“How can a power play with so many good players be so bad?”
It’s a refrain that was often shouted from the Scotiabank Saddledome stands, and undoubtedly something that crossed the mind of Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving before he relieved the previous coaching staff of their duties following the 2017-18 season.
Part of the rationale behind hiring new coach Bill Peters (and especially associate coach Geoff Ward) was to make the special teams units dangerous again. Through three-quarters of the preseason, the transition to the new staff is well underway.
Disappointment in 2017-18
Special teams are about three things: shot generation (or suppression), generating in-game momentum, and scoring (or preventing) key goals.