Flames' Defense Down, But Not Out

The Calgary Flames are now just playing out the season. Some players are playing for their jobs, while others are simply going through the motions as the season winds down. The Calgary Flames are now just playing out the season. Some players are playing for their jobs, and others are just playing out the stretch. 

In reality, Kadri and Huberdeau have checked out. Connor, Zary, and Martin Pospisil continue to play their hearts out. It's as if they are two kids who are thrilled to be in a candy store. We could use more players like Martin and Connor in our lineup.

The team is making too many mistakes as a whole, but let's face facts: the defense has been decimated. Without Tanev and Hanifin, the Flames are finding it difficult to recover. It will take time to plug those holes. In the meantime, the Flames acquired from the Sharks Nikita Okhotyuk, a solid stay-at-home defenseman who can step in as the number 5 defenseman for now.  

In the trade for Hanifin, the Flames also acquired Daniil Mirmanov. He has some offensive skills and could develop into a second-line pairing. He has a powerful shot from the blue line. We might be able to use his talent on the powerplay. Mirmanov just signed a two-year extension with the team. 

What do we have in the prospects in the trades? In the Lindholm trade, the Flames acquired high-end prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo.  In Hunter, the Flames have a solid dman with some offensive skills. He is an excellent puck-moving dman. He has great speed, getting himself out of danger.  Joni is a no-nonsense dman with a chip on his shoulder.  

In the Tanev trade, the Flames received prospect Artem Grushnikov. Artem is a reliable defenseman who often breaks up rushes, is very good in the defensive zone, and is a solid skater. He has the potential to become a solid second-pairing defenseman. What do we have in the prospects in the trades? 

In the Lindholm trade, the Flames acquired high-end prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo.  In Hunter, the Flames have a solid dman with some offensive skills. He is an excellent puck-moving dman. He has great speed to escape danger.  Joni is a no-nonsense dman with a chip on his shoulder.  

In the Tanev trade, the Flames received prospect Artem Grushnikov. Artem is a reliable defenseman who excels at breaking up rushes and is strong in the defensive zone. He is a solid skater with the potential to become a second-pairing defenseman.

Randy

Conroy: Just Call My Bluff

Craig Conway took his first step towards a rebuild or retool yesterday. We all knew Lindholm wasn't staying, so Conroy had to get what he could. The Flames wanted a roster player, a top prospect, and a first-round pick.

The Roster Player

They got Andrei Kuzmenko, who scored 39 goals last year. This season, not so much. Andréi is a player trying to find his niche. Kuzmenko is a third-line player who will help with the powerplay. He is better than he has been this year, but he's not the 39-goal scorer he used to be. I will say this much: if Andrei can mesh with Huberdeau, the Flames could hit a home run, but it's a big if.

Two Prospects

Hunter Brzustewicz 

Hunter is an offensive defenseman with excellent puck skills. He is great on the powerplay because he can distribute the puck with the best of them. He is a great skater, but he needs to develop better in the physical and defensive parts of the game. He has excellent potential, but he's a grade B prospect right now.

Joni Jurmo 

Joni is a big, steady, stay-at-home defenseman who excels in the physical part of the game but won't contribute much offensively. He is a sturdy number-six defenseman and is considered a C+ prospect.

I think Conroy did very well in the trade. He has expiring contracts, controllable pieces, and draft picks. If Kuzmenko doesn't work out, he can always trade him. I completely agree with that concept and want to see how Andrei does with Huberdeau.

Conroy's guts and fortitude were evident in this trade. He knows what he wants and how to get it.

My source says: "Conroy just showed the entire league that he will not wait around. He just showed that it's his price, or he will go elsewhere."

NYR, Colorado, and Boston all thought Conroy was bluffing when he told them he had a better offer elsewhere. All three teams were shocked last night.

The bottom line is: don't mess with Conroy.

Randy 

The All-Star Break, It's Game On for Managers

Going into the All-Star break, the only people who will have the luxury of taking a break from hockey are the players themselves. The All-Star break is the busy season for managers and team officials; this is what they thrive on. While the players may be taking a break from the physical demands of the sport, Conroy ensures that their paycheques continue to roll in. 

The legwork is probably already done. This week, Conroy will check in on the progress of what teams need. He will discuss the compatibility of Calgary Flames players, such as Lindholm, Tanev, and the player I consider their most crucial asset, Hanifin, with other teams. 

Noah Hanifin

Noah is the best dman on the market. He is a terrific all-around defender. He is very good at pinching in the offensive zone and capitalizing on scoring chances for his team. Teams that could be looking to bolster their defensive lineup with Hanifin's presence include the Isles, Bruins, Leafs, and possibly Canucks. 

Elias Lindholm

In all honesty, Elias has been struggling all season, and the Flames will try to sell him in his previous history. However, Lindholm is a valuable asset for any team needing a solid second-line center. The teams I see as being interested are Sens, Oilers, Canucks, Avs, and Bruins.

Chris Tanev 

Chris is a rock in the defensive zone. He is the picture-perfect stay-at-home defenceman. He is a diehard shot blocker. He is fearless in his performance. Tanev's leadership qualities make him a valuable asset in any dressing room. Teams that might be interested in bringing Tanev's strengths to their defensive lineups are the Leafs, Canucks, and Isles.

Interesting tidbit: The Calgary Flames will be trying to clean up the dressing room, potentially resulting in a few surprise trades. I have no idea what will happen, but there could be a few players traded who will surprise us.

Randy

Kylington — Welcome Back

Watching this story break yesterday brought tears to my eyes. The Calgary Flames announced that Oliver Kylington from the Calgary Wranglers is heading out on a conditioning assignment. 

Firstly, I want to offer my sincere congratulations to Oliver. The road he had to travel and barriers he had to overcome are beyond belief. It is a miracle. As Flames fans—no, I should say, as fellow hockey lovers—we should applaud him and give him all the support we can.

Secondly, what does this mean for the Calgary Flames roster?

So, let’s talk hockey for a second. If Kylington’s conditioning assignment doesn’t last too long, it could make things easier for us to trade Hanifin. If Oliver can step up quickly, we could consider a futures trade for Hanifin, and Kylington could fill his spot.

It will take time for Oliver to get in game shape, but having Kylington on the team gives the Flames another option. Can Oliver regain his skills enough to make the Flames a playoff contender? I am not saying this move makes them a contender, but it’s definitely a possibility!

Then, you open up a whole bunch of opportunities. Let’s say the Flames are within two to four points away from making the playoffs. In that scenario, what would be your thoughts on Hanifin, Tanev, and, of course, Lindholm?

If the Flames are in a good position, this is what I was told: “I believe the Flames will fight for that playoff spot.” While they may make some player trades, they would be hockey trades, not future trades. 

In plain English, the Flames will bring in players who can contribute effectively to stay competitive in the playoff races. Only time will tell whether they will succeed.

Randy