Breaking Down the Flames’ Depth Problem: Offence, Defence, and Everything in Between

I expect the Calgary Flames to have a hard time producing offence this season. The Flames’ most enormous hole to fill was one more offensive forward, but they failed to do so. Look no further than right down the middle. The Calgary Flames are weak in the centre position, and it may hold them back this season.

What will hold them back 74 pts?

The Calgary Flames’ defence is not strong enough. We have three very good defenders and a number 5 or 6 defender. Weegar, Ball, and Andersson will carry this team. We will lose Andersson with the trade, and he will be distracted most of the year. Here are my predictions:

Points  

Jonathon Huberdeau - 77 pts

Huberdeau will once again have a steady season. He will be the most consistent Calgary Flames player. He will have company; Kadri will also be there with him. His playmaking skills will have to continue for them to make the next step. The Calgary Flames vitally need them to be successful.

Goals  

Matt Coronato / Nazim Kadri - 35 goals

Matt and Nazim, the Flames’ two thirty-goal scorers, will share the goals. Matt will continue to take the next step. He has one of the best shot releases in the NHL. Nazim is the best centre and will continue to score the garbage goals.

Surprise Player - Connor Zarry

This one surprised many people, including myself. I’m most likely wrong, but I have a gut feeling that Connor will surprise some people. Connor is going to get 25 goals and 55 points. He will have to stay healthy.

Final word

I am really trying to stay positive. The Calgary Flames do have some talent. The lack of talent—or should I say depth—in the centre and defence is going to be this team’s Achilles heel. The young kids will be entertaining to watch.

Kadri and Huberdeau will continue to be the leaders of this team, and frankly, they have to be. What the team so desperately needs is scoring support.

Players like Frost and Farabee will have to improve their scoring numbers. Both of these players will have to rebound from disappointing seasons last year, but I don’t think they can. Coleman and Backlund must match or surpass their numbers from last year.

Lastly, the Calgary defence needs to improve on the silly mistakes in the defensive zone. If they can shore it up, it will vastly help the Calgary Flames in the long run.

Wolf at the Door: Flames’ Fate Lies in the Blue Line

We all know the Calgary Flames’ season totally relies on how Dustin Wolf responds in goal this season. We could try to kid ourselves by saying our offence is essential too. However, the Calgary Flames’ offense was one of the worst in the league last year, yet they still managed to score 96 points. Yes, Dustin Wolf holds our fate in his hands.

You could say that if the defence improves this year, it would go a long way to helping Dustin Wolf. The problem with that conclusion is that the Calgary Flames have still not resolved the Rasmus Andersson fiasco. The Calgary Flames have a solid top four, featuring Andersson, Weeger, Bahl, and, of course, the wonder kid, Parekh. Here’s the big challenge: The Calgary Flames need to get more out of the final third pairing, whoever they decide to insert into the lineup.

This is where life gets interesting. The Calgary Flames have plenty of candidates who can fill that position. Here are my picks for the battle of the final three spots.

Daniil Miromanov

Dani Miromanov was in and out of the lineup last season. He would typically be a sixth- or seventh defenseman on most NHL teams. I think what the Flames need is more consistency from Miromanov. He cannot be a hindrance and make the coach afraid to put him out on the ice. When he focuses on his game and doesn’t try to go too hard, he is helpful to the Flames.

Brayden Pachal

Brayden Pachal plays with a chip on his shoulder and does not shy away from physical play. He gradually began to fit into the lineup with his physical play. If he continues to grow, hits smarter, and colors within the lines, he is a good defenseman. We need his toughness. He has to stay out of the box while playing physically.

Joel Hanley

Joel Hanley was a pleasant surprise. Joel is defensively responsible. He adds more stability to the defensive core. Joel was a plus-12 for a third-pairing defenseman, which is excellent. I love his game; nothing flashy, but he is a reliable third-pairing defenseman.

Final word

The Flames aren’t expecting Norris Trophy candidates for the fifth/sixth defencemen. What they’re hoping to do is add some energy to the game, change momentum, and keep mistakes to a minimum. The Flames need to be more defensively responsible and give Wolfe some support.

Can a 19-Year-Old Handle the Heat? Zayne Parekh in Focus

The biggest question this season is whether Zayne Parekh will make the squad. I don’t think there is any question. There is little doubt that he’s making the Calgary Flames. Well, at least not in my mind. Keep in mind, he is only 19 years old. I hope the Flames keep expectations down to keep the pressure off. Zayne has nothing to prove in the OHL; he’s done everything that was expected of him. He can’t go to college since he signed a pro contract with the Flames. Zayne has two options: either play in the NHL or return to Juniors and dominate the league with nothing to prove.

