Flames Ignited: A Winning Formula?

The Calgary Flames have been making headlines this week. First, let's talk about the positive: the Flames are on a two-game winning streak. I will take a step further: they were so dominant in their game against the Stars that they would have emerged victorious if it weren't for the superhuman goalie Jake Oettinger. Sometimes, you have to tip your hat to the goalie. 

What is going right?  

The first step is getting Nazem Kadri to buy in. Kadri's performance has significantly improved. His active involvement is vital for the Flames' success. With the addition of fresh talent to the lineup, Kadri appears to have found a renewed sense of purpose. This leads us to the second thing that has gone right.

The new call-ups have lit a fire under this team. (Pun intended—see what I did there?) Connor Zary has been a spark plug since he was called up. He looks like a seasoned vet with the remarkable skills he has displayed so far. Zary has three points in his first three games and could have had plenty more.

Martin Pospispil has the speed to burn. Martin has made his mark, making his presence known. He is a hard-working forward who uses his size to his advantage. Martin also scored in his first game of the season. His tenacity and skill have given him plenty of scoring opportunities.

The third and final reason for their success is the fact the team has bought into the system. The players are working harder, remembering the game is won on the boards. They are actively competing for the puck and, for a change, winning the puck battles. That means they have puck possession more often. When you have the puck more, you can score more. 

If the players continue to work hard and buy into the system, they may force management to rethink selling or buying players at the deadline. If the Flames are close in the playoff race, there may be a future for Hanifin, Tanav, and Lindholm.

Conclusion

I know that management made the right decision for Huberdeau. Watching him on the bench does not bring me pleasure. It is a challenge to understand what is happening. I know everyone is jumping on Huberdeau, but let's think about this for a second, shall we? Both the coach and the player may be at fault for not finding a suitable system. Huberdau is built for run-and-gun, but the Flames are more of a defensive team than run-and-gun. It sometimes takes time for a player to adjust to a new system. That's all I am saying. Something to think about.

Randy

The Calgary Flames' Comedy of Errors: Golf, Waffles, and Undercover Boss

I have overheard some interesting conversations on the street lately. Let's listen in on a conversation between two people walking by. I know it's eavesdropping, but we only live once!

Bob: Hey, look at that. Is that a new waffle shop being built?

Joe: No, that's just the Calgary Flames waffling on whether or not they are going to trade Hanifin. I wish they would make a decision already. Personally, I'm not too fond of waffles.

Bob: Look at that person running and laughing all the way to the bank. He must be some kind of successful businessman. I wouldn't mind having some of his dough. Let me tell you, that would be nice.

Joe: I think that's Hanifin's or Lindholm's agent. You're right; he's definitely in the right line of work.

Bob: I wonder what kind of education you need to do well in that field.

Joe: I imagine you would need some kind of degree. Counting up to a million takes some learnin'. 

Bob: Look—oh no! Look at that fire on the golf course. Oh, the humanity! That poor golf course."

Joe: Oh, that is just Flames players on the golf course. They're not very good at that either.

Bob: Hey, look at those guys just watching their teammates getting beaten up and not stepping in to help. No team will even give them a chance."

Joe: Yeah, they're Calgary Flames recruits. They have been watching too many Flames games. They should put on Golden Knights games. They might learn a thing or two about hockey.

Bob: Maybe you should apply to become the Calgary Flames hockey coach. You are pretty knowledgeable about what is going on with the Calgary Flames."

Joe: Shh, can you keep a secret? I am actually on Undercover Boss, looking for Flames who actually know how to play hockey. Just taking a break from work.

Oops! It seems like I stumbled upon a potential future episode of Undercover Boss. Let's keep this conversation to ourselves; I wouldn't want to get in trouble with the network!

Happy Halloween! The Calgary Flames have been a horror show this season. I hope the trick-and-treating can stop, or maybe we need to change the script. The only other option is just to laugh and say, "Oh well, that's the Calgary Flames." It's better than crying.

Randy

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Not So Hot: Flames' Mental Errors Impact Early Games

This season is already bringing back bad memories from last year, as I notice the resurgence of bad habits. In two out of three games, the Flames have secured leads only to allow them to slip away. The main problem seems to be mental, as the team fails to maintain their performance for sixty minutes of gameplay.

