Watch the game tonight & see how efficiently they pass around the perimeter on the power play until the D lobs a howitzer toward the net & if its not blocked & coming back on a breakaway on us, it will zip through bodies, maybe hit goalie but usually misses the net. Counts as a shot attempt though.

Count how many times we have a solid forecheck & get a puck out to an open man in the slot. Blows me away so many clinging on to the notion we are 3rd in league in high chance scoring opportunities, but 3rd lowest in goals for. This aint all bad luck & if you think so whatever it takes to sleep at night. Luck is random & most players go through goal scoring droughts. But something is seriously wrong in the perception of this discrepancy.
- Kevin R

As much as I appreciate Dougie trying to score, he almost never passes if has any semblance of an open lane. I agree, I would like to see a little more cycling of the puck in the offensive zone instead of launching any random puck at the net as far as the D goes.

Best D in the league

Todd Cordell: G81 Calgary Flames @ Winnipeg Jets: Five things to watch
- ToddCordellCGY

1. Shambles

read the article on tsn about the status of GG, he's DONE and going down in a burning ring of fire.

Good discussion on the last post - let's keep that going. To all those saying we were a top xGF/corsi team (which they clearly were) and that the problem was less on Gully... What is your guys' solution?

Prolific scorers aren't just gonna fall in our lap and most prospects (Foo aside) are likely not ready. This lineup isn't good enough despite the stats, finishers are definitely needed
- LittleBroDougie

There isn't a whole lot that really needs to be done. It's not unreasonable to expect Backlund, Frolik, Gio, Brodie, and Hamonic to shoot at or near their average next season. Their sh% is not a coaching problem. Last season they all scored at a normal rate under the same staff. If the bottom six can step up I wouldn't be surprised to see a 30+ bump in goals. Shore is a definite upgrade on Stajan. Versteeg should be out, and I'm on the fence with Brouwer. I don't mind him in a 4th line /pk role, but gg likes to overuse him which I don't like. Maybe he gets pressured from management, who knows.

Gaudreau/Monahan/Ho-sang
Tkachuk/Backlund/Frolik
Bennett/Shore/Ferland
Lazar/Jankowski/Foo
Brouwer

Same D

There isn't a whole lot that really needs to be done. It's not unreasonable to expect Backlund, Frolik, Gio, Brodie, and Hamonic to shoot at or near their average next season. Their sh% is not a coaching problem. Last season they all scored at a normal rate under the same staff. If the bottom six can step up I wouldn't be surprised to see a 30+ bump in goals. Shore is a definite upgrade on Stajan. Versteeg should be out, and I'm on the fence with Brouwer. I don't mind him in a 4th line /pk role, but gg likes to overuse him which I don't like. Maybe he gets pressured from management, who knows.

Gaudreau/Monahan/Ho-sang
Tkachuk/Backlund/Frolik
Bennett/Shore/Ferland
Lazar/Jankowski/Foo
Brouwer

Same D
- dr_soiledpants

Not sure where Ho-Sang comes from but I've heard and read that his character is even worse than Kane's was when he first came into the league. The most common theme is that he is the very definition of an uncoachable freelancer and doesn't play nice with teammates. Grain of salt? Maybe. But there must be some truth to the reports..

read the article on tsn about the status of GG, he's DONE and going down in a burning ring of fire.
- FlamesFan1230

is that what you gathered from that? When does Treliving ever say anything about anything? I wouldn't be shocked if gg gets fired, it's very typical for people to overreact in these situations.

Best D in the league
- Itsjustarash

Let's be modest here..

Easily 2nd best.

1. Shambles
- Nucker101

Down to one word trolling now..?!

We must really be poope...

read the article on tsn about the status of GG, he's DONE and going down in a burning ring of fire.
- FlamesFan1230

Could you post a link for us buddy?! I'm at work.

Not sure where Ho-Sang comes from but I've heard and read that his character is even worse than Kane's was when he first came into the league. The most common theme is that he is the very definition of an uncoachable freelancer and doesn't play nice with teammates. Grain of salt? Maybe. But there must be some truth to the reports..
- Flamin_Irishmin

He's a potential top 6 rw who could be on the market for the reason you stated. However if he can potentially score 30 goals, I'm not really concerned about that.

is that what you gathered from that? When does Treliving ever say anything about anything? I wouldn't be shocked if gg gets fired, it's very typical for people to overreact in these situations.
- dr_soiledpants

L.A. squeaked in. Do you think they have a lineup better than us?! Don't really think so. They do have an elite goaltender though. I get why GG could be fired, but for Christ franking sakes can we get a #1 goalie already. It really has been a joke since Kipper retired. A (frank)ing clown show really...

