The Calgary Flames have finally hired a new coach in Glen Gulutzan, and it was the right choice for the franchise moving forward.
When the Calgary Flames fired head coach Bob Hartley, the fan-base was quite divided. Some people understood that Hartley wasn’t the right coach moving forward and a change was needed, while other fans were upset at their GM for firing a coach who had taken the Flames into the second round of the playoffs and was great for the development of youngsters like T.J. Brodie, and Sean Monahan.
The decision to fire Bob Hartley was a polarizing one, but even the most skeptical of Flames fans have to be somewhat mollified by the hiring of Glen Gulutzan, and particularly his press interviews since emerging as head coach of the Calgary Flames.
Intelligence.
Patience.
Charisma.
All traits that Glen Gulutzan personifies. The fact that Gulutzan highlighted the importance of puck-possession, but also stressed it should not be the deciding factor for determine player worth shows just how new-age thinking he is. One thing that I was worried about was the Flames hiring someone to get the Flames to play a heavy game. But how many times did Gulutzan mention truculence or hard-nosed style of play?
Zero.
Yet the one term frequently used by Gulutzan was speed. Gulutzan said he wanted the Flames to play a fast game, defending fast and transitioning fast. Anyone who followed the Pittsburgh Penguins journey to the Stanley Cup should know how important speed is in today’s game. Just ask the San Jose Sharks who looked a step slower than the Pens all series long, and just couldn’t keep up with the Pens.
Now the Flames could stand to get bigger, especially in hockey’s most physical division, the Pacific. But the fact is the Flames don’t have the personnel to play a heavy game, they are just too darn small. Credit Gulutzan for eluding to this by stating that the Flames need to use their strengths in their speed in his press interviews. Trying to get away from the fast and exciting game fans have been treated to these past few seasons would be disheartening for sure. So rest assured Flames fans, the old dump-and-chase style that puts fans to sleep isn’t coming back, not under Gulutzan’s watch.
Also important was Gulutzan’s wanting to build off his predecessor’s strengths in keeping the defence active and joining the rush. When the Flames interviewed coaches for the position, all the candidates praised the Flames and said how tough it was to defend against the Flames defenders jumping up in the rush, so getting rid of an active defence would only be counterintuitive.
The biggest thing Gulutzan hopes to change from his predecessor is defending. Gulutzan emphasized the importance of defending “connected”, meaning all five Flames players should be more alert and aggressive in their own end. Just this past season Calgary looked incredibly discombobulated defending, constantly leaving several players open in the slot, instead puck-watching more than the fans at the game.
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While Gulutzan did not go deep into the x’s and o’s of his strategies, the overall impression I get is that this man is very intelligent and is a natural teacher of the game. After all, he did get an education degree from the University of Saskatchewan. His ability to work with young players is arguably the biggest reason why he was hired, as he stressed the importance of developing the young players in the Flames organization several times. Don’t forget either that part of Gulutzan’s job in Vancouver was working exclusively to develop the young players for the Canucks.
One key difference between Hartley and Gulutzan was that Bob Hartley worked in a windshield factory and never played professional hockey, while Glen Gulutzan played in several pro leagues and actually studied teaching. Don’t get me wrong, I have always been a fan of Bob Hartley for his ability to grow the young stars of Calgary, but it was a little surprising to me to hear a question from Sportsnet reporter Roger Millions suggesting the veterans on the Flames were concerned that Sam Bennett’s potential was being squandered.
While I did criticize Bob Hartley’s power-play usage for failing to include offensive youngster’s Sam Bennett and Dougie Hamilton earlier in the year, I did not know the Flames players felt this way. Perhaps the fact that several players were concerned with Hartley’s treatment of Sam Bennett sheds more light into his departure as coach of the Flames.
Gulutzan also highlighted the importance of insulating young talent and growing them properly which is exactly what Flames fans wanted to hear. If Gulutzan is able to continue to grow and get the players to take the next step, then Calgary can become a playoff team next season. While Gulutzan says all the right things why believe him?
Despite seemingly coming off as an intelligent trustworthy coach, what evidence is there that he will actually do all the right things instead of just saying them? Even a horrible coach can tell people what they want to hear in a press conference.
The thing that separates Glen is the glowing endorsement he has gotten from everyone he has worked with. In the ECHL, Derek Engelland credited him for helping to develop him into an NHL defence-man, and Brent Krahn lauded the man for being a great coach who was hard when he needed to be. In the AHL, Gulutzan had super-star Jamie Benn who had nothing but positives to say about Glen.
Despite a forgettable tenure as head coach in Dallas, former GM Joe Nieuwendyk loved him, and said he would be a better coach next time around. Even in Vancouver where Gulutzan was an assistant, both coaches John Torterella and former assistant and recent Stanley Cup champion Mike Sullivan both spoke highly and remain friends to this day. If Gulutzan is anything like Mike Sullivan, then perhaps the Flames will look like geniuses after this hire.
Yes the question still remains as to whether or not Gulutzan will be a better coach this time around, but he has been very open about his failings in Dallas and said he has learned from them. The guy had never played in the NHL and was only two years removed from the ECHL when he was hired in Dallas.
Now, the man has five years of coaching experience in the NHL and should be much better this time around. So yes, Glen is saying the right things and everyone who has worked with him endorses him as well, but talk is cheap and despite the polarizing firing of head coach Bob Hartley, everyone should reserve the judgement until October.
Glen Gulutzan is seemingly the perfect fit for Calgary. His new-age approach and adaptability should be great especially when the NHL is always evolving. His emphasize on utilizing the team’s speed and mobile defence, while shoring up their defensive game is the perfect route to sustainable success for the Flames.
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Actions speak louder than words, and Gulutzan will have a lot to prove in the NHL, but nobody should get too high or too low on Gulutzan until actual games are played in October. However, there is reason for cautious optimism as the Flames have seemingly checked off all the boxes for a head coach in Gulutzan. As for him having success as the head coach of the Calgary Flames, I wouldn’t bet against him.