New Year, New Flames?

I could go on for hours about what the Flames' needs are, but I wonder if bringing in a bunch of new players is the solution. Don't get me wrong, the Flames could use a top-six winger and a new goaltender, but realistically they can only bring in a few. 

The Flames have enough talent to compete every night. Huberdeau needs to start playing like he is capable. Lindholm has to pull up his socks, and Kadri needs to maintain his effort. My post-Christmas gift to this team is a lump of coal.

But, since this is not the spirit of the season, I will offer up an olive branch. The Flames need another sniper to add some offensive punch. So here are a couple of options. 

A Brian MacLellan Player

I would love Max Domi of the Chicago Blackhawks. Not the Blackhawk name you were expecting, I know. Max has some grit and can score with a Huberdeau; he just needs a chance. A power forward who could be the 20-goal scorer the Flames need.

The Defense needs a touch player. The Flames need one more defenseman who can stabilize the core. Someone who helps cover some defensive mistakes.

A Jamie Macoun Player

Nick Holden is an option for a steady number-five dman who might help in a pinch. I don't want a star, but someone who can help with defensive zone coverage. His cap hit is cheap, and we can afford to take that on. 

This team needs to take responsibility for what is going on. They don't need an overhaul. What they need is to start playing like they're capable of. 

Randy

Flames: My Kingdom for a Winning Streak

Let me ask you a question: Is there a more frustrating team in the NHL than the Calgary Flames? The offense is average at best, and abysmal at worst. I could use other words, but this is a family blog, and my wife would not edit it for me. 

Huberdeau has shown up a few times, then taken a seat to watch. The Breadman has yet to be the dough man (see what I did there). The defense has been lacking, to say the least. When your best defenceman has been Stone, it makes you wonder what is wrong. I mean good for Stone, bad for the Defence. Of course, that is not the case in every game, but it has happened this season.

To say the Flames have been inconsistent would be an understatement. It would be equivalent to calling the Grand Canyon a big hole. (Get that the Flames might have fallen off the path a few times.)  

Markstrom coming out and saying he is not happy with his play is admirable. Of course, I have come to admit I suck at playing the piano. Saying it is one thing. Doing something about it is another. Yes, this blog is a little facetious, but you get my point. There is no room for excuses or mediocrity. The Flames have to stop the nonsense or they will have to listen to my big words of anger. If the Flames continue with sloppiness and inconsistency, there is always the lottery ticket of Beddard. Or we can put on our big boy pants and fix this ship.

Last Word

Darth Vladar, in thee we trust. The end

Randy

Calgary Flames: It's a 60-minute game

The title should be self-explanatory. The Calgary Flames have to become a 60-minute hockey team. The third period against the Kraken the other night was a gong show. The defense coverage was laughable. There were many other issues; blind passing, players standing around, and most concerning was being outworked every game. When was the last time you saw a Sutter team outworked consistently every night? My source said it best when he said, "The Flames are lucky to be 5-1 when they had not played a full 60-minute game all season." Well, that caught up to them, and right now, they're closer to a lottery team than a contender. 

Plain and simple, I love the acronym KISS, meaning Keep It Simple Stupid. The Flames are overthinking, trying not to lose instead of trying to win. Suddenly they are skating in the mud, doubting themselves. They've lost their heart. The loss to the Islanders was Kraken, Part II. Mistakes happen when you start trying to protect the lead instead of keeping your foot on the gas pedal. Hockey comes naturally; the Flames need to let the game come to them. 

Markstrom has not been able to make the big saves, particularly in the third period. That might be because the Flames slow down and stop playing, or because Markstrom is struggling himself. I think it is both. The Flames made a ton of mistakes in the Islanders game. It was another gong show. There is no excuse. Markstrom has to improve his game and the Flames must hustle for a full sixty minutes. They should know better. They're not a young team. It is time to put on their big boy skates. Sutter needs to bring the ship back on course. 

If Huberdeau's injury is long-term, the Flames may have to consider trading one of the defencemen to bring in another forward. They must take action before the team falls too far behind.

Randy

Predictions for the season

 

Do visions of Huberdeau and Lindholm dance in your head? So goes the beginning of the hockey season. Don't tell me you don't have them in your head. 

There are high expectations for the Flames. As the season progresses, those expectations will turn into dread and visions of firing everyone. Well, maybe not. This team is built for the playoffs; we just have to get there. Speaking of expectations—I would like to throw out some numbers I think certain players should obtain. They are the leaders of the team going into this season. 

11 Jonathan Huberdeau 

He is known as Huby and is the star of attraction this season. He is an outstanding playmaking forward who can play with the best of them. Huberdeau might be the best passer in the game. He has a sneaky shot. He will be the leading scorer on the team. 

30-60-90

Elias Lindholm 

Elias Lindholm is the number one centre. He had a career year last year. He is a smooth skating forward who is sneaky fast. Lindholm has a terrific wrist shot. Lindholm's one-timers are deadly; he is very accurate in the slot. He will benefit from Huberdeau's playmaking. 

