02-14-2020, 10:05 AM
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#1
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Franchise Player
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Righting the ship: Ward's decision to change direction (Athletic)
Courtesy of Eric Duhatchek (Athletic):
Quote:
I asked Ward: What went into the decision to move Backlund back to his natural position – because ever since they did that, things seem to be clicking into place far better than before.
“I would agree,” Ward answered. “He came in. He felt his game had fallen off on the wing. He felt like he could do more at center. Sometimes, as coaches, we’ve talked about what a give-and-take it is and how we want to empower what the guys do and listen to them. Thank God, all of us coaches had the wherewithal to listen to what some of the guys were saying – and we restored him to center and he’s really done a good job there. It’s been effective.”
…
Seeking feedback from his players on how they might be utilized wasn’t strictly limited to Backlund either, said Ward.
“We talked to Johnny (Gaudreau). We talked to Monny (Sean Monahan). We talked to a lot of our players over the last couple of weeks and got a lot of feedback from them – and decided this was the direction we had to move, based on what they were saying. It’s paid off. I give them a lot of credit,” Ward said.
“For them to come in and bring up some dicey subjects that maybe in some other areas they wouldn’t want to talk about, they came in and had the tough conversation – and we’ve got to listen to the tough conversation too when it’s coming our way. If we expect them to listen when it’s going the other way. The feedback was excellent. They were honest. They felt it could be something that could help – and right now, it has helped us. It’s paid dividends.
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Link: https://theathletic.com/1608257/2020...old-blueprint/
I think this is HUGE. It isn't just about playing with more effort. Ward has buy in from the players because he's actually listened to them and made changes. I wonder if that happens if Peters is still at the helm.
Buckle your seatbelts...
Last edited by tvp2003; 02-14-2020 at 10:09 AM.
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02-14-2020, 10:15 AM
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#2
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Franchise Player
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I need to go on angry rants in the "Unpopular Opinions' thread more often.
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Until the Flames make the Western Finals again, this signature shall remain frozen.
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02-14-2020, 10:18 AM
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#3
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Looooooooooooooch
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This team seriously makes me bi-polar.
I love Ward and the Flames again. Last week, I wanted Johnny and Monny off the team. Wtf man
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02-14-2020, 10:19 AM
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#4
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Springbank
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I wonder if we're being too hasty in dismissing Ward as a coach candidate. I mean, he's had a half season to prove himself, part of which must be divesting old systems and Peters' style, and which was broken up by the ASG break.
I still don't think he's a front runner for the permanant gig, but plenty of coaches take time to warm into the job. People think pretty highly of Maurice now in Winnipeg but he was closer to being fired early on (at least fans wanted it).
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02-14-2020, 10:21 AM
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#5
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Needs More Cowbell
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Not Canada, Eh?
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Mark Jankowski has been playing better of late as well.
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02-14-2020, 10:31 AM
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#6
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In the Sin Bin
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: compton
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iggy City
This team seriously makes me bi-polar.
I love Ward and the Flames again. Last week, I wanted Johnny and Monny off the team. Wtf man
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It's gonna take a lot more than 3/4 wins to convince me they're back. But here is hoping.
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02-14-2020, 10:33 AM
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#7
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Lifetime Suspension
Join Date: Jan 2017
Exp:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iggy City
This team seriously makes me bi-polar.
I love Ward and the Flames again. Last week, I wanted Johnny and Monny off the team. Wtf man
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Same. I just hope they get hot at the right time. Then nothing else will matter.
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02-14-2020, 10:47 AM
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#9
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ontario
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First off, if you don't have a subscription to The Athletic... a top-quality succinct piece the next day that gives us this much insight into how the Flames could be turning it around lately is a good reason to give them a serious look. They give you consistently great content for your money on a level that the networks aren't even close to IMO
But this is an interesting shift in the Flames season for sure. There was a noticeable bump in confidence and going back to the lines that worked in the past may seem obvious - but we see tons of coaches that refuse to re-evaluate (Brodie under GG anyone?). Moving some talent around wasn't a bad call, but with as many players having terrible years as there were, I'm glad we have a coach intelligent enough to have a chat with his team about what they can do together.