News from Chicago is Q is staying according to Bowman. Still has 2 or 3 years left at 6 mil.

So much for that boys..

Down to one word trolling now..?!

We must really be poope...
- Flamin_Irishmin

Western Canada is in shambles


We’re all broken

L.A. squeaked in. Do you think they have a lineup better than us?! Don't really think so. They do have an elite goaltender though. I get why GG could be fired, but for Christ franking sakes can we get a #1 goalie already. It really has been a joke since Kipper retired. A (frank)ing clown show really...
- Flamin_Irishmin

Kopitar is also having a career year. Next year he'll probably end up with at least 20 points less than he has now.

At this point I don't know where Tre could find a #1. I would've really liked to get Raanta last offseason.

Good discussion on the last post - let's keep that going. To all those saying we were a top xGF/corsi team (which they clearly were) and that the problem was less on Gully... What is your guys' solution?

Prolific scorers aren't just gonna fall in our lap and most prospects (Foo aside) are likely not ready. This lineup isn't good enough despite the stats, finishers are definitely needed
- LittleBroDougie

The solution is to not overreact to a bad year. Give the group as it is at least another half season before you make any major changes.

Ideally, they trade Brodie for decent prospects and use the money to sign one of the better UFAs.

read the article on tsn about the status of GG, he's DONE and going down in a burning ring of fire.
- FlamesFan1230

That headline was ridiculously misleading.

“I’m not getting into any of that,” said Treliving when asked on Gulutzan’s future with the team. “That’s an easy thing in sports to do – the first thing is to look at the coach. I think we’ve got a good coach.


That's pretty much GM speak for he's coming back next year. He's not going to 100% confirm it because of the season they had, but Gulutzan will be back unless something crazy happens.

That headline was ridiculously misleading.

“I’m not getting into any of that,” said Treliving when asked on Gulutzan’s future with the team. “That’s an easy thing in sports to do – the first thing is to look at the coach. I think we’ve got a good coach.


That's pretty much GM speak for he's coming back next year. He's not going to 100% confirm it because of the season they had, but Gulutzan will be back unless something crazy happens.
- Hunkulese

At least it sounds like BT is shouldering a lot of the responsibility. Good on him.

There isn't a whole lot that really needs to be done. It's not unreasonable to expect Backlund, Frolik, Gio, Brodie, and Hamonic to shoot at or near their average next season. Their sh% is not a coaching problem. Last season they all scored at a normal rate under the same staff. If the bottom six can step up I wouldn't be surprised to see a 30+ bump in goals. Shore is a definite upgrade on Stajan. Versteeg should be out, and I'm on the fence with Brouwer. I don't mind him in a 4th line /pk role, but gg likes to overuse him which I don't like. Maybe he gets pressured from management, who knows.

Gaudreau/Monahan/Ho-sang
Tkachuk/Backlund/Frolik
Bennett/Shore/Ferland
Lazar/Jankowski/Foo
Brouwer

Same D
- dr_soiledpants

That's the thing. The players were scoring last year under the exact same coaching staff playing the exact same system. So unless you're saying we got lucky last year the system isn't the issue, and to be honest any of you who claim we got lucky last year but refuse to accept that we could have been unlucky this year needs to think about a few things.

This season wasn't entirely bad luck. Goaltending was an issue after the all-star break and our depth certainly needed to be better, and there seems to be some kind of team chemistry/locker room issue that needs to be addressed, but we were still 3rd in the League in xGF. When you're that high up in that stat and still can't score, there is definitely some bad luck involved.

I really don't think we need to get all drastic here. Some shake ups to the locker room and adding a bit more scoring, but we really don't need to blow it all up or do anything major.

Gully is a good coach, and I think Tre knows that. That doesn't mean he won't get fired, in fact I think it's a 50/50 that he does, but I don't think that changes anything unless we solve the other problems this team has. Besides, who replaces him? Quenneville's staying in Chicago, and I'm not convinced any other coach who might get fired is an upgrade over Gully.

That headline was ridiculously misleading.

“I’m not getting into any of that,” said Treliving when asked on Gulutzan’s future with the team. “That’s an easy thing in sports to do – the first thing is to look at the coach. I think we’ve got a good coach.


