Flames Draft Day

Even though I never pick the draft right, I always enjoy this draft blog. The Calgary Flames are poised to make an exciting selection this year. They will try their best to get another draft selection. There are rumors of Hanifin going, with 6-8 teams interested in acquiring him. Working the premise that there is only one draft pick in the first round, here is my choice. With only one first-round pick available, the Flames appear to have their sights set on dman David Reinbacher. But chances are he will be gone by the 16th pick, forcing the Flames to consider other options.

My picks: 

First Round

16 Matthew Wood - Left Wing

Matthew is an intelligent player with soft hands with a great explosive shot. His greatest strength will be his one-timers. He will be an offensive weapon on the powerplay. Matthew is a silky-smooth forward with an impressive hockey IQ who will be dangerous in the offensive zone.

 

Second Round

48 Jesse Kiiskinen - Left Wing

 

Jesse is a highly skilled winger who plays a high-tempo game. He has excellent hands and skates like the wind. He is a gifted winger wi a good hockey IQ, although he could use some work to develop in the defensive zone. Jesse possesses excellent passing abilities with great vision. I hope the Flames grab this kid. 

80 Third Round

Andrew Strathmann - Defense

Andrew is a talented D-man who is speedy, plays a rough game, and is not afraid to get his nose dirty. The Flames could use his durablity and his toughness. He has a good a shot and knows how to jump in to keep the puck in.

Fourth Round

112 Felix Unger Sörum - Left Wing

Felix is a talented winger with excellent skating skills. Despite his raw talent, most people feel he will need time to develop. If the Flames are willing to be patient, he could be a future star.

For the last two picks, I will list them without a write-up.

Sixth Round

177 Noah Chadwick - Defense

Seventh Round

207 Ty Halaburda - Left Wing

 

The Calgary Flames: Moving On

Today, the Calgary Flames bid farewell to Darryl Sutter, an iconic coach to the team. Yes, I used the word "iconic" because he is the icon of coaches in Calgary. He poured his heart and soul into this team, everything he had. We must still give him the respect he deserves for being a pillar of the NHL. If you were to have a picture of what the Calgary Flames embody in spirit, it would be a picture of Darryl Sutter. It is time to see him go, but today I am as happy as I am sad to see this occasion happen.

The Flames had to take action after a disappointing season. It was clear that changes were necessary and sacrifices had to be made. Somebody had to pay the piper. Darryl's reliance on veterans over younger players had to be fixed. The Flames were an old, slow team, and I understand that.

What does this mean for the Calgary Flames' future? It means the organization is taking a step in the right direction. They are getting younger. It also means they are letting the players direct what this organization does. It happens in every team sooner or later—the players do not get along with the coach and the players will not play with the coach, and then the freeze-out happens. They stop listening to the coach and stop working for him. When that happens, nobody wins. This is precisely what was happening in Calgary. When the players stop playing for the coach, you either have to fire the coach or make a whole bunch of trades. It's a lot easier to fire the coach.

Now that the Calgary Flames have moved on, it's time to consider who their next coach will be. That's right; it's time to play GM. Who would you hire as the new coach of the Calgary Flames? Usually, when I play this game, I end up having foot-in-mouth disease. That's okay, as long as I don't have foot fungus. But I digress. On to my picks or best options as coach of the Calgary Flames.

Mitch Love

Mitch Love, coach of the Calgary Wranglers, should be at the top of your list when considering potential coaches. Mitch was Coach of the Year for the last two seasons in the AHL. He is highly successful and highly respected among his players. He is a good "player's coach." He is fair, and players know what is expected of them.

Bruce Boudreau

Bruce is one of the most successful coaches out there. He knows the game and surrounds himself with successful people. Boudreau is one of the best motivators out there. He gets the players to do what he wants but makes it look like it's what they want. With Bruce there, he is in charge. The players will not be allowed to run the roost.

Peter Laviolette

He is the sexy name out there. Peter might be the big name the Flames need. He is an offensive coach, and his style of play aligns with Huberdough's skill set. The Flames need an offensive coach to bring the best out of these players and get them to perform. Laviolette might be what the doctor ordered for the Calgary Flames.

As for General Manager, the Calgary Flames' leading candidate is Conroy. His biggest advocate is Mr. Iggy. (I, for one, would love to have Jarome in one of our management positions, if that is in the cards.)

Flames Extinguished

The Calgary Flames season has been a disappointment, and this is something that none of us can deny. A major issue for the Flames has been their inability to close out games. While the goalies often get blamed for this, the fact is that there has been much more to it than just lousy goaltending. The powerplay has not been able to produce goals, and this is an issue that does not stem from the goaltenders. The Flames made seven or eight deep bad defensive plays in our zone. It has nothing to do with our goaltending. 

