FLAMES TRIVIA | FLAMES AUDIO | FLAMES DIRECTORY | Peter Maher's Blog | Mike Rogers's Blog | Bryn's Blog | Pat's Blog
“We didn’t come close.” Those were the words of Calgary Flames Head Coach Brent Sutter following a 9-1 loss at the hands of the San Jose Sharks on Monday night. And Calgary didn’t come close in their most lopsided loss in almost 4 years.
This one started bad and spiralled out of control, and there’s not really a whole lot else to say. Brent was at a loss for words following the game, because it’s clear we’re not talking about a coaching issue with this team. In fact, that’s the most resounding thing I got from this atrocity…Calgary let it happen, and never showed any resolve to try and make it stop. In a huge game, the Flames had an opportunity to step up and answer the bell. Instead, they showed no emotion from the get go and were embarassed in another “rock bottom” game.
I firmly and 100% believe that Brent Sutter is the right guy to coach this hockey team. The problem with this team is not the coaching, it’s not the system, it’s not the X’s and O’s if you will. Right now, you have to wonder if the message is getting through. Sutter and the coaching staff have a very clear message…but is that message being embraced? That’s what you need to ask at this point…and clearly we don’t have the answer.
In fact, the questions will be plentiful…but the problem is, if the coaching staff doesn’t have the answers at this point, how can anyone else? Is it a good thing or a bad thing this team has 72 hours until they play the (NHL best) Chicago Blackhawks? Not sure…Mike Rogers said a good thing, so I’ll defer to him. But in my opinion, it’s on the Flames to make sure it’s a good thing.
Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Steinberg960.
Hey Pat i really do not envey you tonight. Just remember that you do an awesome job and i listen to your show all the time and its sure not your fault that our flames are not so hot right now. I am a diehard flames fan for the last 20yrs and i have noticed that does not matter what happens flames fans seem to never be happy. Keep up the great work. Joe
PS: Hey Joe, thanks for the comments…I understand that people get angry after something like this, and it’s easy to harp on me as I had been positive leading up to this. I get that and I have no problem with it.
- JoeI hurt inside. All the people on the air are being a bit ridiculous. It is a crappy loss. This team is soooo good when they work hard. They can do it can’t they? I really really really want them to. Where have all the hardhats gone?
PS: That’s the thing, is that yeah…they can do it when they work hard and stick with it. But there’s something that keeps them from doing that on a consistent basis. Which is why Flames nation has far less hair this season.
- Rylan Bennettwere just playing bad hockey right now Brent sutter is the right guy in here, people just need to relax were only 4 points out of top spot in northwest division. Last year everyone wanted to trade kipper, we’ll bounce back.
PS: They have bounced back this season Ryan, the only thing is…this is the 4th time that Calgary has hit a low this year. They’ve bounced back, and then the same thing keeps happening.
- RyanI refer back to what Darryl said last summer. This is a hard team to coach. I have 2 questions regarding that comment. WHY is it a hard team to coach, and SHOULD IT be this hard to coach this team?
I agree Pat, it is not the coaches, it is not the system. We’ve had 4 different coaches since the lock-out but every year we have the same inconsistency and the same aggravation. We’ve changed coaches multiple times, we’ve changed the “support” players numerous times…it’s time to point to the core/long term players. And I don’t mean single out one or two guys. People have been all over Iggy and Dion but I think the core as a group needs to hold themselves accountable and need to get their acts together.
Take a close look, we are 2 points out of 9th place. We’ve said making the play-offs just isn’t good enough anymore. Right now, we’re barely in the play-off race. What happens if we miss??
PS: WHY it’s so hard to coach them is the million dollar question. SHOULD it be this hard is a really good question Bob…and my answer would be no, it shouldn’t be this hard. But for whatever reason it is.
- Bob in the AbbeyOver and over we may say its not the coaches or the system these past few years. However, we have to admit other teams are adapting to this new nhl alot faster then we are. A team so talented and so deep are playing like an 8th place team????? NO! its not Jarome, Kipper, Oli, Dioin, Reger, Bouwmester…Have you ever heard a kid say “one day I want to grow up and play on the most defensive team in the nhl”????? NO!!! This is why are system isn’t working. I truely believe if kids did say “I want to play on the most defensive team in the nhl” then our system would work.Cheers, I listen to the fan all the time. Josh
PS: Thanks Josh. All I’ll say is watch what happens when Calgary actually executes what the coaching staff wants them to do. That’s when all the talent and the make up of this team shines through. It’s not a matter of can they, it’s a matter of will they.