The re-formed 3M also has a LOT of potential with Mangiapane in there now and Johnny has been flying out there lately. Results are coming if they can keep up this play, but the Kings game was definitely cause-for-pause. Addressing that game very decisively in Anaheim has me excited for the next game more than I have been in a little while.
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02-14-2020, 10:50 AM
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#10
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Calgary
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So basically the team could coach itself better than when Ward was coaching it. Unsurprising.
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02-14-2020, 10:59 AM
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#11
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Franchise Player
Join Date: May 2016
Location: ATCO Field, Section 201
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cannon7
Mark Jankowski has been playing better of late as well.
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Confidence is the je ne sais quoi of NHL players. If they don't have it it can be ugly. One can only hope that Gaudreau get some of his mojo back, just in time for the last 22 games of the season.
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02-14-2020, 11:02 AM
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#12
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Franchise Player
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden
Confidence is the je ne sais quoi of NHL players. If they don't have it it can be ugly. One can only hope that Gaudreau get some of his mojo back, just in time for the last 22 games of the season.
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Poor Johnny last night, after the flubbed second breakway you could see him going "#### me, #### I'm bad at breakaways!!" when the camera zoomed in lol. Once it rains it pours.
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02-14-2020, 11:11 AM
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#13
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ontario
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GranteedEV
So basically the team could coach itself better than when Ward was coaching it. Unsurprising.
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02-14-2020, 11:11 AM
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#14
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Taking a while to get to 5000
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gaskal
Poor Johnny last night, after the flubbed second breakway you could see him going "#### me, #### I'm bad at breakaways!!" when the camera zoomed in lol. Once it rains it pours.
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Honestly thought he said "can't buy a ####### break" cause the puck rolled off the heel of the stick.
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02-14-2020, 11:12 AM
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#15
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First Line Centre
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I've been very unimpressed with Ward, but if this works and gets the players bought into the system then full props to him. Time will tell.
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02-14-2020, 11:13 AM
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#16
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First Line Centre
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gaskal
Poor Johnny last night, after the flubbed second breakway you could see him going "#### me, #### I'm bad at breakaways!!" when the camera zoomed in lol. Once it rains it pours.
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Was nice to see Rinaldo giving him a pep talk. Didn't really see why we brought in Rinaldo as I felt he was super dirty, but since he's been here he seems to be all hard skating and hard hitting.
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02-14-2020, 11:14 AM
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#17
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ontario
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toonage
Honestly thought he said "can't buy a ####### break" cause the puck rolled off the heel of the stick.
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Conveniently, I just saw this tweet a second ago
https://twitter.com/user/status/1228303357736914945
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02-14-2020, 11:17 AM
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#18
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Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Winebar Kensington
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18-11-2, .613
Flames have 4th best road record in the NHL.
Last edited by troutman; 02-14-2020 at 11:22 AM.
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02-14-2020, 11:17 AM
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#19
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Taking a while to get to 5000
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^ Yep, I am not good lip reading but did believe Gaskal.
In a way I'm kind of glad he admits this to himself!
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02-14-2020, 11:55 AM
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#20
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ontario
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toonage
^ Yep, I am not good lip reading but did believe Gaskal.
In a way I'm kind of glad he admits this to himself!
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Yeah, I'm hoping that this is a team that can rally around him and get his mojo back. Breakaways have a lot to do with confidence I think and we've been seeing a lot more confident plays from him lately. Though still a part of his arsenal too often, we're seeing a lot more than 'short side high from the goalline' over and over
Rittich was in his ear after this if I remember correctly, though it didn't look like Johnny wanted to hear much of it. But if there's one guy that believes in Johnny's ability it's Celebrate-as-Johnny-crosses-the-blueline-all-alone Rittich
Also - sorry, I was popping back in here to share it as I was curious to see it myself after Gaskal posted it. Didn't mean to suggest you were arguing another way
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