I am seeing some improvements. Huberdeau looks like he is invested this season, playing more with increased energy. Backlund is acting like a Captain, being a leader out on the ice. Then there is this kid, Matthew Cornado, who consistently works hard to make a difference. But the bottom line is that this team should be 3-0 instead of 1-1-1. The Flames had leads in both Washington and Pittsburgh but only managed to secure one point. The team needs to be better. There were too many breakdowns defensively, and they were a mess in Pittsburgh.  

I know people blame the one goal in the Capitals game on Marky. But the team does not have to stop playing after a bad break! When the Flames have a lead against a beatable team like the Caps, they have to keep on them and throttle them. Instead, the Flames slow down and let Washington catch and beat them. The Flames lack the killer instinct required in such situations. Coleman and Kadri, who have cups, need to nip this in the bud. Don't let it become a recurring problem. Our star players must step up when needed and remain visible even when the going gets tough. 

While it may be early in the season, but if we have the same mental errors later in the season, it will come back to bite us. To those who argue that it's too early to worry, consider this: do wins later in the season earn us more points? Just something to ponder.

Best player so far this season

Matthew Cornado has been a spark plug for the team, infusing the dressing room with his contagious enthusiasm. He is a breath of fresh air. 

Randy

Flames on Fire: The Five Statements That Will Ignite Calgary's Success

Describing last season as a disaster would be an understatement. The Calgary Flames fell significantly short of their team goals and expectations. They found ways to lose and continue to lose. Here are five statements that must come true for the Calgary Flames to be a success this year.

Noah Hanifin Situation

Craig Conroy has to find a way to trade Noah as quickly as possible. Not only does he have to trade Noah, but he has to ensure the Calgary Flames remain competitive after making the trade. Flames ownership has made it quite clear that come hell or high water, the Flames will be a playoff team, or Craig Conroy will be finding a job for McDonald's. I am being facetious, but you get the point. Management's and ownership's top priority must be for the Calgary Flames to be a competitive, successful team this season.

Jonathan Huberdeau 

Get cracking, Jonathan. With your new coach and system in place, it's time to dial it up. Huberdeau will be highly motivated to have a good season. He is determined to get things straight. He knows he owes Flames fans more than he gave them last year. I am confident that he will be a dominant force, and this is crucial for the Calgary Flames' playoff hopes. He needs to get back to his 100-point season this year.

Nazem Kadri

Nazem has to be a leader in the dressing room. He has to be smarter on the ice and off the ice. He has to clean up the dressing room so there's no conflict among the players. He has to be the solution to the problem and not add to the problem. Kadri has to get his 25-30 goals and accumulate 65 to 70 points. He needs to be a pest. He has to be in the opposition's heads, not his teammates. If he does these things, he will be a fan favorite. 

Jacob Markstrom

Everyone but the kitchen sink blamed last season's problems on Jacob. Whether that is accurate or not, he does have to improve. However, the lackluster support he received from the defense is disappointing. Well, Jacob has to be Jacob; he is one of the best goalies in the league and capable of returning to that. By avoiding costly goals and maintaining a solid position, he has the potential to become one of the league's top goalkeepers, leading the Calgary Flames to victory. The Flames fans will be dancing in the streets.

Players must be committed

The Calgary Flames are currently facing uncertainty as players such as Lindholm, Hannifin, and Backlund are hesitant to commit to contract extensions. Understandably, players want to assess their options before committing long-term, but they can't abdicate their responsibility for ensuring a competitive season. It's a catch-22: darned if they do and darned if they don't. 

Flames Draft Day

Even though I never pick the draft right, I always enjoy this draft blog. The Calgary Flames are poised to make an exciting selection this year. They will try their best to get another draft selection. There are rumors of Hanifin going, with 6-8 teams interested in acquiring him. Working the premise that there is only one draft pick in the first round, here is my choice. With only one first-round pick available, the Flames appear to have their sights set on dman David Reinbacher. But chances are he will be gone by the 16th pick, forcing the Flames to consider other options.

My picks: 

First Round

16 Matthew Wood - Left Wing

Matthew is an intelligent player with soft hands with a great explosive shot. His greatest strength will be his one-timers. He will be an offensive weapon on the powerplay. Matthew is a silky-smooth forward with an impressive hockey IQ who will be dangerous in the offensive zone.

