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What’s most curious about the timing here is it’s coming off Treliving making these comments after being asked if his desire to add to his top 9 has changed: “That’s still an area, if you look at our group and the way it has performed, another forward in that top 9 group is something we could use. Whether that’s internal or external is yet to be seen.” obviously that last sentence is what stands out. from this interview

Since being put back together Mang-Backs and Coleman have been excellent. He is in the right spot to find his game. I don’t agree with the idea of demoting players who are working hard it’s just not going for them at the moment. Put them in positions to be successful.

I see a player trying to hard, getting a bit snake bit and then getting away from his game. I’m sure he feels pressure to live up to his contract and get the goals but what made Mang Mang was his play away from the puck. That is what led to his opportunities and it’s why I don’t think last year was a mirage, it was the culmination of a building career. He has gotten away from that this year though and j don’t see the same consistency in his play away from the puck. he needs to get back to that player. The goals will come if he plays that style but if he focuses only on offense his value drops. I think he’ll figure it out, and I don’t think a situation like this is all that surprising after a player gets his first big contract.

I actually stopped muting your posts a while ago. Just don't engage for reasons like this exchange. And again your last paragraph is exactly what i'm saying and is what is ridiculous for me. I did not infer that fans can't place accountability, YOU did. Why would I suggest that fans can't place accountability? Of course they can and in hockey in particular who you would want to hold accountable would provide good discussion. Instead you infer something that has nothing to do with my post, get your digs in at the GM and then take the discussion in a meaningless way and then on top of that make suggestions about me that are not true. I criticize plenty and have plenty of posts that outline accountability but again you do you. To get this back on track and spell it out. The purpose of the post was to point out that while the play of the d core hasn't always been great, I think when you are not great at defending the blueline (which is a job for more than just the d core) you create more opportunity for chances. How you defend the blueline is in part player driven but mostly driven by systems/coaching philosophy as well. I do think it's been trending in a better direction in the second quarter of the season and I will be interested to see where it goes.

Which is not even remotely what I said. The post clearly says it is not completely fair to focus only on the individual members of the d core when there is data that points to a system/team issue as well. This is exactly the problem. You draw weird conclusions to people's post (in most cases try to make claims that are no where near what they are saying) and then pretty much always find a way to blame the GM for it. It provides zero value, no space for discussion and just winds up you crapping on every thread by turning it into a some stupid negative rant about something that often isn't even the point. Its just such a waste of time and blocks potential for good discussion but you do you. Just going to see less of me around. Just not worth it anymore.

Yup crazy advanced stats like how often a team carries in over a blueline vs being denied entry. So advanced.... No wonder there is no good discussion happening on this place. Just full of negativity and complaining. Pretty sad honestly.

This illustrates why I think the focus on the actual defenders, in terms of evaluation, isn't compeltely fair. A big reason why, IMO, the Flames are giving up more chances and goals is this. They were very good at this last year and now a bit below avg this year. This is the systematic change I don't/didn't understand. Now I think it's starting to change to be interesting to see how this goes but it's tough for me to harp on the individual defenders when as a team, they are giving up the blueline too easily.

He isn't in the CHL but more acolades for the last draft class. December has been a kind month for Flames prospects

I agree with the coach on this one

Might be more intrigue to their last draft class than I first thought

I'm actually pretty happy with how the Flames are playing at 5 on 5 and on the PK right now honestly. They've found more pace to them game, D are activating more and I think it's not the passive appraoch we saw earlier in the year. I think the biggest area for improvement is continuing to cut down the goals against. Due to breakdowns and small details they are still giving up a bit too much for my liking but I do like the trend. The scoring for me comes down to 3 things: 1. Fix your PP. I'm still not sure what the Flames want to accomplish on the PP. Puzzling how they were so good to start the year, made your feel like they were going to be real good and now they look lost. 2. Need your scorers to start scoring. I think the chances are there and the volume of quality is generally pretty decent. These guys got to start putting the puck in the net. I don't think there is an issue with the system or style of play here. 3. Non optimal lineup. I agree, Flames need more skill in their lineup and they need more speed/skill in the top 9. I can appreciate that Lucic is consistently in the right spot and I can also appreciate how that is important to players like Huberedeau and Kadri. But it's awfully hard to expect those guys to put up consistently good offensive numbers, or expect them to be a good offensive line if you are putting a player with him who hands are gone and wasn't a great distributer to begin with.

The problem with Phaneuf was the process. The Flames had full control where he went and he should have been shopped to the highest bidder, but all indications are he wasn't. If you are going to deal an asset like Phaneuf, especially given his age at the time, you better get some future pieces. As much as you can give Treliving flak for going after older players in Huberdeau and Weegar, he deserves credit for insisting some future pieces were in the deal too. Sutter, in his own words, dealt Phaneuf because he didn't like tying up cap space in 1 player he wanted to spread it out. He traded a star for depth so if the goal was to compete one last time he was using the wrong logic. He also didn't stick to his price. Burke break down the negotiation in his book and Burke was the one who asked for Keith Aulie in the deal. Sutter said no way and they stalled, to the point where Burke's staff was actually getting mad at him that he was going to lose the deal over Keith Freaking Aulie. The next day Sutter called back and said deal. Which highlights to me a big difference between the two. Sutter's downfall started when he started targeting the wrong players. I don't see that in Treliving right now. The Panthers have dealt away 3 straight years of first found picks. Now they did protect them against being top 10 picks but that is an extremely odd move for a team to make if they were ok with losing a year.

