Breaking Down the Flames’ Roster

Before we dive into the latest happenings, I can’t help but think about Johnny Gaudreau and everything he did for the team. Wouldn’t it be great if the Flames established a scholarship or organized a fundraiser in his name? Something like “Johnny for Cancer” or another wonderful cause would really honor his legacy. Johnny is known for everything good about this sport, and it would be a perfect way to remember him. Now on to the article.

Today, I’m listening to what is happening before the season starts. The Calgary Flames still have some business to attend to, and we know what that is. We don’t need to discuss that here, as I have another blog here: Flames Scratch Pad: 30% Chance, 100% Drama: Andersson’s Future in Flames

Instead, I would like to discuss a defenceman of a younger caliber. One is probably one of the best rookies the Flames have had since sliced bread. He comes with a lot of hype. I think he is worthy. The young defenseman who has everyone buzzing is Zane Parekh. I know it will be tempting to use Zane in all aspects of the game, but I question that approach. Putting too much pressure on him too early may hurt his development. Zane is only 19 years old and still a rookie. Although Zane is an outstanding hockey player, he is still wet behind the ears. I am from the old school, where you take your time with your rookies. It has been suggested that it takes a defenceman a longer time to develop. It is harder to learn the game for a dman, especially in their own defensive end.

If the Calgary Flames are going to use Zane fully in the lineup, they need a great mentor for him. Enter MacKenzie Weegar stage left. MacKenzie would be the team’s captain if it weren’t for Buckland. Will he be able to train Zane, or, rather, help Zane adapt to the NHL? He’s a terrific defender looking to teach Zane some added defense. Weeger can get back when Zane pinches in the offensive zone. Weegar’s solid defensive skills will allow Zane to take some offensive risks without leaving us vulnerable. The Flames will have to be patient with him., I really hope they don’t rush him, but with MacKenzie, his chances are good.

Now onto the Flames’ starting lineup. There are a lot of questions about the line combos. Who is going to play with Kari and Huberdeau? Connor Zarry is one name that pops into my mind.

Bear with me for a moment as I foam at the mouth. I want to see a line combination of Morgan Frost centering Joel Farabee and Matthew Coronado. Morgan and Joel both have much to prove coming off bad seasons. Hopefully, having a whole season to learn to work together will be beneficial. I think there’s tons of potential for the three of them working together. Matthew is obviously going to be the stick that stirs the drink. He will have to be the leader of the line. He has the ability to score 30 to 35 goals, and I think Joel and Morgan can get him there.

As we head into this season, let’s not forget about our promising young goaltender. The worst thing we can do is play him in 70 games and have a worn-out goalie. I sure hope we can limit his starts to 50 to 55. That said, I’m not holding my breath!

No More Emojis: What Ryan Leslie’s Departure Means for Fans

Tribute to Ryan Leslie

Over the years, I have come to respect Ryan Leslie more and more. His relationship with the fans has been nothing less than spectacular. He is one of the most professional media personalities in the industry. Fans look at the emojis he tweets when something is up. Who will take over with the emojis? All the best, Ryan.

Goaltending

Ivan Prosvetov

I discussed my concerns about having an unproven goaltender as a backup this season with a source. He assured me that Prosvetov is capable of being a quality NHL goalie. He went out to say, “He may very well be a more proficient netminder.” The Flames apparently have enough confidence in him to offer him a one-way contract. Only time will tell.

Plus minus stigma

When I addressed the plus-minus with my source, I suggested Andersson might be one of the reasons for the stalemate in his negotiations. His opinion is, “The plus minus stat is a line stat. Teams do not put as much value on this as the fans do. The Flames simply do value Andersson as much as Andersson does himself.” It is a business decision; it’s nothing personal. What is driving me crazy is that the longer Andersson is a Flame, the bigger the distraction he is in the dressing room. Hopefully, the saga will come to a satisfactory end soon.

Final Word

I am perplexed by the lack of movement on the Flames addressing the scoring issue. Where are the goals coming from? I know they were fine last year, but can we expect Wolf to put up the same numbers? What will the defense look like after Andersson’s trade? Everyone knows it’s only a matter of time until Andersson departs. They’d better get an adequate defenseman in return. I am excited. Still, I would be cautious with my expectations this season. Just saying.

Randy 

Johnny Hockey, The Flame That Will Never Go Out

This blog is long overdue. Johnny Gaudreau did more for this city than most in a lifetime. At the time of his passing, I couldn’t believe it. I was devastated beyond belief.

I just could not find the words to say in a tribute. It was too close to home. No, I did not meet or know him, but his family made it seem like I had. He was that kind of person—all class, all the way.

It was almost like losing my family. He was so personal with the fans. There was never a time Johnny would not stop to say hello. Johnny loved the game of hockey, and it showed. Better known as “Johnny Hockey,” he was some kind of player.

Johnny loved the city, and the city loved him. He was active in Calgary’s charities, donating money to Kidsport Calgary every time he scored. That was just the man he was, always putting others first.

His family continues to build relationships with the city. They tell people how much they love them every time they return. They are like royalty in Calgary. They are active in charitable work. As they say, like father, like son. It was so touching to see Johnny’s dad coaching at the Flames and Jackets practices. Johnny would have loved that.

The Flames drafted Johnny Gaudreau in the 4th round of 20ll. His best year was the 2021-2022 season, with 115 points. If memory serves me correctly, only Magic Man Kent Nelson beat him in most points as a Calgary Flame player, with 131 pts. Johnny would not want to be remembered as a hockey player but as a great father, son, husband, and a good man. The world was a better place with Johnny in it.  

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