30% Chance, 100% Drama: Andersson’s Future in Flames

If you are sick of anything as a Calgary Flames fan this summer, it would be the never-ending saga of Rasmus Andersson. There is a new twist every day. They are not giving up on trading him for future assets now. They would prefer a hockey trade. There is a focus on making the Playoffs. To do that is to bring in a player who can win now.

There is a 30 percent chance that the Calgary Flames will hang onto him until the deadline. The Flames do not want Rasmus Andersson as a rental trade. If they have to, they will.

They do not want to find themselves in another situation where a player walks away and they lose him. It is vital that this team shows the players they are confident in them. If the players lose confidence in the management, we will have anarchy. We will have another total rebuild with those players asking to be traded.

Going into the season, the Calgary Flames know they must improve their defense. We cannot afford 40 shots against us every game. This is where Zane Parekh is vital to the Flames’ success. Zane can help fill the void caused by the loss of Andersson. Of course, MacKenzie Weeger will be heavily relied on to keep them from falling apart. The Flames still have Bell, who will help mentor or mold Zane into an NHL defenseman. If the scoring is dry, as it was last year, Zane and Weegar will have to pinch with some offense.

Final Word

I must admit, I am worried that by the end of the season, we will see some horrific defensive play. Somehow, Weeger and Bell will hold the defence together with spit and a prayer. My greatest fear is that the Flames will stay in the hunt and miss the playoffs. That would be very detrimental to the development of the Flames.

Randy

Cornerstones of the Calgary Flames: The Trio Holding the Team Together

 

Every team has its cornerstones. Without them, its chances of success go down dramatically. Just like a building structure relies on its cornerstones, a hockey team has its cornerstones to hold the team together. Imagine a building without any foundation. What would happen to it? Like a building or organization, every hockey franchise has to have a solid foundation. Ideally, a team’s cornerstone is one goalie, one forward, and a defenceman.

The elite teams have four or five key players, but this is not fantasy; most hockey teams will be happy with three.

I am moving on from the thought of the Calgary Flames trying to tank this season. There are a lot of bright spots to build on with this team. Here are the three players I think can solidify the Flames’ future for years to come.

Dustin Wolf

Dustin is the main reason the Calgary Flames were successful after last season. He was in the top 10 goalies in the NHL, if not in the top five. Some fans would say he was the best goalie in the league last year. That is a debate for another time, but there’s no debating that Dustin was the MVP player of the Calgary Flames. Wolf must be this good for the Flames to make it to the next level.

MacKenzie Weegar

MacKenzie is a strong arm in the Calgary defense. In reality, he is one of the team leaders and might very well be the team’s next captain. He is truly the glue that holds the Calgary defense together. This Defense was sometimes in shambles like a fish out of water. You can see Weegar throwing the fish back in the water. MacKenzie does everything right. He is a great penalty killer. MacKenzie was outstanding in his defensive play, and at times, he was the power-play quarterback.

Jonathan Huberdeau

Last year was the first time we had a glimpse of the real Huberdeau. He showed lots of heart in the previous season and was having fun. Jonathan Huberdeau’s hockey IQ is high, and he is one of the smartest players in the league. If the Calgary Flames use him wisely and do not put too much pressure on him, he has the potential to be their best player. He can be the leader of this team. By far, he is the best playmaker on the roster and has the best vision on the ice. His passing skills are among the best in the league this season.

Clarification by the author

I must admit I could’ve easily used Matthew Coronado as the forward. I use Jonathan because he has to be the leader to justify that contract for the Calgary Flames.

Randy 

Losing on Purpose? What the Experts Say About Tanking

To tank or not to tank? That is the question. (You can never get enough Shakespeare in your life.) As a fan, nothing gets me madder than teams taking a dive, which leads them to oblivion. General Managers have to do this delicately; no one wants to lose.

What they want is players who are willing to put in the effort. This is why I strongly believe The Flames should not tank on purpose. Officially. Wink, wink.

I went to the draft experts to see what they had to say.

The Waiting Game Continues: What Lies Ahead For The Flames?

