The bad, the ugly, and the uglier

Yes, I have to keep a professional attitude while writing about this team. The Flames are very hard to watch right now. There are not very many things to be positive about right now. The forwards have sticks of stone. The defence is trying too much to pitch in, leaving their team vulnerable down at the other end. The Flames goalies are failing to make the big save when the team needs it the most.  Of course, the goalie tandem has all the pressure on their shoulders, due to the offence having gone dry. 

Everyone knows the Flames are having trouble scoring, including the goalies.  This leads to the goalies being afraid to make a mistake, and inevitably making mistakes because no one is perfect. When there is an awful goal, the team lacks the confidence to overcome the error.

It's easy to blame the top-six forwards. They are not doing their job.  Gaudreau, Lindholm, and Monahan look lost. The trio is struggling with the puck, fighting for control every time they touch it. The lack of communication is an issue. They don't know where the others are when passing the puck. Most concerning is their lack of effort to get back to the zone. In the second line, Tkachuck has no support. Backlund and Frolic are being asked to be what they are not. Backlund and Frolic are excellent third-line players. 

The coach's primary responsibility is to put the players at the best chance to be successful. Putting Backlund and Frolic as second-line forwards does not do that. That is the first problem. The second problem is there are no second-line centres or right-wing on this team.

It is partially the General Manager's fault for not bringing in the right personnel. The Flames do not have enough support on the second line to be successful. If the first line struggles, the second line is not good enough to get them out of it. Janko has not scored in his 22 games. He is struggling. Sending him down to Stockton to get his confidence back might be an option. Lucic has not been worth the acquisition. The two best bottom six have been Derek Ryan and Andrew Mangiapane, and their offensive totals are not great. 

There is not enough offensive depth unless the Flames change a system or make a trade. Peters has to mix this group of players somehow, add some blood and fire to them, or be burned at stake. (Not literally, of course, but you get my meaning.) The players don't seem to be getting any consequences for the way they are playing. There is no fear of repercussions whatsoever.

What is the definition of insanity?  Doing the same over and over and expecting different results.

The topsy turvy life of a Flames fan

If the Flames could manage to play a full 60 minutes, they could compete with any team in the League. On Twitter the other day, I hinted that there are problems in the dressing room. The Flames thought they had fixed the problem with the additions of Talbot and Lucic.

Both Lucic and Talbot are great character players, but as the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. What is my point? Lucic and Talbot can lead as much as they want, but if they don't have buy-in, nothing changes. The players have to start putting the team over themselves. Yes, I am pointing at the leadership. They have to lead by example. I see the interviews; the players are saying all the right things. The problem is, do they believe what they're saying?  If the leadership does not buy what the coach is selling, how do you expect the followers to? 

I don't know if this is a problem because the players are rebelling against the coach? Too many times, we see coaches trying to be friends with the players, but here comes Mr. Peters, and he is all business. I see the Flames as a dysfunctional family. 

How deep does this go? Until the players are willing to go into the corner to fight, there is no solution in sight. Which begs the question, where is the grit in this team? The Flames use to be known for hard work. Right now, all they are known for is a bunch of loafers collecting their paycheques. The players are not willing to go the brink for their coach. Do we have the wrong players or the wrong coach? We all know who usually wins these battles, and Coach Peters has already lost one fight in Raleigh.