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
