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.
