Calgary Flames: The Four Stages Of Glen Gulutzan
By Ramina Shlah
Third Stage: Gulutzan For Jack Adams
December is always extremely kind to the Calgary Flames or extremely cruel. There is never an in-between. They never go like 6-4-1. No. It’s either 9-2-1 or 3-7-1. And thankfully this season, it was looking to be more like the first one.
The Flames won their first game in December against the Minnesota Wild on December 2nd. And then they won against their enemies, the Anaheim Ducks in an insane 8-3 win. Where they scored five goals in six minutes. Thanks to the return of Johnny Gaudreau. They went perfect in December, going 5-0-0 in their first five games. The only team in the Western conference to do so. They also at that point were on a six-game win streak and a seven-game point streak. They managed to climb their way up to first in the Pacific division for about a day. Even some players who were struggling earlier (cough cough Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan cough cough) were now on some point streaks of their own.
Suddenly, all the conversations around Gulutzan’s name had completely turned around. Instead of “Can Gulutzan!” it was now “Gulutzan for coach of the year!” Pretty crazy turn of events, hey?
Like I mentioned earlier, he really credited the players a lot for being patient with him and sticking with his system. That’s the way Gulutzan usually likes to coach. He picks a system and sticks with it and eventually, things will turn around. Let’s just hope that works this season.
I mean personally, even if the Flames do end up making the playoffs, I still don’t think we’ll hear his name as a nominee for the Jack Adams award. The Flames have been very up and down all season. They’ve probably been one of the least consistent teams this season, and something that earns coaches a Jack Adams award, is consistency.
However, the Flames were on a roll in every way and fans were now ecstatic. For about a week…