- JoshThis is not the first embarrassing loss this year! its the THIRD! (with a couple more on the bubble)….there is SOMETHING wrong in that room…we’ve seen some ABSOLUTELY dominant play at times this year …well maybe a couple in my book. These include the very first period of the season vs. the Canucks, (i missed the last Flames/Canucks games, so I cant comment)and the first period last week vs. the Avalanche – the flames came out hard, with edge and a chip on their shoulder, they were going to push the other team right out of the building! but it didnt last!
ANGRY TOUGH and MEAN – maybe THAT’s the culture they should be trying to impose on that team – that’s the Flames reputation around the league, but it wont be long before word gets out — that seems to be in the past!
PS: By my count it’s the fourth, maybe the fifth time Rob. I hear ya. It seems like yes, there is an issue in the locker rooom, and yes it needs to be worked out. I don’t know how you do that but if this team is going to stay together in it’s current form, it’s clear that a solution will have to be found.
- robIf this team doesn’t show an improved work ethic in the next two weeks I want to see a big name moved and I don’t care who it is…….pick one……..I just want to see heads roll and I don’t want it to be the coaches.
Is there any way we can get rid of some the dead weight on the team in a trade for Jamie Langenbrunner? Love to see Darryl/Brent pull a couple of Devil’s players over here. They seem to understand the concept of ‘work’.
Oh, and is there a way to get a backup goalie in the same process?? Our backup is incapable of being consistent, so we need a veteran goalie we can rely on.
PS: First off, why would NJ trade Langenbrunner? But I get your point. Look, to me it’s not 1 player though. If this is a team issue, or if this is a core issue…you can’t trade the whole team, you can’t trade the whole core. Yes, I think a trade helps this team…BUT it doesn’t mean that trade cures all, and it doesn’t mean whatever this issue is or these issues are can be ignored.
- DarrenSorry Pat I do not listen to your show. I just find you the master of the understatement and the team defenfer. Why do you have defend them? Actually this blog to day was going to be the best you have written or spoken on the show up untill you ask is the message being embraced. Come Pat! If you don’t know the answer to that then there is no hope for you! The fact of the matter is that this club does not have the talent level up front that the GM would have you believe.
PS: Mike, I’ll take you to task on that. Fine, you don’t listen to Overtime, fair enough…give me some straight up examples when I’m a “team defender”. Fact of the matter is, I don’t defend the team…I call it like I see it. I don’t spin things so that it’s positive, I speak or write my true opinion. So, that means yes, I do believe this team can play with any team in this league when they do what they’re supposed to. That does NOT mean I believe this team WILL do what it’s supposed to each and every night…it’s clear that’s a big challenge right now. And if you listened, which you don’t, you’d have heard me said…Jarome Iginla needs to step it up, Olli Jokinen needs to show that he belongs on this team, Robyn Regehr seems a step behind, David Moss needs to start producing. How is that defending the team I ask?
- mike kellyHow many times do these players need to be prodded into to playing with a sense of urgency? Too many times this season this team has had to be publically “called out”. You are not seeing the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Black Hawks having to be “called out” regularly for poor play. While it may be too difficult for a trade(s), what about sitting guys like David Moss, D.Boyd, Regher and Saarich and call up the likes of M.Pelech, J.Negrin, M.Backlund and J.Jaffray?
PS: You’re right Glen, a coach sometimes can only call out his team so many times. The same way I bet a coach can only yell at a team so many times. As for the sitting guys, calling guys up thing…it’s more complicated than that with 1 way contracts and stuff. But even if it wasn’t, it’s not going to fix everything…there’s an issue, and getting to the bottom of that has to be the main thrust in my eyes.
- GlenThis team has supposedly been built around a core. I think it is time to look at the core. It seems to be rotten.
Pick one, it really doesn’t matter but let’s start at the top with Iggy. When the Flames went to the Cup, you could tell when he came to play. He wanted the puck, he wanted to bang the opposition out of the rink. Sadly, and not just this year, Iggy has failed to show up let alone skate hard or take the body.
For another, there is Dion. Here is the most overpaid and overrated player who plays with such a lack of urgency it is just mind numbing.
The core is rotten and all we have to look at is another early exit from the playoffs.
Great, just great.
