The trials and tribulations of Glen Gulutzan

[Table 5]

The Flames didn't have a true leader in the early 2000s either, until Sutter came in and took charge. As well as Iginla and Kipper played, it was Darryl who was the real leader of that team.

I'm not saying that Sutter is the answer now, but this team too clearly needs a coach who is a leader more than anything else. Someone who can demand respect just by walking in the room, someone who'll either motivate this team to greatness, or kick and drag them to it. It doesn't have to be an ahole or tyrant, but it does need to be someone with some passion.

Gulutzan might have all the assets of a great coach on paper, but he doesn't have that X factor that all leaders need. I think that was Trelivings big mistake...thinking that the same type of analytical thinking one needs on the GM level, would work on a coaching level.

[memphusk]

I wake up every morning excited to hear that the coaching staff has been let go. Another disappointing morning.

[Erick Estrada]

27 games into the season and how many games have the Flames put together three solid periods of hockey? That Ducks game early in the season for sure but there's just not enough nights where he has the team playing well from start to finish and coming out after every loss saying your team is mentally soft and not doing anything about it is getting pretty old. His answer for bad games is to make substitutions to his 6th defensemen and 12th forward which is akin to lipstick on a pig and not good enough.

[Infinit47]

The Flames have two options. They can accept they are a bubble team, and believe GG is getting the most out of this team. Or, they can take a chance and hire a proven NHL coach to see what he can do.

I don't believe he Flames organization feels they are a bubble team (they traded away their first), so the question is how long do they wait to fire the coaching staff and start fresh.

It's hard to admit when you make a mistake, but hockey GM's are well paid and Trelieving needs to own this mistake.

[Aarongavey]

If BT gutted the future of this team, trading 2 1sts and 4 seconds, 3 thirds to become a bubble team, he should be fired on the spot. He has made these trades based on his belief that this team is a contender. Fire the coach, free the Flames.

[TheScorpion]

After a night of sleeping on it, I think I may be starting to change my mind. I just can't fathom how poor the defense is performing. I think this team might be better-served by a coach who puts more emphasis on the defensive side of hockey. Definitely not Dave Tippett, but perhaps Sutter. Honestly, at this point, I'm not sure if any other potentially worthwhile options are out there other than Sutter.

I'm not on the "Fire Gulutzan" train, but I'm driving to the station.

[Mr.Coffee]

Pretty obvious the coach needs to go at this point but you need to have the replacement coaching staff in place already. So the next step is get going through the quiet interview process now.

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

After a night of sleeping on it, I think I may be starting to change my mind. I just can't fathom how poor the defense is performing. I think this team might be better-served by a coach who puts more emphasis on the defensive side of hockey. Definitely not Dave Tippett, but perhaps Sutter. Honestly, at this point, I'm not sure if any other potentially worthwhile options are out there other than Sutter.

I'm not on the "Fire Gulutzan" train, but I'm driving to the station.

We all wanted it to work out Scorp. And GG may one day be a good coach. Unfortunately this teams window is now, its just not a time to have a coach thats feeling/learning how to get there.

Hopefully the GM makes the right decission either way. Not the season any of us wanted, but its not to late.

[Erick Estrada]

Funny thing is that it's obvious that changing the defensive pairings would do a world of good and it's obvious for anyone to see that Brodie isn't playing well with Hamonic or on the left side for that matter. We also know however that would be putting a square peg in a square hole which goes against Gulutzans principles.

[Da_Chief]

Make Jagr the coach. Fire GG.

[bzoo02]

I feel like GG is the hipster of coaches. He does stupid stuff like not line match and rolling all 4 lines at all costs just to be different.

[Jason14h]

BT has traded all his picks . His only logically remaining room is to fire the coach. If not/that doesn’t work, maybe the team that has been assembled just isn’t good and he needs to go. This is his coach......

[Traditional_Ale]

We could have Lindy Ruff, or Darryl Sutter, but instead we get a dirty hipster with madmen hair. Fire Treliving.

[DiracSpike]

Darryl Sutter is my fav coach of all time. The guy is such a crusty #### and damn good hockey coach, I would love to see him in charge of this team.

Would he want to tho? He has so much history with this team, getting unceremoniously pushed out for Feaster and his brother was fired from here too. Would that affect him wanting to come back? Hitchcock went back to Dallas so I suppose anything is possible but still.

[Kybb79]

Darryl has admitted he cheers for the Flames when he was coaching the Kings.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

We could have Lindy Ruff, or Darryl Sutter, but instead we get a dirty hipster with madmen hair. Fire Treliving.

Stopped reading at Ruff.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

Darryl Sutter is my fav coach of all time. The guy is such a crusty #### and damn good hockey coach, I would love to see him in charge of this team.

Would he want to tho? He has so much history with this team, getting unceremoniously pushed out for Feaster and his brother was fired from here too. Would that affect him wanting to come back? Hitchcock went back to Dallas so I suppose anything is possible but still.

Darryl the GM was horrible. Nothing unceremonious about his dismissal.

I am now on board with Darryl the coach though... but as you say, he may not be.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Kybb79

Darryl has admitted he cheers for the Flames when he was coaching the Kings.

That's fine and dandy...but even if Sutter was interested in coming back, which i seriously doubt he is, this team is not built for his kind of game.

He likes hard/tough to play against players who grind it out. This club could not be further from that in their make up. Guys like Hamilton and Bennett would end up watching from the press box at times under Darryl. Hmmm...maybe that isnt a bad thing.

Just don't see the fit between the two myself.

[bubbsy]

Apparently Mike Keenan just got fired in Russia.....

[Harry Lime]

Todd Reirden, associate coach, Washington Capitals (power play wizard)

He also coaches the defensive side. The next John Stevens.