Yup. It was hilarious on the radio listening to the guys on the Fan talking about how their twitters mentions had blown up around the lineup with Bennett dropped to the 4th... Everyone knew it was a dumb move for a litany of reasons.

Doesn't change the fact that the team failed to show up in the 4 games with Vancouver and were lucky to escape with 4 of 8 points in that mini-series. Vancouver was a team who had just had their asses handed to them and were at their lowest point in the last 2 years and they RAN over the Flames. That's on the players just as much as it is Ward, but I honestly wonder if he's just lost the room, or whether he ever had it to begin with. Jumping from the assistant to head coaching role rarely translates - they are just much different roles.

Ward preaches that there's no consistency and yet he can't land on a line combination for more than about 12 minutes.
- rmull905

You nailed it!

At a time when the Flames were supposed to put a nail in the Canucks' coffin, it very nearly turned out the other way around, and very well may as the Flames continue to spiral out of hope for even making the playoffs. There's no way they can play the way they do and have any hope of making the playoffs. And it's not even like they're tanking to get a generational player, since there aren't any prospects who remotely resemble that in this draft.

I'd like more details about the POM...don't think I heard any players' take on it besides the Andersson interview.

You nailed it!

I'd like more details about the POM...don't think I heard any players' take on it besides the Andersson interview.
- WrySatyr

The rumbling was that Tkachuk was pissed that no one really stepped up when Muzzin flipped the puck at him. I watched that unfold and the guys on the ice had started back to the bench before that happened, and they did come back and get in the mix, but weren't overly physical. I don't think they knew what had happened and thought he was just mixing it up.

There was apparently a response from some guys along the lines of "We get it, but it can't be a riot every game".

That's true too, it can't be a riot every night. But these guys can't just skate around like they are half asleep and ignore every confrontational moment either. Tells me that there are a bunch of other guys who won't fight to win the mile much less the inch. If the rumours are true anyways.

Tkachuk has been an absolutely different guy since that game though, no questions.

There are 3 moments that tell me something's off:
1) Lindholm gets elbowed. Tkachuk finds Edler and has a little chat with him about it. No one else does or says a thing. They left Lindholm to go back after Edler.
2) Valimaki gets hit pretty dangerously by Juolevi last night. This kid has just been put on PP1 and your first pairing. Gio does nothing. Lucic did nothing on his next shift.
3) At 5-1, that is normally when I would expect the physicality to step up. No one did anything. That's Chucky time. Not dirty dangles Chucky. Run the goalie Chucky. And he didn't get in one guys face in any real way.

In my view, again, if rumours are true, he heard the team and he's backed off. To the point where it looks like "You don't want me to do it anymore, go do it yourself." And no one is stepping up. He'd be right in thinking no one has his back.

If Saturday isn't a dirty, nasty game, I think this team is in trouble this year. This was a potential season making series and they blew it. And blew the last game - in the worst way possible. A (frank)ing four on one to seal it.

The funny thing is as bad as we all think they are, they’re 3 points out of 2nd.

The funny thing is as bad as we all think they are, they’re 3 points out of 2nd.
- Chuckywhip

Yeah maybe we hand Edmonton a couple losses and then they want to fire their coach.

Rmull905 - thanks for enlightening me.

The funny thing is as bad as we all think they are, they’re 3 points out of 2nd.
- Chuckywhip

90% thanks to markstrom. If we ran with rittich/talbot we would probably be last in the division right now

90% thanks to markstrom. If we ran with rittich/talbot we would probably be last in the division right now
- RedC21

Fair

I'd rather Gulutzan than Ward. He doesn't instill confidence in anyone, and truthfully, that translates to Treliving. Really, what homerun personnel hires has he enjoyed? Free agents? Markstrom maybe, but my dead grandmother could have signed him so... Todd Button has done a great job drafting talent in later rounds, so at least we have that.

I don't know anymore. I'm starting to feel like a Leaf fan.

The question is, when does Tre get fired.

Yeah maybe we hand Edmonton a couple losses and then they want to fire their coach.
- DuranDuran

There’s the spirit!!

The question is, when does Tre get fired.
- FlamesFan1230

Yup! There’s the answer! I try to like you but fck you make it hard!

