Fan support going forward - where do you stand?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by iamca

The on ice product was boring hockey for the majority of this season.

I am still a fan, but this style of hockey needs to change and I can’t see it happening with Sutter behind the bench for 2 more full seasons.

I agree that it's not the most entertaining style, and Sutter definitely had player usage issues, but with elite goaltending, those 2-3 losses become 2-1 leads that become 3-1 or 4-1 wins with an empty-netter. those games that went to OT at 3-3 become 3-2 wins.

And I think individuals on the blueline is a huge factor in that as well. When I think of guys who really seemed to play their best hockey under Sutter, I think of:

Jordan Leopold (2004)
Slava Voynov (2012-14)
Drew Doughty (2012-14)
Oliver Kylington (2022)
Nikita Zadorov and Troy Stecher (2023)

Not to say other guys haven't had good seasons under him (stay at home guys like Tanev, Weegar, Regehr, Andersson and rookie Phaneuf too) but to really drive the point home, the guys on the upper list really to me prove how important it is for the defensemen to be part of the rush as more than just stationary outlet passers. This year, a lot of the problem was that guys like Gilbert, or the Weegar-Tanev pair, or the Hanifin-Andersson pair, really just didn't play with the tempo you need from your back-end. They didn't play with pace. And I think that makes the system look worse.

[Cortez]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I agree that it's not the most entertaining style, and Sutter definitely had player usage issues, but with elite goaltending, those 2-3 losses become 2-1 leads that become 3-1 or 4-1 wins with an empty-netter. those games that went to OT at 3-3 become 3-2 wins.

And I think individuals on the blueline is a huge factor in that as well. When I think of guys who really seemed to play their best hockey under Sutter, I think of:

Jordan Leopold (2004)
Slava Voynov (2012-14)
Drew Doughty (2012-14)
Oliver Kylington (2022)
Nikita Zadorov and Troy Stecher (2023)

Not to say other guys haven't had good seasons under him (stay at home guys like Tanev, Weegar, Regehr, Andersson and rookie Phaneuf too) but to really drive the point home, the guys on the upper list really to me prove how important it is for the defensemen to be part of the rush as more than just stationary outlet passers. This year, a lot of the problem was that guys like Gilbert, or the Weegar-Tanev pair, or the Hanifin-Andersson pair, really just didn't play with the tempo you need from your back-end. They didn't play with pace. And I think that makes the system look worse.

Good, thoughtful post

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

And I think individuals on the blueline is a huge factor in that as well. When I think of guys who really seemed to play their best hockey under Sutter, I think of:

Jordan Leopold (2004)
Slava Voynov (2012-14)
Drew Doughty (2012-14)
Oliver Kylington (2022)
Nikita Zadorov and Troy Stecher (2023)

Gudbranson

[marsplasticeraser]

Totally checked out. It's pointless to watch a team where the leadership that seems happy just to make the playoffs, with no strategy to build a winning team.

With Kadri, Huberdeau and Markstrom contracts we have some bad contracts. We need to accept we have at 3 years where we likely won't compete, so let's lean in and get great draft picks.

We have great drafting, so accumulating draft picks makes sense.

This draft and TDL will have some big moves: Backlund, Lindholm, Toffoli, Hanifin, Tanev, Vladar at least.

Finally, new coach and hopefully huberdeau rebounds with a new coach so he has some value as a trade piece in 2-3 years.

[calgaryred]

Win or lose, I'd be cheering on the team next year and every year after that. Hope to come to town next season and see a game.

Sent from my SM-G990U1 using Tapatalk

[DylanScores]

The coaching staff needs fresh new faces .

Thoughts on bringing in Greg Millen as a coach?
Really like his insights when he is calling the games on TV.

[tripin_billie]

Originally Posted by iamca

The on ice product was boring hockey for the majority of this season.

I am still a fan, but this style of hockey needs to change and I can’t see it happening with Sutter behind the bench for 2 more full seasons.

I would be encouraged to see Tre and Sutter both gone, but I’m not optimistic that either change will happen.

Fan yes, but really want to see an exciting style of hockey with a lot more skilled players under the age of 25 in the lineup.

Let’s face it with 3 major contracts to contend with including Huberdeau, Kadri and Markstrom, this team needs at least 3 ELCs to balance out their top 3 highest paid players.

Win or lose, I'm just tired of boring hockey. I'm watching from the eastern time zone and this season, I just didn't bother with a lot of games because they were either done within the first period (Flames couldn't come back), or they were the hockey equivalent of ambien and I would just fall asleep. I can't do boring hockey anymore.

[beaster]

As long as Sutter is the head couch ,this team will be big, past their prime and slow . Rookies will never get a chance. He inherited a big team with elite talent and won a cup in L.A. Thats not what he's getting here.

[NilssonistheReal14]

I have been a season ticket holder for 24 years. We made the decision, if Sutter is back, we are not. I will always be a Flames fan. But, I will no longer pay for the privelige of being one as long as Sutter is involved with this team.

[The Fisher Account]

Will always cheer for the Flames

The last few rollercoaster years have been tough, combined with now having young kids now which have dropped the passion and GAF meter a lot.

[DSIM420]

I will always cheer for the flames.

To me it doesn't matter who the coach or the GM is as long as they are committed to getting younger and faster and playing the kids.

[OutOfTheCube]

I think everyone will always be a fan -- but for me if Sutter is behind the bench and Markstrom is starting at the next season opener, you'll know it's gonna be another long season of more of the same. It should be a new coach with Wolf in net.

[alan21]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

I think everyone will always be a fan -- but for me if Sutter is behind the bench and Markstrom is starting at the next season opener, you'll know it's gonna be another long season of more of the same. It should be a new coach with Wolf in net.

I think we will make the playoffs with just making the Wolf/Vladar tandem a thing. If we even got average goaltending this season, that would've made enough of a point swing positively to get us into the playoffs.

It's not just how many Markstrom gives up but also when he does.
So many pivotal games this season we start off being behind and it has to be tiring and deflating to always have to come back and with how Darryl runs things, it just doesn't allow for too many big comebacks with a noticeably less offensive first line.

So changes probably aren't as drastically needed as we feel coming fresh off a nightmare season where everyone massively underperformed.

[Russic]

I'll always be a fan, but I think I'm done with being a season ticket holder. People change and priorities change. It was fun in my 20s when I had nothing of consequence going on. Now I have to balance family, career, and self-care, all of which are impacted by my status as a season ticket holder. This isn't a fun thing I do anymore, but instead feels more like a side-job.

[blankall]

I'm actually feeling a bit optimistic about next year, if Sutter either leaves or finally gives in and plays the kids.

In goal I'd like to see Wolf/Markstrom. With Wolf hopefully taking over the starting role and Markstrom being bought out in June 2024 or 2025, depending on how Wolf's development is. If you can find a taker for Markstrom's contract, you move him now. But it'll be difficult. Plus Vladar's numbers weren't all that great anyways.

A forward group of Huberdeau, Lindholm, Toffoli, Mangiapane, Kadri, Backlund, etc...with a youth injection of Duehr, Pelletier, Coronato, Ruzicka, etc.. actually looks very solid. They just need a coaching strategy that is more hands off and lets the players play.

That being said....I'm not totally opposed to trading off a bunch of guys. All I know is that we've got "prospects" like Ruzicka who are turning 24. There's no reason they shouldn't be in the lineup. It's at the point where I really do feel bad for any prospect in the Flames organization. The hopes of them ever getting proper development on this t are slim to none. The Wranglers are the best team in the AHL, and we literally have players challenging for AHL MVP who can't find regular playing time.

I get that Phillips is small, but he's 25 now and very unlikely to ever get a fair shake. This fear the organization has of small skilled players is baffling. Not every prospect is going to succeed slowly working their way up from being grinder on the fourth line.

[3rd liner]

Next season can't be more frustrating than this season. So I am optimistic....

[Pellanor]

I hopped on the bandwagon back in 04 and never got off. Was really excited for this season, but between the board ads, gambling ads, political attack ads, sub par streaming experience, and lack luster on ice production I ended up watching the fewest games since then. That being said, I still follow the team, and love the community here. I find the off-ice aspect of the game fascinating, so I'll keep following the draft and all the trades and contract talk and new arena discussion. Looking forward to seeing Wolf get more starts next season, and a return of exciting games.

[Cube Inmate]

I'll never cheer for another team, except when rooting against their opponent. But being a fan of the Flames is like being father to a 30-something who dropped out of engineering school to work at McDonald's, still lives in the parents' basement, and refuses to apply for that management position they've been dangling. I love em, but too frustrating to bear.

[Classic_Sniper]

My enthusiasm for this team was waaaaay down this year compared to years past. I actually didn’t even bother watching a lick of the preseason which is probably the first time since I don’t even know, 2013? So I could see my level of interest dropping even further by September/October.

I know a lot of fans and pundits had the Flames winning the division or being a definitive playoff team/contender. But I was not in that camp. I thought this was a bubble playoff team and sometimes bubble playoff teams miss the playoffs. So I’m not surprised by the final result.

I’ve been on team rebuild since Gaudreau left. So, If this team goes the rebuild route, I’d consider watching some of the new kids grow. But if we get another year like 2021 or 2023. I’m out.

[Rutuu]

Looked at the roster the other day, and it still looks good to me, and we've got a hall of fame coach that has a winning record for us in the playoffs...so I'll keep my flames towel, flames putter grip, flames ball marker, and two jerseys (one with my own name on it...a gift and the other Tkachuk with the captains C )

With this squad and sutter it was always about how we did in the playoffs. So when we make it next year I'll be ready for a run.