonights performance really speaks volumes about the veteran leadership on this team or lack there of...

Thoughts in the team's heads according to each of your points:
1. I guess we're not going to do good eh?
2. It's only the Coyotes, should be an easy one to come back to.
3. We're not far out, we can get back in it easily.
4. This is a good warmup to get back into the swing of things. Sure we'll likely lose, but the next game we'll be great!

All of those point to leadership problems this year. If the players are not going all out, if the best players aren't their best players, who is lighting a fire under their butts? They're pros and should be expected to get themselves up for games, but this world also needs leaders for a reason. Leadership starts with the coach.

One more thing I've been pondering about Gulutzan. There has to be something there. The young guys in Dallas didn't do well under him. Jamie Benn was good, but he became great AFTER Gulutzan was fired. Gaudreau was great and he isn't doing so well this year... is there a correlation?

[puckedoff]

Don't lose hope guys, with the new lottery system flames still have 1.0% chance of 1st overall in what is allegedly a rather weak draft class.

[Robbob]

I think the expansion draft is handcuffing the Flames from bringing in a legit 3-4 dman and they are forced to play it out with Wideman.

I think for the most part he can play the position when he works in a small area (hence his PK time). His problem is when he gets exposed, he really gets exposed. It is really too bad that the Kulaks, Wotherspoons, or Kevins haven't been able to push him out of that 4 spot considering his warts. You can't spend a lot of assets (which it would take) to replace him right now with the expansion draft on the horizon.

At the end of the day it can be frustrating but you have to remember the team is really young. They are a bubble team when things have probably not clicked the majority of the season. You probably have at least 4 core members that are struggling a bit this season. With a bit more consistency, which I think will come as the players develop, this team will get better.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Maybe Gaudreau does need to be called out.

10 points in 20 games in 2017, and hasn't looked good for the majority of that time.

Time to wake up.

Gaudreau hasn't looked like the 6 million dollar man at all this season.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Gaudreau hasn't looked like the 6 million dollar man at all this season.

Commonplace for young players to struggle with the pressures of a new heavy contract. Although I believe it's unfair to single out Gaudreau - literally everyone outside of Hamilton, Tkachuk, Backlund and Frolek are having seasons well below expectations. That speaks to a bigger issue than just any one single player having an off year.

[CroFlames]

He's closer to 7 than to 6 million.

[ASP#26525]

Just watched the game at work this morning since I had to get up at 5am and it didn't start until 1030pm last night....

Seems like the perfect time to post one of my favourite gifs: