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