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Friday, October 29, 1999
Flames fight money battle
The Calgary Flames GM realizes his team's 3-7-2 start is not the best way to convince fans the organization is healthy and viable, but he plans on proving otherwise.
"We're trying to win and be competitive," Coates said. "I think we're the closest we've been to being back at playing Flames hockey."
The Flames went into last night having lost three of their last four games, despite outshooting their opponents by at least 10 shots on three of those nights.
"We may be 1-3," said Flames coach Brian Sutter prior to last night's overtime 4-3 win over Ottawa, "but we should be 3-1."
Incidentally, the Flames again outshot their rivals, this time by a 37-28 count.
Like the Ottawa Senators, Coates has tried working through the draft and moving towards a youth movement in an effort to rebuild the team.
The Flames have 10 first-round and four second-round draft picks in their lineup, and their average age is a tender 23.
"This is the only way to do it," Coates said after practice yesterday morning. "There's no other formula than the way we're doing it. The economics don't permit otherwise."
The Flames' financial struggle is just one more way the western team resembles the Senators.
Unlike the New York Rangers, Coates does not have the means for a quick-fix. The GM must have faith in his plan, weather the bumps along the way and hope the team can survive the journey.
"If we were playing the way we were 10 days ago, I'd be very concerned," Coates said. "But I think we're at about 85%.
"We're working very hard. We have good coaches who care and believe we have the players to do it."
The Flames used to rely heavily on the services of Theo Fleury, a superstar who was the go-to guy when games were on the line.
But Fleury was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche last year -- because the Flames couldn't afford to sign him to a big-bucks long-term contract -- and have not replaced him with another big name.
In many ways, Coates believes the absence of a marquee player allows others to step up their game.
"It makes others look around and say 'I better be the one to do it,' " said Coates. "They're working as a unit. A group of stars doesn't always make a team."
The New Jersey Devils might not be the most loved team in the league, but Coates says they deserve a lot of credit.
"They're very successful," he said. "They're a team's team with good goaltending."
A formula that could spell success for the Flames?
Most definitely.
"We have the people here who we believe are capable of getting the job done," Coates said. "Everyone is doing a tremendous job here. The whole organization is doing a great job."
Coates knows fans aren't always quite as patient as coaches and general managers, but he believes the best way to keep them happy during hard times is to keep them well informed.
"I know the impact of the media," he said. "I'm a great believer in a communication and I want to make sure the right message gets out."
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