PS: First off, there’s no question the captain needs to man up and step up. He hasn’t scored in 7 games, he has 1 point in 8 games. For the teams best player, that needs to change. And the way he’s playing needs to be ramped up…to me, I’m not seeeing that intensity that we’ve come to know. If it is a core issue, that’s great, so that’s identified…but you can’t just trade the whole thing. Sure you can make changes, subtract a player here, add a player there. But push comes to shove, you still have to take care of business inside that locker room, which is why a trade is not a cure all.
- TerryI keep hearing about consistency but the only thing consistent is the fact that everytime the flames make a mistake it ends up in the back of our net while on the other hand when other teams make mistakes we do not capitalize on it with the same regularity. Really enjoy your afterhours show, don’t let it get to you, we need to be able to vent with this team. Stay strong.You are by far the best person to have on this show to hear us out. Amazing restaint. Thank you for that. Ron
PS: Hey Ron, I make sure it doesn’t get to me…I understand the nature of the beast and I enjoy hearing guys vent, I enjoy arguing and discussing, and I enjoy defending myself if need be. To me, the consistency thing comes from something else…because when you’re playing consistently, even if a mistake ends up in the back of your net, you still stick with it and you’re able to stay in hockey games and not let something like that snowball into something larger.
- ron (billyboy)Well People are saying trade this fire that and i don’t blame them. As a fan it’s nice to live a world that simple, but in the REAL world doesn’t work like that.
1. Brent Sutter- isn’t and SHOULDN’t go anywhere. His system will work, and I think even he knows some of the guys wont work.
2. Dion and Regeher. It’s time for the media and Flames brass to stop pretending there are no issues with these two. If they don’t want to play with each other, then split them or trade one. I know sounds stupid, but yesterday clearly shows these two wont work as a unit.
3. Conroy was a minus 5. No I am not going to blame him for the 9-1 loss but it’s clear his time is near.
4. Number one Center- To bad they don’t grow on trees but the Jokinen trade as backfired.
I am sick of Darryl Sutter’s ongoing “this is a tough team to coach”, crap.
They’ve changed coaches, bag skated, called out, blah blah blah, now it’s time to bench players. I mean BENCH for a game. IF that doesn’t work get players who want to be here. It’s not a simple matter of just trading Dion, there are more issues than that here.
Getting a new back up won’t help with the secondary scoring.
PS: And Bill, Brent Sutter has said numerous times this has nothing to do with systems or structure. So, yeah, clearly it’s something else. As for the Dion-Regehr thing, I’m not going to speculate on that, because I feel it’s unfair for a guy not in the locker room and not even at practice every day (me, I can’t due to the job) to really chime in on that. As for benching players, sure, it might help…but it’s not going to fix everything.
- billI sent an emai to Rob Kerr and the fan960 at the end of last seasons first round loss to the Hawks. It was read over the air by Rob and quickly dismissed.
In it I stated that I felt Iginla is no where near the superstar the common fan feels that he is. It’s my opinion that he as Captain of the Flames along with his core group of player is not capable of winning a Cup.
That is my own personal opinion, I’m tired of blaming coaches. Firing the head coach in any sport is a cop out in my opinion.
Before the season started I really wondered if this team would even make the playoffs. Personally i’d rather see them miss and make major changes instead of the same old same old of a first round loss and coaching change.
PS: Hey Jerry. All I can say on the Iginla front is yes, no question, this guy has got to man up and be the driving force on this team. He’s not producing and, to me, he hasn’t shown the Iginla intensity we’re used to. He needs to bring that back. I think Iginla is still a good captain, but if the issues eluded to include him (which they very likely do), he’s not exempt from having to look in the mirror and change those things.
- JerryHey Pat,
Big fan of Fan 960 and your Overtime call-in show. Keep up the great work… even in these depressing times for the Flames.
One thing I’d like to get your thoughts on. Every off-season, the Flames get a guy (either via trade or Free Agency) that is destined to put them “over the top”. We’ve heard this with respect to Cammy, Bouwmeester, and Jokinen, among others. Yet, year after year, the Flames are out in the first round of the playoffs.
Would it be wiser for the Flames to focus on depth, as opposed to the “quick hit” player? If you look at the top NHL teams today, their depth is solid.
Zal
- ZalIt sure would have been nice to have the option to call up THEO and see what he could do.
- Blair FairleyI would agree with Terry. It’s time to first, start benching some core players and if that doesn’t help them, then it’s time to start looking for a trading partner for them. I don’t see what benching players like Boyd, Moss etc. is going to do….they’re already getting minimal ice time. 3rd and 4th line players are NOT the problem. It’s time to shake up the “core”.
- Darren