Did Sutter change the system?

[trieu8]

I keep thinking back to last season when the Flames looked dominant. They had a stretch of games where they won by like 4+ goals. The forecheck was aggressive, they looked like they played much quicker. This season they look slow. All they do is dump the puck, cycle down low then pass it back to the point for a weak shot.

I'm trying to remember, is it the same system as last year and they're just not executing it or did he change it completely?

[Toonage]

Same system, no more Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk

[Erick Estrada]

The system hasn't changed. The execution has. Not sure what happened but ever since the 2nd round playoff loss against the Oilers, the goaltender has been lost and the team has struggled defensively with breakdowns as it's like their play against the Oilers in that series has carried over into this season.

[taxbuster]

Their transition game has gone to hell in a handbasket. Too slow out of their own zone (if they don't get trapped their, that is). No backside pressure and no speed on the forecheck except for a few isolated guys.

[Ottoman Empire]

Can't help but think that Kylington would help matters, as would another top 6 speedy offensive talent. This whole Lucic on 2nd line has got to stop and Sutter's job is to win hockey games so he must see the value in playing the hot hand in goal. Markstrom's inconsistency should tell any coach that the time to switch to get some team traction is now.

[dino7c]

Team would have a better record than last year with .920 Markstrom

Goaltending is the most important position in hockey

[Mr.Coffee]

I dunno, I think the OP is on to something. Particularly with regard to the PP. Why isn't Lindholm ever in that patented slightly off-centre spot so he can use his rocket? He never really seems open anymore but not sure if it's related to strategy.

The best Flames forward is ranked 60th in the NHL in points. That's pretty bad, and could be systems related. The downgrade from Tkachuk-Gaudreau departing shouldn't have that massive of a change.

[Zarley]

Defensive lapses are obviously the biggest issue this year but also the forecheck is nowhere near as punishing as it was last year.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The system hasn't changed. The execution has. Not sure what happened but ever since the 2nd round playoff loss against the Oilers, the goaltender has been lost and the team has struggled defensively with breakdowns as it's like their play against the Oilers in that series has carried over into this season.

In my view, the Oilers have always been a bad opponent for the Flames because of how the players approach 97 when he's on the ice. Yeah, he's good but part of me thinks the Flames hype themselves up too much and forget their fundamentals. As for your question around not being sure what happened last year to this year, in my view, every line is a new combination with the exception of the current Backlund line, and players are still thinking about where they should be on the ice vs. being at the comfort level where they can just play without thinking. Same goes for the defensive pairings with the exception of the Hanifin-Andersson pair.

And then add the worse goaltending this year and that's why the Flames are experiencing so many breakdowns still. The system works, it's proven. Just taking a lot longer than I thought!

[Winsor_Pilates]

Last year's team starts the 3rd period yesterday 3-1 & goes on to win 7-1.
Their goalie would make a save & the superstars would pad their stats finishing off the opponent.

It's not the system though, it's the players.

[Strange Brew]

Last year Flames were 6th in goals per game in the league.

This year they are 23rd.

How do people just ignore this most basic statistic and suggest it is all Markstrom?

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Last year Flames were 6th in goals per game in the league.

This year they are 23rd.

How do people just ignore this most basic statistic and suggest it is all Markstrom?

I don't think anyone has suggested it's all Markstrom though. People are pointing out though that he hasn't been as good (that isn't all on him though) which is true. But certainly the difference between this year and last isn't all goaltending.

[Yikes]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Last year's team starts the 3rd period yesterday 3-1 & goes on to win 7-1.
Their goalie would make a save & the superstars would pad their stats finishing off the opponent.

It's not the system though, it's the players.

I think it is the system, I also think that this years Flames are a better team than last years. It seems like Sutter has clamped down on the D side of the game to the extreme, the Oilers got into his head? It sure would suck to play this guys game...not a whole lot of fun out there or in the room I am sure. The team does play better in front of Vladar so maybe some confidence issues create some hesitation...dunno.

[Young Guns]

When ever the team falls behind by a couple goals, the way they play changes. The defense jumps up into the play more and we drive the net. Exciting hockey & they seem to dominate and get lots of high scoring chances. Usually the last 10 min of a game when trailing. Leaves everyone wondering why they didn't play that way the whole game. Problem is most the times the games are close and we have to play sutter hockey.

Pretty sure during the 2nd intermission last night the coach told the players to rain it in and play defense first. Don't worry about getting any more goals or playing the same style that dominated the 2nd period.

[GreenLantern2814]

Systems are overrated. It’s not the system that makes Darryl a great coach.

Hockey isn’t complicated - you try to funnel picks to the net in the offensive zone, you hold the blue line, and force the play to the outside in the defensive zone.

Darryl is a stickler for details and responsible play.

“Systems” are what bad coaches blame for poor results when they don’t have the players. To his credit, Darryl isn’t blaming the system, and I don’t know if another coach is getting any extra blood from this stone.

Ironically, on a team with better centre depth than they’ve had in 25 years, they have no “centre” holding it together.

Now, get Huberdeau one of the top-3 centres in the upcoming draft to work with, we might have the start of something.

[Ashasx]

If Huberdeau can't get it going with Lindholm as his centre, I don't know why he's making $10.5 million.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Last year Flames were 6th in goals per game in the league.

This year they are 23rd.

How do people just ignore this most basic statistic and suggest it is all Markstrom?

Yeah. Markstrom is not as good as last year. But there were plenty of games where he played exactly the same as in losses this year, except the team played way better in front of him and in those losses turned into wins (and Markstrom's big saves like he had later in the third last night) were what people remembered, not any of the goals. Also I don't recall the same number of high level chances being consistently allowed. A lot of shutouts posters refused to give Markstrom credit because his night was so easy.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Team would have a better record than last year with .920 Markstrom

Goaltending is the most important position in hockey

Originally Posted by activeStick

I don't think anyone has suggested it's all Markstrom though. People are pointing out though that he hasn't been as good (that isn't all on him though) which is true. But certainly the difference between this year and last isn't all goaltending.

Posts like that one certainly suggest it's all goaltending. I agree with you, it is certainly part of the equation and last night was a prime example.

[Yikes]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

If Huberdeau can't get it going with Lindholm as his centre, I don't know why he's making $10.5 million.

I firmly believe it is not the players but how they are being forced to play. As mentioned...if Sutter was an NFL coach most plays would be fullback up the middle and if Doug Flutie was his quarterback Sutter would force him to sit in the pocket, cuz that's how the game is played.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I dunno, I think the OP is on to something. Particularly with regard to the PP. Why isn't Lindholm ever in that patented slightly off-centre spot so he can use his rocket? He never really seems open anymore but not sure if it's related to strategy.

The best Flames forward is ranked 60th in the NHL in points. That's pretty bad, and could be systems related. The downgrade from Tkachuk-Gaudreau departing shouldn't have that massive of a change.

Losing two 100 point players, who are among the most dangerous in the league? Yeah, this is pretty much what was expected in my mind, except that I viewed Huberdeau as someone who would be far more dominant than he has been to cushion some of the blow.

Until there is another skill player added into the top 6. This group is going to have to continue to be pretty meat and potatoes.