I do worry that the Calgary Flames are rushing him. He needs a mentor who can show him the lay of the land. I have two different defensemen who could do this:

Mackenzie Weegar

The clearest choice is MacKenzie Weegar. In my mind, MacKenzie is the closest to a complete defenceman on the Calgary Flames. He is definitely the leader of the defensive core. He has a physical game and plays very well on defense. Weegar is underrated in his defensive game. He has a terrific shot in the offensive game and is an excellent puck distributor. MacKenzie does not do one thing outstanding; he does everything well. The biggest obstacle in pairing MacKenzie with Weegar is putting him on the left side. I have no doubt he could adjust. I see minimal downside to this option.

Kevin Bahl

There is no doubt that Kevin could be Zayne’s mentor. Kevin is probably the best defensive defenceman on our team. He would definitely help Zayne become a better defenceman. Kevin would also cover for Zayne when he pinches in the offensive zone. The main obstacle in choosing Kevin is breaking up Rasmus and Kevin. Kevin will probably be Rasmus’s sidekick for as long as they are both on the team.

Final word

Zayne has been very good in the preseason. Unfortunately, the preseason is not equal to the regular season. Can Zayne perform in the regular season? Nobody says he can’t, but he will have a lot to learn. He is going to have to know when to pinch or not to pinch, he’s gonna have to know when to pass or shoot. He must use his speed when he gets caught up, as he pinched at the wrong times. Trust me, he is going to make mistakes. Growing pains that come with the territory of being a rookie. That being said, there will be time for him to make miraculous plays, making us wonder why we didn’t do this earlier. I suspect the good plays will outnumber the bad, and the Calgary Flames will be happy to have him on the team. 

Flames Secure Backlund: Veteran Leadership for a Young Roster

A minor update on the signing of Backlund.

If I had a picture of a player exemplifying the ideal Calgary Flames, it would be Backlund. I could be happier than I am with the signing of Mikael. He has done everything that was expected of him. He is a great example of what it means to be an ideal teammate.

He is a third-line centre who might be the most defensively responsible forward on the team. He is a great penalty killer who manoeuvres well in his own zone. He works a lot with the young kids and will teach them how to be defensive and responsible, something that the Calgary Flames really need to be this season to be successful.

The Calgary Flames release their camp rosters this afternoon. Two players stood out to me from the rookie camp. Keep your eyes on these guys:

Aydar Suniev

Aydar is a slick-moving forward. He could be a Calgary Flames player within the next couple of seasons. I think he has the potential to be a top-six forward. Aydar has a great wrist shot; he needs to use it more. Aydar’s play-making skills are terrific, particularly in terms of stick handling in small spaces.

His high hockey IQ makes him a dangerous forward, as teams may not know exactly what his next move will be. He’s thinking two moves ahead. I’m intrigued to see what his potential will turn into.

Sam Honzek

Everyone is talking about the new Sam. He is beefed up and appears to be motivated to take the next step in his career. He has all the tools to be a top-nine forward. You know has the motivation to fight for the puck and has been winning some battles. He has great speed with a good-looking shot. Sam is catching people’s attention. It’s nice to see something happened to a good kid. Here’s looking at you, Sam.

Conroy has made a comeback recently, and his off-season signing of Backlund will undoubtedly help the kids. He can be another coach out there. Backlund still had some good speed. He could be helpful for the Flames in the next couple of seasons; only time will tell.

Calgary Flames: The Wolfman Howls

How are you feeling this morning? Dustin Wolf told everybody but the kitchen sink that he wanted to stay here long-term. He then signs a $7.5 million contract for seven years. The Calgary Flames listened to him and took him up on it, and here we have it: Wolfman’s gonna be here for the next seven years.

Of course, my first reaction is incredible. Woohoo, we have our man! We haven’t had a goalie here since Kipper, but now, the Wolfman is taking over. But then I needed to think this through. Has Wolf earned a 7.5×7 contract? Well, the stats back it up for one year; he was outstanding last season. He was the only reason the Calgary Flames were as good as they were. It’s time to put up or shut up. You have to pay the piper. Meaning, Wolf has earned his money. But what happens if he doesn’t keep it up next year? Then that contract could be a sore spot

. My reaction to that is nothing ventured, nothing gained. We have to keep our core. We have to send a message to our fans: the Calgary Flames aim to keep their men.

Moving on: What if I were to ask you what the Calgary Flames’ most outrageous mistakes were this off-season? I’m sure you have yours. I have mine, and the biggest error this off-season for me is the Rasmus Andersson fiasco. I would have liked to have seen him either signed or traded.