One of the primary concerns for the Calgary Flames is finding a suitable center to play alongside Jonathan Huberdeau. We all know Huberdeau is a far better player than what he has shown. The team needs to establish a system that works well for every player. It is essential to eliminate selfishness and focus on playing as a cohesive unit. Unfortunately, this season, we have had many examples of players trying to win games single-handedly.

Additionally, the team needs more energy and emotion than they have displayed in previous seasons. Darrell Sutter's ability to motivate his players has been a significant benefit in past seasons. But this year, it has just not been there.

There has been much talk about Markstrom's confidence taking a hit after the Edmonton Oilers series last season. Throughout this season, Jacob has struggled with his performance, frequently getting caught out of position and conceding easy goals. That being said, he has yet to get the greatest support. Often, Jacob has been left to fend for himself, with his teammates failing to provide the necessary assistance.

Fixing this dysfunctional group of players is a monumental task. Initially, the Calgary Flames need to tackle the cap issues. The Huberdeau and Weeger contracts are significant problems that need to be addressed. The challenge is finding a way to fit both players within the team's budget. Ownership is not keen on a complete rebuild, so the Flames must figure out how to make hockey trades while staying within the salary cap. It is almost impossible to remain competitive while being restricted by the cap. Whether Brad or someone else is GM, they will have to have a top-notch capologist or possess magical powers to get the Flames out of this crap.  

In the second part of this blog, I will delve into the Calgary Flames' most valuable trading assets. These include notables such as Tanav, Toffol, Hanifin, Dube, and Lindholm.

Randy

Sell, Sell, Sell

I hate to state the obvious, but the Flames need to sell coming up to this draft. The Flames must take stock of their situation heading into this draft, as they have consistently failed to meet expectations. No matter the cause, they are not a playoff team and must take action. Selling off players is the only way to gain the assets they need to get back on track.

Which assets? I hate to say it, but don't they say ripping the bandaid quickly is better? So here is ripping the bandaid off. Elias Lindholm has one year remaining on his contract. While it may be difficult to do, the Calgary Flames have to decide whether to trade him to avoid a similar situation to what happened with Tkachuk or Gaudreau. Lindholm is an excellent playmaking center who can be a great asset for many teams, especially the Colorado Avalanche.

The Calgary Flames have many options on the defensive side. Who should they keep, and who should they trade? Mackenzie Weeger is rumored to be on the trading block. They are not actively shopping for Mackenzie Weegar but are open to offers for the blue liner. 

Another option is Noah Hanifin, who has one more year after this season. Do the Flames keep him for another season or send him packing? If the Calgary Flames decide to part ways with Hanifin, he will be a hot commodity.

The Flames' UFA group is not exactly a bumper crop. However, they have three players—Lucic, Lewis, and Stone—who could bring in draft picks in a trade. The Flames may have to eat up half of his cap hit in any deal involving Lucic.

It would be a shame if the Flames opted not to keep Backlund or Tyfolli on, as their performances have been stellar this season. 

Brad is in a tough spot, as his future with the Flames is not so bright with the Flames being out of the playoffs. He has nothing to lose at this point and may not be willing to start rebuilding for the future. 

Blow it up

I understand Flames fans being very frustrated with an underwhelming hockey team. I know this can't all be blamed on one player, but the apparent culprit is Markstrom. I hate to pick Marky, but he has been struggling all year.

That being said, the Flames have yet to tighten up on their defensive end. The forwards have been fighting the offensive side. They need to try harder to score and remember the other end. What is the saying? Oh yes, "defense wins cups."

Speaking of forwards, how about Milan Lucic playing his best hockey as a Flame? Lucic has really fit in with Huberdeau and Kadri. Huberdeau has been showing signs of getting out of the doghouse. But he still needs to pick it up if the Flames are to succeed.

Lindholm also needs to turn things around. He is the Flames' most talented centre, but perhaps losing Tkachuk and Gaudreau took its toll. Could anyone blame him? Losing two forwards like Tkachuk and Gaudreau will obviously change the stats. That being said, Lindy needs to pick it up.

The Flames repeatedly losing their lead has to stop. In the past, I could count on my hands how many times the Flames lost a game when they had a lead going into the third period. I can count that high this year on the many times they have blown leads. This year it is a regular occurrence. Each game, I am just waiting for the catastrophe to start.

The Flames are not a rookie team. It is time that they stop playing like one.

Randy

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