Contract talks on Connor Zarry seem to have come to a standstill. Frost and Kakko’s contracts should be precedents for the deal. Morton Frost just signed a two-year deal worth $4.375 million a season, and Kaapo Kakko landed a three-year deal at $4.525 million per season. Since Zarry is around the same skill level as those guys, it seems like they should have a solid outline for his contract ready to go.

So why is this deal not done? Either Zarry feels he is a step above Frost and Kakko, or the Flames are dissatisfied with Zarry’s progress. Either way, it is not working. I think Zarry wants a long-term deal. The club isn’t prepared to offer that. We wait and see how it works out.

Speaking of negotiations, let’s move on to Andersson. There were rumours that the negotiations were $3 million apart. If that is the case, the Flames probably figured they were too far apart. The Flames’ offer is too low, and Andersson’s price is too high, which is why the Flames are trying to trade him. One source has told me: “They have to hit a home run; right now they are only hitting singles.” They are in no hurry to trade Andersson, which leads me to think this will be a deadline deal. This trade is more about hockey players than future picks. Andersson might just end up being a rental player. Don’t like it? Take some antacid, it doesn’t look like it will end soon.  

I may be wrong, but as long as Conroy wants a home run, there is no way he will settle for singles. 

Randy

 

Exciting Times Ahead for Fans of The Calgary Flames

When you think about how last season went, there is a lot to be positive about, including one of the best young goalies in the league. Dustin Wolf could have easily won rookie of the year. We have a young, slick forward named Matthew Cornado, who appears to be coming into his own. The Core is on solid ground, led by Weeger, Huberdeau, Kadri, and Rasmus Andersson.  

It appears the Flames were not happy with the offers on Andersson. It is beginning to look like a deadline trade. There is a growing concern that it will be a distraction. They can say it won't be a distraction, but you have to think that the team will be wondering what direction they are going.

Meanwhile, the Flames continue to receive offers for Kadri. They have said, "We have no interest in trading Kadri, and he has no interest in playing anywhere else." Translation: they have not received the right offer. Sorry for my cynical side, but every player has a price. Don't get me wrong, Kadri is coming off a career year with his 35 goals, and he seems to be improving every year. But you still have to explore all your options. If a General Manager is not  exploring all of his options, he is not  doing his job.

Huberdeau is coming off his best year as a Flame. Jonathan was looking like a revamped Huby, like the Huberdeau of old. He seemed to be getting his legs back for the first time. And he seemed happy to be here. I am excited to see if he continues his improved play for next season.

Weeger could be traded today, given the interest the Flames have received for his services. Again, the Flames have turned down all offers. Weeger is going to be the heart and soul of this team when Andersson gets traded. He is the leader in this dressing room. 

In the goal behind Wolf, we have Vladar out, and Ivan Prosvetov is coming to Calgary, and it is not for the benefit of his health. From one of my connections: "The Flames are excited about Ivan; they love what they have seen and expect big things for him. They expect him to lighten the load of Dustin Wolf." I told him of my concern that the KHL is not the NHL; he assured me that if Prosvetov were not at the level of an NHL goalie, they wouldn't have signed him. 

Randy. 

Calgary Flames’ Potential Picks: Building Depth at Center

   

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Depending on the success, the scouts know it as Christmas or D-Day. Everyone but the kitchen sink (I never understood that saying); I digress. As I mentioned, the Flames need a center. Dearen and I get to show how little we know about hockey.

I guess we like abuse. You can find him on Twitter @JASTA28.

Now for the picks:

I am honored to have been invited by Randy to share my perspective on the Calgary Flames’ potential selections in the upcoming NHL Draft, where the organization currently holds two first-round picks. It is widely acknowledged that the Flames face a significant organizational need at center—not only at the NHL level but throughout their developmental pipeline. Depending on how one views Connor Zary’s long-term role, the team lacks a true center prospect ready to eventually take over from Kadri or Backlund. As such, I anticipate that the Flames will target a center with their 18th overall selection. That said, picking at 18 often means reacting to how the board unfolds ahead of you while weighing positional needs against the best player available.