The second issue that’s on my mind is the Calgary Flames’ inability to get a top forward. Where is the offense going to come from? We can’t rely on only Kadri and Huberdeau, can we? I was kind of hoping that we were going to clear that up. Kadri and Huby need some help.

Lastly, I wanted to discuss letting Vladar go. Last season, they took Darth Vladar for granted. Vlader was key to giving Wolf some rest, which was vital to the Flames’ success. Will we have a reliable backup this season? 

Breaking Down the Flames’ Roster

Before we dive into the latest happenings, I can’t help but think about Johnny Gaudreau and everything he did for the team. Wouldn’t it be great if the Flames established a scholarship or organized a fundraiser in his name? Something like “Johnny for Cancer” or another wonderful cause would really honor his legacy. Johnny is known for everything good about this sport, and it would be a perfect way to remember him. Now on to the article.

Today, I’m listening to what is happening before the season starts. The Calgary Flames still have some business to attend to, and we know what that is. We don’t need to discuss that here, as I have another blog here: Flames Scratch Pad: 30% Chance, 100% Drama: Andersson’s Future in Flames

Instead, I would like to discuss a defenceman of a younger caliber. One is probably one of the best rookies the Flames have had since sliced bread. He comes with a lot of hype. I think he is worthy. The young defenseman who has everyone buzzing is Zane Parekh. I know it will be tempting to use Zane in all aspects of the game, but I question that approach. Putting too much pressure on him too early may hurt his development. Zane is only 19 years old and still a rookie. Although Zane is an outstanding hockey player, he is still wet behind the ears. I am from the old school, where you take your time with your rookies. It has been suggested that it takes a defenceman a longer time to develop. It is harder to learn the game for a dman, especially in their own defensive end.

If the Calgary Flames are going to use Zane fully in the lineup, they need a great mentor for him. Enter MacKenzie Weegar stage left. MacKenzie would be the team’s captain if it weren’t for Buckland. Will he be able to train Zane, or, rather, help Zane adapt to the NHL? He’s a terrific defender looking to teach Zane some added defense. Weeger can get back when Zane pinches in the offensive zone. Weegar’s solid defensive skills will allow Zane to take some offensive risks without leaving us vulnerable. The Flames will have to be patient with him., I really hope they don’t rush him, but with MacKenzie, his chances are good.

Now onto the Flames’ starting lineup. There are a lot of questions about the line combos. Who is going to play with Kari and Huberdeau? Connor Zarry is one name that pops into my mind.

Bear with me for a moment as I foam at the mouth. I want to see a line combination of Morgan Frost centering Joel Farabee and Matthew Coronado. Morgan and Joel both have much to prove coming off bad seasons. Hopefully, having a whole season to learn to work together will be beneficial. I think there’s tons of potential for the three of them working together. Matthew is obviously going to be the stick that stirs the drink. He will have to be the leader of the line. He has the ability to score 30 to 35 goals, and I think Joel and Morgan can get him there.

As we head into this season, let’s not forget about our promising young goaltender. The worst thing we can do is play him in 70 games and have a worn-out goalie. I sure hope we can limit his starts to 50 to 55. That said, I’m not holding my breath!

No More Emojis: What Ryan Leslie’s Departure Means for Fans

Tribute to Ryan Leslie

Over the years, I have come to respect Ryan Leslie more and more. His relationship with the fans has been nothing less than spectacular. He is one of the most professional media personalities in the industry. Fans look at the emojis he tweets when something is up. Who will take over with the emojis? All the best, Ryan.

Goaltending

Ivan Prosvetov

I discussed my concerns about having an unproven goaltender as a backup this season with a source. He assured me that Prosvetov is capable of being a quality NHL goalie. He went out to say, “He may very well be a more proficient netminder.” The Flames apparently have enough confidence in him to offer him a one-way contract. Only time will tell.

Plus minus stigma

When I addressed the plus-minus with my source, I suggested Andersson might be one of the reasons for the stalemate in his negotiations. His opinion is, “The plus minus stat is a line stat. Teams do not put as much value on this as the fans do. The Flames simply do value Andersson as much as Andersson does himself.” It is a business decision; it’s nothing personal. What is driving me crazy is that the longer Andersson is a Flame, the bigger the distraction he is in the dressing room. Hopefully, the saga will come to a satisfactory end soon.

Final Word

I am perplexed by the lack of movement on the Flames addressing the scoring issue. Where are the goals coming from? I know they were fine last year, but can we expect Wolf to put up the same numbers? What will the defense look like after Andersson’s trade? Everyone knows it’s only a matter of time until Andersson departs. They’d better get an adequate defenseman in return. I am excited. Still, I would be cautious with my expectations this season. Just saying.

Randy