 

Second Round

48 Jesse Kiiskinen - Left Wing

 

Jesse is a highly skilled winger who plays a high-tempo game. He has excellent hands and skates like the wind. He is a gifted winger wi a good hockey IQ, although he could use some work to develop in the defensive zone. Jesse possesses excellent passing abilities with great vision. I hope the Flames grab this kid. 

80 Third Round

Andrew Strathmann - Defense

Andrew is a talented D-man who is speedy, plays a rough game, and is not afraid to get his nose dirty. The Flames could use his durablity and his toughness. He has a good a shot and knows how to jump in to keep the puck in.

Fourth Round

112 Felix Unger Sörum - Left Wing

Felix is a talented winger with excellent skating skills. Despite his raw talent, most people feel he will need time to develop. If the Flames are willing to be patient, he could be a future star.

For the last two picks, I will list them without a write-up.

Sixth Round

177 Noah Chadwick - Defense

Seventh Round

207 Ty Halaburda - Left Wing

 

The Calgary Flames: Moving On

Today, the Calgary Flames bid farewell to Darryl Sutter, an iconic coach to the team. Yes, I used the word "iconic" because he is the icon of coaches in Calgary. He poured his heart and soul into this team, everything he had. We must still give him the respect he deserves for being a pillar of the NHL. If you were to have a picture of what the Calgary Flames embody in spirit, it would be a picture of Darryl Sutter. It is time to see him go, but today I am as happy as I am sad to see this occasion happen.

The Flames had to take action after a disappointing season. It was clear that changes were necessary and sacrifices had to be made. Somebody had to pay the piper. Darryl's reliance on veterans over younger players had to be fixed. The Flames were an old, slow team, and I understand that.

What does this mean for the Calgary Flames' future? It means the organization is taking a step in the right direction. They are getting younger. It also means they are letting the players direct what this organization does. It happens in every team sooner or later—the players do not get along with the coach and the players will not play with the coach, and then the freeze-out happens. They stop listening to the coach and stop working for him. When that happens, nobody wins. This is precisely what was happening in Calgary. When the players stop playing for the coach, you either have to fire the coach or make a whole bunch of trades. It's a lot easier to fire the coach.

Now that the Calgary Flames have moved on, it's time to consider who their next coach will be. That's right; it's time to play GM. Who would you hire as the new coach of the Calgary Flames? Usually, when I play this game, I end up having foot-in-mouth disease. That's okay, as long as I don't have foot fungus. But I digress. On to my picks or best options as coach of the Calgary Flames.

Mitch Love

Mitch Love, coach of the Calgary Wranglers, should be at the top of your list when considering potential coaches. Mitch was Coach of the Year for the last two seasons in the AHL. He is highly successful and highly respected among his players. He is a good "player's coach." He is fair, and players know what is expected of them.

Bruce Boudreau

Bruce is one of the most successful coaches out there. He knows the game and surrounds himself with successful people. Boudreau is one of the best motivators out there. He gets the players to do what he wants but makes it look like it's what they want. With Bruce there, he is in charge. The players will not be allowed to run the roost.

Peter Laviolette

He is the sexy name out there. Peter might be the big name the Flames need. He is an offensive coach, and his style of play aligns with Huberdough's skill set. The Flames need an offensive coach to bring the best out of these players and get them to perform. Laviolette might be what the doctor ordered for the Calgary Flames.

As for General Manager, the Calgary Flames' leading candidate is Conroy. His biggest advocate is Mr. Iggy. (I, for one, would love to have Jarome in one of our management positions, if that is in the cards.)

Flames Extinguished

The Calgary Flames season has been a disappointment, and this is something that none of us can deny. A major issue for the Flames has been their inability to close out games. While the goalies often get blamed for this, the fact is that there has been much more to it than just lousy goaltending. The powerplay has not been able to produce goals, and this is an issue that does not stem from the goaltenders. The Flames made seven or eight deep bad defensive plays in our zone. It has nothing to do with our goaltending. 