Although a selection at this stage of the draft may not produce an NHL-ready player within one or two seasons, it is essential for Calgary to begin addressing this void now. At 18th overall, I believe the Flames could turn to the Western Hockey League and select Cole Reschny. The Saskatchewan-born, left-handed center is a dynamic, versatile skater with strong offensive instincts and a highly productive season behind him. His creativity, pace, and competitive level make him an attractive option—one that Calgary may find too compelling to pass up. While some might view Reschny’s stature as a concern, in a center-deep draft, there’s a plausible scenario where he slides to 18th overall. Drawing comparisons to Berkly Catton, he may ultimately prove to be of tremendous value at that spot.

At 32nd overall—not 31st, thankfully—the Flames will likely turn to their internal list and select the top remaining name to close out the round. While some might expect Calgary to look locally and select Benjamin Kindel from the Calgary Hitmen—should he still be available—I lean in a different direction. I foresee them choosing between Milton Gastrin and Theo Stockselius. Gastrin offers a safer floor; he is noted for his NHL-ready shot and natural leadership traits that have already caught the attention of multiple clubs. However, I believe the Flames will opt for Stockselius.

18. Braeden Cootes, Centre

Braeden is a coach’s dream and a locker-room leader. He’s tenacious, smart, and efficient. He has a solid shot and is suited for either second- or third-line roles.

32. Milton Gastrin, Centre

Milton is reliable and positionally sound. He has good speed and a quick shot release; while he may not be flashy, he is still a solid second- or third-line center option.

Second Round

54. Charlie Trethewey, Defenseman

He is a big stay-at-home defenseman who plays with a chip on his shoulder. He doesn’t shy away from the physical play.

Has a good slap shot and will clear in front of the net for the goalies to see. Has some good character might be another Bell on our hands.

No write-ups on the rest of the picks—just their names.

Third Round

80. Viggo Nordlund, Left Wing

Fifth Round

144. Michael Svrcek, Centre

Sixth Round

176. Olivier Groulx, Left Wing

Seventh Round

208. Kaleb Hartmann, Left Wing

The Future Looks Bright: Matthew Coronato Commits to Calgary Flames

 

It is so nice to see players finally want to sign and stay. The Calgary Flames are working hard to keep our start. They are trying to keep a family unit. Today, they made a big move by extending their contract with their amazing forward, Matthew Coronato.

Cornato has probably the best shot on the roster. What makes him so dangerous is his quick release, and it is so accurate. He has this top-shelf cookie jar mentality. I could see Coronato being a 40-goal man for the Flames.

The contract is very much team-friendly, $6.5 million for 7 years. I thought for sure he would be around $8 million for 7  years.

Bidding Farewell But Looking Ahead

I just wanted to share my thoughts on the recent passing of Greg Mellon. His infectious laugh and great sense of humor will always stay with us. Greg was an amazing color commentator, and he will truly be missed.

Sending my heartfelt warmth, thoughts, and prayers to Greg’s family during this time.

The NHL has lost another legend this week with the passing of Ray Shero. Ray was truly one of the classiest individuals in hockey. He dedicated 13 seasons to the league, making his mark with three different organizations. He kicked off his career in Pittsburgh, where he helped bring home the Stanley Cup, and then moved on to New Jersey and later the Minnesota Wild. I always admired him during his time in Pitt—he had that warm smile that could brighten anyone’s day. Now, he’ll be reunited with his father, the legendary Flyers coach Fred Shero. My thoughts and prayers are with the Shero family during this difficult time.

Now, on to the Flames blog. I had to address my love to two hockey legends who will be sadly missed. 

The Calgary Flames have shown massive interest in University Forward Carter King lately. I did not know much about the Calgary native, so I did some digging and asked about this young prospect.

Carter is a high-energy forward who won’t back down from anyone. He goes all out in the corners for the puck and doesn’t shy away from a challenge. While he might not rack up a ton of points, his leadership and tenacity make him a valuable asset to any team. Furthermore, he attended the Calgary Flames development camp and showed great potential. 

One of my absolute favorite people to follow is Steven Ellis—he’s a true expert on hockey prospects. If you want the inside scoop on up-and-coming talent, he’s the best in the game! I often turn to his insights as part of my research for my mock blogs. Steven is the Associate Director at Daily Faceoff, which you can check out at https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/. I just learned that he also covers Leafs content for Leafs Nation, which is pretty awesome! If you’re looking for reliable info on prospects, follow him on Twitter @SEllisHockey. You won’t be disappointed!