I am expecting: 40-35-75

52 Mackenzie Weegar

Many experts feel Mackenzie is the best defenceman on the team. He is strong both ways in his game. Sturdy and dependable defensively, he will cut down defensive mistakes in the Flames' zone. 

Weegar is the typical Darryl Sutter player. He has a high hockey IQ. 

I am expecting: 12-30-42

Jacob Markstrom

Jacob is an elite goalie. Even better news, he won't be left to his own devices as often as last season. He is one of the best positional goalies with excellent vision. He rarely gets caught out of position. 

His load should be less this season.

I am expecting: 55 starts, 35 wins, and 6 shootouts. I am really hoping it is 50 starts. 

Randy

Darth Vladar should play

Darth Vladar should play more this season. 

Ring of Fire shows off Mr. Vladar's saves. You can find him on Twitter @RingOfFireCGY.

Before you shoot me, let me explain the statement. We need to keep Markstrom fresher for the playoffs this year. Don't read more into my statement than that. I do not believe it was Markstrom's fault that we lost to the Oilers; that was a Total Team Collapse. Notice the capitalization. I wanted to emphasize that it was the team's responsibility. 

If a team can limit a goalie start to 50 games, they will have a more refreshed goalie. A refreshed goalie means better quality saves. If Markstrom is on his game, he is one of the best goalies in the league. When alert, he is always in a position to make the save.

A tired goalie misses rebounds, often resulting in easy goals. He is often caught out of position. 

The Flame's offense will tail off a bit this season. With the lost Tkachuk and Gaudreau, the Flames will need Markstrom to bail him out. No, I am not being a negative Nelly. Realistically, Kadri and Weeger will not make up for the loss of Tkachuk. 

I love Markstrom. A rested Markstrom can be that much better. 

Randy

Brad, you did what? Episode 2

This is the wildest offseason I have experienced! Who would have thought Monahan, Tkachuk, and Gaudreau would be all gone? Like everyone else who heard the rumors, I refused to believe they would go away. Yes, sometimes I live my own little world.

We rebuild it. Stronger, faster...  oh, never mind. Well, here we are now, Calgary Flames Management's own version of the Six Million Dollar Man.  

The first question is whether or not Kadri is worth Monahan and a first. Monahan has not fit into the Sutter System from the start. Combine that with his injuries, and Mony has never gotten off the ground with the Flames. Despite all that, I think that he will excel with the Habs. The price of the first-round pick goes with the territory when asking a team to take all of his salary. 

In signing Kadri, the Flames are getting a proven winner. Kadri brings a new attitude into the dressing room. He will put an intensity into the team that will no longer accept losing. The Flames have not acquired Kadri only for his offensive talent, but also for his attention to detail in his game. He brings tons of grit into his game. He gets into people's heads. I don't expect him to get ninety points, but I expect him to get 50-60 points and to be a shutdown player. A little more offensive than Backlund, with a touch of grouchiness, he is the perfect Sutter player. 

Yes, I've heard what the naysayers have to say about the Kadri contract. At the end of his contract, Kadri will be as old as Methuselah. My answer is that Methuselah has two more possible cups to his resume. The Flames are in a win-now mode. They will take their chances with Kadi until he turns 39. Brad is a "put-up or shut-up" general manager. He is fighting for his job.

Randy

Brad you did what?

My wife almost had a heart attack on July 23 around ten pm. I might have gotten a little excited about a specific trade. I was told that Tkachuk was signed and delivered to the Blues. You can imagine my astonishment when the trade went down. 

While everyone worries about the status of Huberdeau and Weegar, even if they don't sign, the Flames scored big time at the deadline. Don't worry; the Flames will not be left holding the bag; they will unload both players at the deadline if they don't have them inked to a contract extension.  (Update: Huberdeau signs a $10.5 mm 8-year extension August 4.)

Now, what do we know about Cole Schwindt? We know he is excellent on the draw. He works hard in the corners and will not be cheated or outworked with the puck. He is also hard to take off the puck. 

Schwindt has been improving his shot each year. He is becoming a more and more solid third-line centre. He can also play wing. Most people consider him a B+ prospect. Cole is tenacious when covering his assignments and will stick to opponents like glue.

The Flames signed Mangiapane and Kylington to avoid arbitration. This way, the Flames can move on with these two upcoming stars. I love it when teams can avoid the arbitration hearings, erasing the resentment of the players.

As for the contracts, I like them. Kylington is developing into an all-around defenceman. He might be a steal at this price if he doesn't get traded before the camp starts. 

The Mangiapane signing was crucial. He will be motivated to prove his naysayers out of Calgary they're wrong. The Flames are thin on the forwards, and he could not lose the 35-goal scorer after the Gaudreau fiasco; Eat Bread brings a certain tang to his game, but he does not get the respect he deserves. 

The Flames have 10 defencemen and one of the league's best defensive cores. The addition of Weegar puts Kylington or Hanifin as excellent trade bait to bringing in another top-six forward. Filling the void left by Tkachuk will be hard. No single player can replace Tkachuk, but they can find another 20-goal scorer to help fill the void. The offensive side of the game is going to be accomplished by committee. Everyone will have to pick up their game after the loss of Tkachuk.

Randy