I think ultimately the issue is our teams core in a way. The motivation/lack of effort can't be ignored. I question if any coach could get this team to buy in more, at least for more than a season or so before they fell back down again
That's where I disagree. Johnny, Monahan, Thachuk, Gio, Backlund, Lomberg, Hathaway, Kulak, Smith all buy in. There's enough guys that buy in 100%. The issue is losing momentum every time we get a powerplay, that's backbreaking. Nobody is so much of a steel trap that they can withstand the mental fatigue of losing the games momentum over and over, it's psychologically draining to anyone.
Look at it as not a Flames fan, it's an insurmountable obstacle to overcome for any team. Hockey is a game of momentum and we may be the worst team in the NHL at managing that aspect. It's at the point where you can pinpoint the moment when we are going to collapse, they get the yips and start puck watching due to the attribution bias from similar experiences. Over the past 2 months the psychological breakdowns have become so palpable I go that's it, we're done.
Of course Gulutzan could help by calling a timeout in these moments but Cameron is the progenitor and needs to go yesterday. It's at the point where you can almost feel Cameron's toxic influence flip a switch and the team goes from winners to watchers. The blame, statistically, at this point falls on one man.