I asked Steven for his thoughts about Calgary native Carter King. Here is what he had to say:

“King has received much attention from NHL scouts the past few years due to his work ethic. He plays on both special teams while doing an especially good job as a penalty killer. King is a decent enough skater that can throw some solid hits for a 5-foot-10 forward. I can see him being a third or fourth-liner in the NHL who can feed off energy.”

I really hope the Flames can get Carter to sign on the dotted line!

Randy

The Road Ahead: What Changes Are Coming For The Flames?

I know some folks might not like what I'm about to say, but hear me out. The Flames are three points out of the playoffs, and I know the natural instinct is to go all-in for that final push. But honestly, I believe that if they play their game right, the Canucks will get the final spot. 

That being said, if the Flames remain in a close battle for the playoffs, I am not so  Naive enough to think the Flames won't get after a dman and a center. I have already been informed they will. I would prefer the Flame do a little house cleaning and set up nicely into the next season. 

So, the next step would be who to build this team around. It goes without saying that the young guns—Zarry, Frost, and Farabee—are staying put; they're the core of our future. They are the foundation for this team's future. Flames had three objectives that I know of: add one more vet dman, sign Ramus Andersson, and, of course, the addition of a young centre. One down, two to go. Flames' GM Craig Conroy has said he's all in on extending Rasmus Andersson during the offseason. 

As for that center spot, we snagged Morgan Frost from the Flyers—that's a solid addition. My source says the Flames are going after a big-name, number-one centre. I hope we see that happen before the start of next season. The Flames also acquired Farabee to boost the offense and make them more competitive.

So, that being said, how can the Flames trim the deadwood? The Flames have seven defencemen who are actually of NHL quality, and three are part of the future—Weeger, Andersson, and Dahl. That leaves us with four others: Brayden Pachal, Daniil Miromanov, Joel Hanley, and Jake Bean. They could definitely look to trade a couple of those guys and bring in some prospects to mix things up.

As for the forwards, a few names come to mind. Mikael Backlund, Blake Coleman, and, of course, Nazem Kadri are the vets to watch. All three could be big assets for teams chasing the Cup.

The last move they could achieve is in the net. Dan Vladar is a UFA and could be a valuable asset. He'd be a solid option for any team looking for a backup goalie. 

This is all probably moot; as of this moment, the Flames are not in any rush to make a deal.

Will Calgary Keep Their Star Defenseman?

The Calgary Flames have a significant decision coming up in the next few weeks. When it comes to signing Andersson, it just boils down to how much cash they’re willing to offer. That’s what my sources are saying, at least.

Rasmus is the most gifted d-man on our team. He has a sneaky slapshot from the blue line during power plays that can catch everyone off guard. He has excellent vision and is always aware of where his teammates are. I’ve heard that teams need to recognize and build around their core players, which is why it is so vital that they lock him down for as long as they can. 

Rasmus plays with his heart on his sleeve and really cares about winning or losing. He’s got a chip on his shoulder, just like the rest of the team. He’s all about getting that win, and you can definitely see it in his game. His accurate passes often get him out of danger in their zone. A great skater who does not shy away from the physical game. He may not be the greatest at one skill, but he is good at all the skills, making him a terrific all-around defenceman.

In conclusion, I will close with a quote from one of my sources on Andersson staying with the Flames.

“Rasmus Anderson does everything. He plays offense, he plays defense, and he can be physical when called upon. Andersson’s most significant asset, which surprises many people, is a physical game. Every team in the league needs physical defencemen who do what it takes to win.”

I never considered Andersson’s physical game his best asset. But people in the game think it is a huge asset. 

Another source tells me: When this team is expected to be good in three years, they will trade for a defenseman like Rasmus Andersson. So, I understand the argument that you should trade Rasmus to gain assets to make this team good in three years, but mark my words that in three years, we will be talking about the Flames needing to trade for a defenseman like Andersson if they decide to move instead of extend him.

Andersson is the glue that holds this team together. Losing him on the back end would be a huge blow. Sure, we could land a big return for him, but as the source mentioned, finding a replacement would take us three years.

And, of course, Andersson himself declared that he is a Flame. He bleeds Flames, which means he hates the Oilers and Canucks. :)

Randy