[News] Flames press conference Fri 10:30 AM to introduce Glen Gulutzan as Head Coach

[Domoic]

Process = 5!

[TheScorpion]

'The process' count: 5

[Tacopuck]

Process Drinks: 5

PPM's: Process's Per Minute ~ 4.65/min

[MyFlamesFirst]

This is worse that coaches corner drinking game.

[dammage79]

Im counting... I have 7 so far.

[Gaskal]

Treliving
-Okay, it's probably been our worst kept secret over this week
-Thanks to Linden and Benning and to Gully's family
-Process Jar
-What kind of coach do we want? Before we go out and even start looking we go through the process and build a profile.
-Lots of good candidates, smart people, sought after title.
-Knew early with Glen that he's perfect
-Checks off a lot of boxes, especially communication and interpersonal relationship management
-^Most important quality for a coach
-Talked to all references available - good person as well as a good coach
-It's official! Glen is our coach!



Glen
-What a crazy whirlwind week, glad to be here, thanks Flames for opportunity
-Big family man, wife is Calgarian
-Started in Vegas under Sutter as affliate, cheered on the Flames in '04
-Gio,Iggy, Wides all seen em at camp, is an honor to be able to coach Gio
-Thanks Vancouver for having me
-Started out with the Flames, great to come back to the C of Red

Puck Possession

Glen
-Possession is a real popular stat now
-Doesn't always mean 'having' the puck, need to be connected in 5 man units in all 3 zones, play a up-tempo game as well, get it back quickly, break out quickly etc, don't spend time d'ing your own zone


Coaching Template - Young Talent

Brad
-All about fit with a particular coach with a particular team, Glen's very humble but has the record and resume to back.
-Biggest asset is ability to connect to players
-Player teaching: Why and How questions answered often with Gulutzan's coaching methods
-Not just connect with young players but establishes trust with vets as well
-Always about improvement

NHL time with Dallas - differences this time around

Glen
-2 years removed from ECHL, 2 years in AHL at the time, very great learning experience.
-Could write lists of what he did good and what he did change, but experience is the biggest factor
-Enjoyed some stars that taught him things about the league and the game itself
-Being on board Vancouver opened up a lot of NHL doors as well as allowing him to learn some more systems based play


Assessment of Calgary's organization, players, and direction

Glen
-Really good young core
-Anchored by great dcore (4 D that's scored 40+ pts before)
-d-men depth, knows Jokipakka from DAL
-Excited to work with Sam, Johnny, Mony, Backs
-Solid veteran presence with Gio, Stajan

Calgary - A heated destination for all coaches

Brad
-Should always be trying to learn, about the league, about the team, getting that outside view (some CPers called it when he was in Russia, gj) of your team to learn new things, going through a process
-Step back and get different perspectives on own players is important



Coaching Style - Player Development

Glen
-Agrees that "player's coach" scares certain people but you need to build the trust and the relationships
-Emotional connection can be important too, if you have the base and trust, they can be pushed a long way
-As the season goes, the team should still be having fun, everyone in the team needs to have value


Sam Bennett's capability and potential

Glen
-Super competitive guy having played him in playoffs, on top of everything else (hockey sense also sticks out)
-How do I handle him? Needs guys that can teach and help him, can't be put on an island and made to play (can't see him burying Sam on the 4th line)
-Needs some quality linemates to help him grow
-Sky's the limit with Sam
-Everyone who plays vs him doesn't like him (haha)


How bad did you want another shot at head coach in NHL

Glen
-Enjoyed being asst. But always had the drive to try again, wanted as much experience from NHL as possible. Didn't have the base when he was in DAL.
-To run your own 'everything' - that's where he gets the passion from.




Heeeeeeeeeeere's Johnny!

Glen
-So dynamic. Just so dynamic. -gush-
-Going into the boards and corners with his size and coming out unscathed, that says a lot about him
-Wants to match top line vs top lines (what if the other team's top line has holes and ours doesn't?)
-Main focus always offense but will ask him to do other things


Assistant Coach

Glen
-Started discussions together this morning
-Want the best guy, period
-Shoutouts to Gelinas, Pringle, Sigalet, will be sitting down with each one
-Will look at special teams, see what guys can fit
-Need chemistry with coaching staff as well as teammates

Brad
-Done some looking
-Profiling (who what when where why)
-Preliminary discussions have been had
-Just gotta find a good fit



What's Glen's to-do list look like

Glen
-Starting from the moment training camp kicks off
-Already a good work ethic, just gotta add to that
-Gotta map out training camp, start early
-Grouse Grind in VAN with Conroy part of interview process (sounds fun)
-6 straight hours with only a glass of water to sustain him for main interview (got a few chuckles)

How will you build relationships with players

Glen
-Will start right away
-Don't wanna talk hockey to any of them for sometime yet, just build the relationships.

What kind of systems you want playing on a Western team?

Glen
-Play fast, don't dump the puck
-Stay connected as a group
-Competitive even in practice
-Big players gonna have to play big, fast players gonna have to play fast


What can you take away from the playoff series loss last year to our team?

Glen
-The D!
-Man, that offensive D!
-D are always in the play, none of that's gonna change
-Lots of juice and excitement in the young core
-C of Red is incredible, wanna keep it that way

[jmac98]

Watching Sportsnet.

Breaking: Gulutzan to wear #16

[TheScorpion]

final process count: 7

[OmegaV4]

Listening in, all I hear are cameras going off.

[Huntingwhale]

I love his hairdoo

[Finger Cookin]

Total disrespect to Sergei Priakin.

[Misterpants]

Wait, did he say "World wind". Fire him.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Referencing Wideman leaving the rookie camp early because he signed by the Blues. Nice.

[Madman]

Priority #1 for Glen - "Cal-gry".

[Tacopuck]

Glen has his Politician hand gesture's down pact

[locsofblu]

Welcome Glenzo!

[jmac98]

His tie is really crooked. It took a wrong turn at Albequerque

[TheScorpion]

Glen
Pleasure to be here in Cal-GARY (sigh)
Wife from Calgary, so it's a good fit
Honour to be the coach of the Flames
Started in Las Vegas in the Flames' org.
Here through '04
Watched 'Gio' and 'Iggy' and 'Wides' - good with nicknames
Got his foot in the door here, never thought he'd be lucky enough to be back
Thanks Jim Benning (for letting him leave)
He's used to the Flaming C

[ricosuave]

didnt remember that he was part of the organization...

[OmegaV4]

"Wides" lul.

And the Flames as Distinguished Franchise? Oh stop it you