More accolades for Wolf. Surprise, surprise

If the argument is Treliving is like sutter becaue they are both dealing future for now that's overly simplistic IMO. Be a challenge to find a GM in the league who isn't sacrificing future for winning now if that is their mandate. I woudln't even criticize Sutter for that. I think if you look at the players who are being acquired it's a big difference between the two. I mean just look at the Phaneuf and Tkachuk trades.

The cut off for signing with a team and still being eligible to play the season ot playoffs is for players who are playing over in Europe. So I’m the case of Nylander and ROR this came into effect because they both went to Europe and played and for the flames that obviously does not apply here. Kylington is different because he is under contract. No rules, other than having cap and roster space, would prevent him at coming back anytime. With Coronato the flames could sign him after his season, he can’t sign during, and he would be eligible for playoffs. You can sign a player off your reserve list at anytime and their eligible is not affected, provided they didn’t go to Europe as i mentioned earlier.

in what way?

I’m fairness to Burke he hired Treliving and did a lot to change to perception of the flames. Flames were a league laughing stock under Feaster and Burke put a stop to that. It’s also my understanding that Burke pushed the owners to give Treliving more autonomy in his last deal. but call me skeptical that any group of people who thought Jay feaster was a good choice as GM is going to go and find a GM better than Treliving. He’s got flaws sure and he’s made mistakes but the flames could do so so much worse and I’m not actually sure they could do better. I’d put Treliving in the upper half of GMs in the league so your fishing in a pretty small pond to do better imo. A chance sure but it’s small given that the top GMs arnt likely going anywhere. as I’ve said many times if your main complaint about Treliving is he deals too many picks or that he won’t do a tank style rebuild then I don’t think you’d like any replacement GM. Initiatives like that come from ownership, especially in Calgary based on everything I’ve been led to believe.

Wranglers are the number 1 team in the AHL right now. Backing up a good season from last year with a better one. impressive. Mitch Love is going to start to get NHL interest as early as this offseason I would imagine. If not this off-season it’s likely coming soon.

think you have to at this point. He is what he is imo. Overal he is a good dman just not great. Happy new year all. Wishing you all the best in 2023

Really nice to see Weegar get rewarded with a goal. He’s been excellent for the last month or so and the chances have been coming. I think that will open things up for him in the points department

Didn’t love the 3rd period. Thought the flames coasted a little and weren’t as sharp in the details. Still overal a pretty solid game. Bad bounce on the 1st Canucks goal and then a poor play by Hanifin on the 2nd or the flames win this one comfortably. it would be nice to see them start to win a few comfortably

I’m not personally of the opinion there is tension between BT and Sutter but I will admit it’s long been whispered behind the scenes. I’m still not 100% convinced Sutter was BT’s hire. It is fairly well known that Sutter stayed close with Murray Edwards so it’s not they difficult for me to see a scenario where Sutter has more influence than the avg coach given that relationship. You see it come up from time to time especially in development. Sutter and BT almost talk a different language when it comes to how they want to see players developed. but I do agree that Salim is expanding on that and trying to fit it into his narrative. I will still be very surprised if he does but I guess what I’m getting at it I don’t think if he we’re to leave it likely be because he wants to and not because ownership doesn’t want him around. but I’m in the camp that he’s very good at what he does and he should stay. I’d be hard pressed to believe the flames would hire someone better.

I agree 100% with what connundrumed just said and just to add that the Wideman effect doesn't make sense to me given the fact that the Flames were amongst the lowest penalized teams in the league last year. Really no such thing as good officiating, in any league honestly.

Accuse me of slating and then go on and slant yourself. Yup feels about right. Also no reason to just be negative for the sake of negative but that is what you do. I didn't call Rasmus a Norris Candidate I said he is a dark horse. He obvious has to continue this but he's in good company and if his play continues I expect him to get votes which makes him a candidate. 5th in ice time, 11in expected goals, 16th in points, avg to above avg in almost all shot metrics stats. He'll get consideration if he keeps that up but no where did I say finalist or winner, you inferred that. Also never said Weegar was one of the best defensive players in the league. i said he has been one of the best transition players in the league over the last 20 games. he's top 3 in the league in Corsi, Fenwick and Shots for % top 15 in expected goals against too at 5 on 5. And as of Dec 17th Tanev and Weegar were one of the best pairings in the league in expected goals against. To be fair, and to check myself, they've slipped to 12th. Tanev injuries are for sure less than ideal, so is the fact that he's older and a key leader on the D. No one here would suggest the Flames d looks great long term but it's the decision they've made and unlike you I see no value in discussing in every thread/post that I think the future isn't good. I don't find value in that given I have no say in how the team is run. Right now, I think there are things worth celebrating on the D core and things that they need to fix. Any other conclusions you are drawing on your own.

As part of a 2023 predictions column for TSN Salim Vaji (TSN beat reporter for the Flames) includes one of his "bold predications" is that Treliving won't be back as GM after the season. Speculates he could see him go to Toronto. It's his own opinion and he does go on to say this isn't what he's hearing but rather speculation. Feels it's strange the Flames extended Sutter but didn't extend Treliving. Also makes some suggestions around Sutter's ties to ownership and the appearance that Treliving/Sutter may not see eye to eye. While I think there is truth to the last statement I'm still seeing this as unlikely. I think the ownership group really likes Treliving so I would be surprised to see them let him go. On the other hand it's been long rumored that Treliving has been fighting for autonomy so if he feels Sutter being here infringes on that maybe he would prefer to leave. He'd have suitors no doubt in my mind. Anyway don't shoot the messenger I'm just sharing the article. I would say it would be an absolute disaster if the Flames have any plans on Sutter being the GM or having any power like that again. (I still think that is unlikely because even Darryl himself has admitted he didn't really enjoy the GM job)