[PGT] Preds 3 Flames 2

[bubbsy]

Skipped the game last night. Not surprised at the result, not upset by the loss.

Soon my feelings will be moving toward satisfied by losses, as I think a top 10 pick is better than the inevitable finishing in 9th in the conference or getting beat up in round 1.

This entire debate of if it's the coach or is it the players is irrelevant to me. It's the guy who manage the selection of both that I fear needs to be changed to see any real advancement of the franchise. Unfortunately for fans, that could mean seeing a good hockey team in several years if they decide to rebuild.

The core components of the team right now are based on contract :
tkatchuk, monahan,gaudreau, Lindholm, backlund, lucic, Giordano, andersson, Hanafin

That's not a good mix of talent and 'give a crap'.

[Brodieyouevenlift]

Everyone analyzing in-depth every coaches strategies, strengths and weaknesses. But every year, every coach, it's the SAME issue. No matter who the coach is, they're never ready to compete. Every year, new season, new coach, but still the same seemingly apathetic attitude from the team. At this point I'm convinced Scotty Bowman at his prime couldn't motivate this core.

[Monahammer]

Went to the Oilers game last night in the company box and cheered for the sharks... sharks suck this year but they were much easier to cheer for than our troop. They at least looked like they wanted to win the game

[Lanny_McDonald]

This team is so hard to cheer for right now. The composition is just ugly. Too many players that do anything. No identity. No emotion. No anything. I want to see Bennett, Jankowski, Lucic, Gaudreau, Backlund, Brodie, Hamonic, Ryan, and Czarnik moved out - for the team’s benefit and their own. Target size and speed. Build a team that is at least difficult to play against and has some GAF. These guys just take the enjoyment out of watching the game of hockey. And get a coach that has won at the NHL level. You would think this would be an automatic.

[Monahammer]

I find it pretty funny that granlund and turris lit us up last night given how terrible they've been all season.

We're the washington generals of the league.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Brodieyouevenlift

Everyone analyzing in-depth every coaches strategies, strengths and weaknesses. But every year, every coach, it's the SAME issue. No matter who the coach is, they're never ready to compete. Every year, new season, new coach, but still the same seemingly apathetic attitude from the team. At this point I'm convinced Scotty Bowman at his prime couldn't motivate this core.

That may be correct in which case it is a general manager issue in terms of the composition of the team. I want a new coach because hopefully Ward is not the head coach next year. I would like them to bring Gallant or Laviolette so that ownership has an intelligent hockey mind to give their two cents on the team and provide input for next year.

[Erick Estrada]

The Gulutzan years were bad but this season has been the worst. At least under Gulutzan you could point to a coach in over his head with his insistence on the square peg in round hole approach. This season has to be the lowest compete level of any Flames team I can remember and it's been under two different coaches. I think most of us can agree Ward isn't NHL head coach material but it's pretty clear at this point that a better coach is still going to have major issues with the core of this team as it is today. I'm fairly sure Gaudreau will be moved in the offseason but I'm not so sure he should be the only player. The GM really needs to get to the bottom of this as the team looks like it's heading into a death spiral.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by 3rd liner

Celebrity crush. Kelly hrudey ❤️ Roman Josi

So do I. I wish he was on the Flames.

[Infinit47]

Originally Posted by Brodieyouevenlift

Everyone analyzing in-depth every coaches strategies, strengths and weaknesses. But every year, every coach, it's the SAME issue. No matter who the coach is, they're never ready to compete. Every year, new season, new coach, but still the same seemingly apathetic attitude from the team. At this point I'm convinced Scotty Bowman at his prime couldn't motivate this core.

Hartley at Peters both made it to the playoffs, although Peters got crushed in the first round.

Our current coach can't seem to grasp such simple principles as shortening your bench or double shifting your best players. He's now moved the team to a chip and chase style of hockey that doesn't suit our personnel.

So while previous coaches are irrelevant to the discussion of Ward, it's obvious he is not capable at the NHL level.