Make some actual line changes ... and not tossing ahl players on your top line ...split up Johnny and monny

Johnny lindholm mang
Thachuk monny Bennett
Lucic backs dube
Don’t (frank)ing care

Make some actual line changes ... and not tossing ahl players on your top line ...split up Johnny and monny

Johnny lindholm mang
Thachuk monny Bennett
Lucic backs dube
Don’t (frank)ing care
- Redmile247

How dare you come in here with common sense.

Make some actual line changes ... and not tossing ahl players on your top line ...split up Johnny and monny

Johnny lindholm mang
Thachuk monny Bennett
Lucic backs dube
Don’t (frank)ing care
- Redmile247

I actually think that combination could work. Not going to happen...but I like it. Plug whatever skilled youth we have on the 4th line.

Make some actual line changes ... and not tossing ahl players on your top line ...split up Johnny and monny

Johnny lindholm mang
Thachuk monny Bennett
Lucic backs dube
Don’t (frank)ing care
- Redmile247

Stop giving rational advice... our coach doesn't understand that

The question is, when does Tre get fired.
- FlamesFan1230

I can't see it happening. Owners probably love the guy. To his credit, He has managed some big shakeups before via trades, but his coaching hires have been adventurous.

SeaGul, BilltheThrill, CancerWard all have winning records, believe it or not, but regular-season competence without playoff success isn't good enough around these parts. We Fans are blood-thirsty for an '04 type run.

We need a major shakeup. Can't tell anyone what that looks like though.

Stop giving rational advice... our coach doesn't understand that
- hockey4hockey

He's revolutionizing the sport, instead of 4 lines? One fluid line.

If Eichel wants out and the Flames aren't throwing everything they got at him then this franchise is committed to mediocrity.

Trade Monny, a top prospect, a B prospect, and a first and get. it. done.

I can't see it happening. Owners probably love the guy. To his credit, He has managed some big shakeups before via trades, but his coaching hires have been adventurous.

SeaGul, BilltheThrill, CancerWard all have winning records, believe it or not, but regular-season competence without playoff success isn't good enough around these parts. We Fans are blood-thirsty for an '04 type run.

We need a major shakeup. Can't tell anyone what that looks like though.
- Misterbator

I like Tre but his coaching and goalie decisions (prior to this year) have been questionable.

I would say that the big problem with this team is that they built around JG and SM. Both of which were here before he was.

Make some actual line changes ... and not tossing ahl players on your top line ...split up Johnny and monny

Johnny lindholm mang
Thachuk monny Bennett
Lucic backs dube
Don’t (frank)ing care
- Redmile247

Ward should have done this line up in say game 3. This is tra’s fuk up hiring an assistant coach as a head coach! This will be a wasted year gaudreau mony lindholm mang Lucic (dube) ( Bennett) Anderson taniv hannifin vali of course markstrom are all having descent seasons. And the coach can’t work with that!! Ward is the problem he is the one having a bad season. Players aren’t eating what he Is serving.

I like Tre but his coaching and goalie decisions (prior to this year) have been questionable.

I would say that the big problem with this team is that they built around JG and SM. Both of which were here before he was.
- DuranDuran

Can't argue with that. JG and Mony are still productive, but if it's a chemistry thing in terms of team culture then yeah, something has to give.

Johnny has some good value now, perhaps smart to cash in on that?

How dare you come in here with common sense.
- K-man25

Lol right ?!

But we all know if line up changes do occur it will be to reunite lines from 2 years ago

I actually think that combination could work. Not going to happen...but I like it. Plug whatever skilled youth we have on the 4th line.
- Misterbator

Johnny and lindholm have chemistry and mang is a guy who I believe can hop on sky line and succeed. Monny tkachuk and Bennett actually played a game or two together a couple years back when injuries forced it and they looked alright ... if lucic and dube can have success between Bennett than why not backs ...the 4th line doesn’t play much anyways so rotate 3-5 guys on that line each night bringing someone new into the lineup if the line struggled the night before

I got laughed at by a certain poster (who seems to think everything is just peachy) when I said this exact thing over the summer.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...yxSlJqFnXuRVAFJQS_u9UWbdg

I've mentioned (as well) the past couple playoff exits that these guys are not the guys and something is seriously wrong in the room. I was told to step back from the ledge . Welcome to the ledge folks!

Think about this team's massive playoff disintegrations. One little thing goes wrong, and poof the Flames implode. We do not have a winning team --- we barely have a team at all. I think the thing that burns me the most is I used to really like Gio, but clearly he is part of the problem.

Mackey back in, Nesty out.