It's often the case that the coach of a first round playoff loser is speculated to be on the guillotine, especially if expectations were high. While coaches are all too often scapegoated for their team's defeats (only so many teams can win, you know), we can't ignore the old adage that you can fire a coach, but you can't fire 22 players.
Rookie head coach Jim Playfair of the Calgary Flames is no different, as the Flames fell to the Red Wings in six, and people were even calling for his head after Game Two of the series!
Should Playfair be fired? Would the Flames benefit from a different coach?
In my opinion, the answers to both questions are a resounding YES.
The Flames, on paper, have a great looking team: Improved offence, great goaltender, a deep and talented group of defensemen, and a well-balanced team makeup. I, along with many others, expected more from the Flames all year long.
Yet, the Flames barely made the playoffs, had a terrible record on the road, and never seemed to have an identity of any sort. Good coaches mould teams, and the Flames never seemed to get on a roll or define themselves as any type of team. One couldn't tell if the Flames were an offensive-minded club, crash-and-bang, or something else ... like the Canucks who are built on cycling and great goaltending, or the Stars and their passive trap. The Flames just kind of 'existed', and managed to secure a playoff spot purely based on their talent, alone.
Seeing Playfair lose control of his bench late in Game Five, and then seeing the Flames roll over at home in Game Six pretty much should seal his fate.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-23-2007 @ 11:06AM
Greg Wyshynski said...
Jes,
Saying the Flames rolled over at home is a litte strong. They didn't have the spirit of the other two home games, but I thought Hasek saved Detroit's bacon on more than a few chances.
Should Playfair go? I think so. Like you said, he didn't really add all that much to what was a winning equation. The big question is where do the Flames go for their next coach: the front office or outside the organization.
Pat Burns and the Flames has a nice ring to it...
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4-24-2007 @ 2:20PM
willywillson said...
i a a red wings fan and i hate hasek he retired because of groin injiry and then went to ottawa and he should have stayed and if ozgood was in the net we would have sweep your flames and i say you keep your coach because its not his falt the red wings are notthing to let out of your sight and it was a pay back for the sweep calgery put on us a couple years ago. now we are going to win the stanly cup in 2007
flames beating red wings ( lol)
willy wilson
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4-24-2007 @ 2:26PM
willywillson said...
flames need to give us darren mc carty back though we will let u have bertuzzi for him, you guys have a lot of good people like mc carty, tony amonte iglnia, tangay and dont forget kiphisoff
willy
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4-24-2007 @ 3:49PM
Gary said...
Should Playfair be fired for his record?? Probably not , but am I the only person that suspects he put his backup goalie into the game with instructions to slash any red wing that came close? If this had been a baseball game with pitchers throwing high hard ones the manager would be under suspicion. Why not in hockey. Let's face it he only lasted 18 seconds before taking a two hander at the first red wing close enough to hit!!!!
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