Continually cheaping out on coaches doesn't write off this core in my mind. Hire a high level coach and *gasp* pay for him. Then see what happens.

[Gaskal]

This week has been quite the Murphy's Law week for Flames fans.

[ComixZone]

Defenceman are dropping all over the league. Tampa looks like they’ve lost Ruutta and McDonagh now - two top four defenceman.

Things are lining up to sell both Hamonic and Brodie and get a premium. Do it, Tree.

[taxbuster]

What ticks me off about Ward's post-game rant is that he puts it all on the players...he doesn't even adopt Tre's "the GM has been horsesh*t" approach.

First...mea culpa...then others.

Beats me what they're all waiting for. Time to call out players by name, either by benching or orally in the media.

[Toonage]

^ Well, yeah. He's upset that they aren't executing his system. So he sees it as laziness and lack of effort or desperation. Can't possibly be what he's trying to ask of them right?

It was a fun sound bite I suppose, but ultimately rings hollow.

[Iggy_12]

In a weak rental market we have 2 legit pieces that could bring back value in Brodie and Hamonic. This team is not going anywhere hope and pray management realizes that and we can actually get some assets for expiring contracts.

[Flash Walken]

oh my god are we seriously having a coaching conversation?

Come ON you guys.

There's only two things happening here:

1) The team is badly constructed
2) Gaudreau isn't playing god-tier hockey in order to cover for it.

That's IT. That's the ENTIRE problem.

The Flames are rotating Buddy Robinson, Dillon Dube, Andrew Mangiapane and Toby Freakin' Reider through their top 6 lineup because they tried Backlund there for 20 games and he scored 3 goals.

None of this is a coaching issue.

THEY ALREADY FIRED THE COACH

I know it's a hopeless thing to consider, but what if a team with one playoff game win in the last 4 years is actually just a ####ty team?

[Rando]

To quote... ^lol

Calm down guy.

[Saint Troy]

Originally Posted by taxbuster

What ticks me off about Ward's post-game rant is that he puts it all on the players...he doesn't even adopt Tre's "the GM has been horsesh*t" approach.

First...mea culpa...then others.

Beats me what they're all waiting for. Time to call out players by name, either by benching or orally in the media.

Yep, tough to take him seriously when he refuses to split up Monahan and Gaudreau, never mind benching them, and Lucic continues to get pp time. Ward from all accounts was the “good cop” on the Peters staff, and is now trying to be the hard-ass, players see right through it and it shows on the ice.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

oh my god are we seriously having a coaching conversation?

Come ON you guys.

There's only two things happening here:

1) The team is badly constructed
2) Gaudreau isn't playing god-tier hockey in order to cover for it.

That's IT. That's the ENTIRE problem.

The Flames are rotating Buddy Robinson, Dillon Dube, Andrew Mangiapane and Toby Freakin' Reider through their top 6 lineup because they tried Backlund there for 20 games and he scored 3 goals.

None of this is a coaching issue.

THEY ALREADY FIRED THE COACH

I know it's a hopeless thing to consider, but what if a team with one playoff game win in the last 4 years is actually just a ####ty team?

This could all be true but they'd still need to make sure they have the right coach behind the bench.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Toonage

^ Well, yeah. He's upset that they aren't executing his system. So he sees it as laziness and lack of effort or desperation. Can't possibly be what he's trying to ask of them right?

It was a fun sound bite I suppose, but ultimately rings hollow.

He's not upset they aren't executing his system. He's upset that they aren't executing the most basic aspect in hockey.............compete.

Skate hard to make plays. Hit someone. Take a hit to make a play. Battle for loose pucks. Skate hard off the ice instead of coasting.

I mean, these are all just so simple. This is stuff hockey players learn at a very young age. He's not asking his guys to execute some tough new system that is hard to implement. He's just asking them to compete. It's the very least the coach and fans can ask of this team.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

This week has been quite the Murphy's Law week for Flames fans.

Great show but I see this season as more of a Murder She Wrote.