That's pretty much GM speak for he's coming back next year. He's not going to 100% confirm it because of the season they had, but Gulutzan will be back unless something crazy happens.
- Hunkulese

That's what it sounds like to me, too. It sounds like Tre is taking a lot of responsibility himself and knows firing Gulutzan is probably an overrraction.

Firing the coach is the easy move, but that doesn't mean it's the right move. Tre seems willing to make the harder moves because they are the ones that are actually going to solve the problem.

That's the thing. The players were scoring last year under the exact same coaching staff playing the exact same system. So unless you're saying we got lucky last year the system isn't the issue, and to be honest any of you who claim we got lucky last year but refuse to accept that we could have been unlucky this year needs to think about a few things.

This season wasn't entirely bad luck. Goaltending was an issue after the all-star break and our depth certainly needed to be better, and there seems to be some kind of team chemistry/locker room issue that needs to be addressed, but we were still 3rd in the League in xGF. When you're that high up in that stat and still can't score, there is definitely some bad luck involved.

I really don't think we need to get all drastic here. Some shake ups to the locker room and adding a bit more scoring, but we really don't need to blow it all up or do anything major.

Gully is a good coach, and I think Tre knows that. That doesn't mean he won't get fired, in fact I think it's a 50/50 that he does, but I don't think that changes anything unless we solve the other problems this team has. Besides, who replaces him? Quenneville's staying in Chicago, and I'm not convinced any other coach who might get fired is an upgrade over Gully.
- Helios

If you look at last years numbers they were basically right where they should've been. They had some good luck at times, as well as bad luck at times. In the end they were pretty well even. In 2015 under Hartley, that was what I consider a lucky year.

If you look at last years numbers they were basically right where they should've been. They had some good luck at times, as well as bad luck at times. In the end they were pretty well even. In 2015 under Hartley, that was what I consider a lucky year.
- dr_soiledpants

Yeah same, which is kind of ironic because that's the year Hartley supporters use to say that Hartley was a better coach than Gulutzan is, but I digress. We were lucky that year and pretty unlucky this year. Looks like things are evening out.

Potential in the system?!
Foo
Mangiapane
Dube
Phillips
Gawdin
Klimchuck(?)

Andersson
Valimaki
Kilington
Wotherspoon(?)

A scoring 2nd line centre with pedigree would go a long long way in helping our team. Along with a RW. Don't know where we're going to get them tho..

Free agents for RW? Neal, JVR, Hornquist, Kane, Kovalchuck...
- Flamin_Irishmin

Never said we didn't have prospects - I said they weren't ready. And Foo aside, I stand by that. Klimmer is a depth player at this point.

Valimaki needs an AHL year, Kylington still has defensive miscues, and Wotherspoon will likely be let go (even though I agree he should be up while Brodie should be aimed for top6/1st round trade).

We need a RH shot. Kovalchuck is 100% not coming here while Hornqvist has been re-signed for 5. Slim pickings

There isn't a whole lot that really needs to be done. It's not unreasonable to expect Backlund, Frolik, Gio, Brodie, and Hamonic to shoot at or near their average next season. Their sh% is not a coaching problem. Last season they all scored at a normal rate under the same staff. If the bottom six can step up I wouldn't be surprised to see a 30+ bump in goals. Shore is a definite upgrade on Stajan. Versteeg should be out, and I'm on the fence with Brouwer. I don't mind him in a 4th line /pk role, but gg likes to overuse him which I don't like. Maybe he gets pressured from management, who knows.

Gaudreau/Monahan/Ho-sang
Tkachuk/Backlund/Frolik
Bennett/Shore/Ferland
Lazar/Jankowski/Foo
Brouwer

Same D
- dr_soiledpants

I agree with the SH% stat although even with 30 more goals I'd say we're still fighting for a playoff spot this late in the year. We need a pure sniper in the top-6.

Edit:

Where exactly is Ho-sang coming from? We have no draft pick assets and not sure the islanders will want anything less than a top prospect (Fox, Valimaki)

The solution is to not overreact to a bad year. Give the group as it is at least another half season before you make any major changes.

Ideally, they trade Brodie for decent prospects and use the money to sign one of the better UFAs.
- Hunkulese

That's a rarely beneficial tactic. It only works with teams like the pens a few years ago who had all-star potential with a bad coach.

I love Brodie so it'd be tough to see him go but if they can pull a top6 F/1st round pick I'd be pulling the trigger. I still feel as though Stone should leave before Brodie though