One of the primary concerns for the Calgary Flames is finding a suitable center to play alongside Jonathan Huberdeau. We all know Huberdeau is a far better player than what he has shown. The team needs to establish a system that works well for every player. It is essential to eliminate selfishness and focus on playing as a cohesive unit. Unfortunately, this season, we have had many examples of players trying to win games single-handedly.

Additionally, the team needs more energy and emotion than they have displayed in previous seasons. Darrell Sutter's ability to motivate his players has been a significant benefit in past seasons. But this year, it has just not been there.

There has been much talk about Markstrom's confidence taking a hit after the Edmonton Oilers series last season. Throughout this season, Jacob has struggled with his performance, frequently getting caught out of position and conceding easy goals. That being said, he has yet to get the greatest support. Often, Jacob has been left to fend for himself, with his teammates failing to provide the necessary assistance.

Fixing this dysfunctional group of players is a monumental task. Initially, the Calgary Flames need to tackle the cap issues. The Huberdeau and Weeger contracts are significant problems that need to be addressed. The challenge is finding a way to fit both players within the team's budget. Ownership is not keen on a complete rebuild, so the Flames must figure out how to make hockey trades while staying within the salary cap. It is almost impossible to remain competitive while being restricted by the cap. Whether Brad or someone else is GM, they will have to have a top-notch capologist or possess magical powers to get the Flames out of this crap.  

In the second part of this blog, I will delve into the Calgary Flames' most valuable trading assets. These include notables such as Tanav, Toffol, Hanifin, Dube, and Lindholm.

Randy

Sell, Sell, Sell

I hate to state the obvious, but the Flames need to sell coming up to this draft. The Flames must take stock of their situation heading into this draft, as they have consistently failed to meet expectations. No matter the cause, they are not a playoff team and must take action. Selling off players is the only way to gain the assets they need to get back on track.

Which assets? I hate to say it, but don't they say ripping the bandaid quickly is better? So here is ripping the bandaid off. Elias Lindholm has one year remaining on his contract. While it may be difficult to do, the Calgary Flames have to decide whether to trade him to avoid a similar situation to what happened with Tkachuk or Gaudreau. Lindholm is an excellent playmaking center who can be a great asset for many teams, especially the Colorado Avalanche.

The Calgary Flames have many options on the defensive side. Who should they keep, and who should they trade? Mackenzie Weeger is rumored to be on the trading block. They are not actively shopping for Mackenzie Weegar but are open to offers for the blue liner. 

Another option is Noah Hanifin, who has one more year after this season. Do the Flames keep him for another season or send him packing? If the Calgary Flames decide to part ways with Hanifin, he will be a hot commodity.

The Flames' UFA group is not exactly a bumper crop. However, they have three players—Lucic, Lewis, and Stone—who could bring in draft picks in a trade. The Flames may have to eat up half of his cap hit in any deal involving Lucic.

It would be a shame if the Flames opted not to keep Backlund or Tyfolli on, as their performances have been stellar this season. 

Brad is in a tough spot, as his future with the Flames is not so bright with the Flames being out of the playoffs. He has nothing to lose at this point and may not be willing to start rebuilding for the future. 

Blow it up

I understand Flames fans being very frustrated with an underwhelming hockey team. I know this can't all be blamed on one player, but the apparent culprit is Markstrom. I hate to pick Marky, but he has been struggling all year.

That being said, the Flames have yet to tighten up on their defensive end. The forwards have been fighting the offensive side. They need to try harder to score and remember the other end. What is the saying? Oh yes, "defense wins cups."

Speaking of forwards, how about Milan Lucic playing his best hockey as a Flame? Lucic has really fit in with Huberdeau and Kadri. Huberdeau has been showing signs of getting out of the doghouse. But he still needs to pick it up if the Flames are to succeed.

Lindholm also needs to turn things around. He is the Flames' most talented centre, but perhaps losing Tkachuk and Gaudreau took its toll. Could anyone blame him? Losing two forwards like Tkachuk and Gaudreau will obviously change the stats. That being said, Lindy needs to pick it up.

The Flames repeatedly losing their lead has to stop. In the past, I could count on my hands how many times the Flames lost a game when they had a lead going into the third period. I can count that high this year on the many times they have blown leads. This year it is a regular occurrence. Each game, I am just waiting for the catastrophe to start.

The Flames are not a rookie team. It is time that they stop playing like one.

Randy