Flame out: What went wrong

I could just copy other blogs of what went wrong and paste them here. Year after year, disappointment, and then the Flames make minor adjustments for the next season. After this year, I think small changes have come to an end.

The first choice was Tyler Toffoli's trade. Was it a complete failure? He was great during the regular season but went pretty quiet in the series lost to the Oilers. A rather expensive first-rounder, to say the least. He has one year left on his contract, so it might still be a little early to make a judgment on the deal. 

The first line did not come through during the crunch. I know it is not fair, but often, the stars get the blame when the team fails expectations. The Flames need more players who can perform under pressure instead of panicking. This core has not come through, so changes have to occur. But who goes?

First on the block is Johnny Hockey. I know losing him would suck, but in reality, what has this core done since they've been together? Early exit after early exit. Then there is the demand for the ten million dollars plus cap it will cost to keep him. Do we pay out the money? I don't see the Flames doing that (but I don't have any inside info on that.) Johnny's tenure with the Flames will be known for not being able to come through during the playoffs. I am not sure he wants to stay in Calgary; I think he has made up his mind about testing free agency. My gut tells me that if he wanted to stay, he would have signed by now. Johnny is one of the best players in the NHL. No one can doubt his talent, and someone will pay what he wants. He is one of the best Flames players ever.

Tkachuk is going to cost the Flames $9.9 million to qualify him. Yes, he is coming off a career year, collecting over 100 points. He scored 40 goals this season, another career-high. I could recite all the stats backing up his worth until I grow blue in the face. Tkachuk brings a lot of character to the dressing room, he gets into the teams' heads, and he throws off other teams' superstars. What he does without the puck might be more valuable than what he does with the puck. But can he get 100 points without Gaudreau? And will he stay when Gaudreau leaves?

Is Darryl Sutter too loyal to his players? Is the system at fault? Is it time to bring a new philosophy to the Flames' thinking? 

The Flames beating up along the boards has to change. It's a faster game now. Calgary's defence is too slow to compete with the faster teams in the league. It is time to get quicker and younger on the blueline, whether the Flames find the answers on the farm through the Heat or wheeling and dealing in the trade market. The number one guy I have been pushing is Connor Mackey I think he is ready to play now.

Randy

Are They Good Enough

 

So, did the Flames do enough? 

I know they are probably the best team in the Pacific Division. Apparently, they tried to get a depth defenceman, but couldn't make it work. The reason was there were not many options left by that point. I wonder if the Flames could have started earlier if they had made more cap room? They had to put Richardson on waivers just to be able to tinker in the final hour. 

The Flames could have made a cap casualty trade. Now bear with me—they could have traded Monahan for a cheaper third-line centre. If they are going to use Monahan as a third-line centre, they might as well use an actual third-line player to do the same thing for cheaper.  

One of my contacts has expressed how he feels about their use of Monahan: "They frankly misuse the talented centre."  I know Flames fans are often frustrated with Monahan, but is it his fault? When a team undervalues a player, can he help but think less of himself? 

The second part of this question: Should the Flames have considered making room for the Tkachuk and Gaudreau extensions next season? Could they have made a cap casualty trade without hurting the team? 

One contact explained why they couldn't dump any cap: "When you have the chance at the cup, you have to go for it." I countered about having to lose Tkachuk or Gaudreau next year. Another contact agreed with not changing anything before the playoffs: "You can't mess with a team's chemistry when it is one of the best teams in the League."  

With this discussion, I learned precisely what goes through a General Manager's mind at the deadline. They have to consider every option and then judge the likely result. Who knew?

Randy

This is a different kind of team

Yesterday, I talked with my source. I expressed my concerns about the Flames vs Oilers and how the Oilers had owned the Flames in the past. He said, "I wouldn't be worried; this Flames team is a different kind of beast."   

The Flames have had some near-perfect teams. What makes this Flames team much more dangerous than teams from yesteryear?  

Top First Line

Maybe one of the best lines in the game. Believe it or not, there is more than just Johnny Gaudreau to this line. Lindholm might be one of the best playmaking centres going right now. The puck-between-the-legs specialist, Tkachuk, is a highly talented goal scorer who plays with the best of them. Yes, the hated Tkachuk, who gets in teams' heads and gets teams off their game. 

Vezna Goalie Candidate

Markstrom has been outstanding; he gives the Flames a chance to win every night. What makes Marky so good is his vision; his puck vision is one of the best in the League. Markstrom rarely gets caught out of position. 

Supportive Scoring

The Flames have more than just a first line. A few names come to mind... such as Andrew Mangiapane and Tyler Toffoli. Mangiapane has 29 goals, and Toffoli has been fantastic since coming over in a trade with the Habs. 

All of that being said; I hate to be a Negative Nelly, but I don't think the Flames are good enough to beat the major contenders. I think they still are two players away from where they need to be. The problem will be finding an imaginative way to circumnavigate the cap to find a solution that works. 

Randy

What's in Store for this Sizzling Hot Team?

 

Where do the Flames go from here? I have been discussing Johnny Gaudreau a lot lately; how about the rest of the team?

The Flames have shown us that they are "all in." The Flames feel they have an opportunity here to win the cup. From what I have been told, the Flames would love to add another defenseman for depth. Sutter is not completely satisfied with the defense yet. There have still been a lot of mental mistakes in the defensive zone. 

They have scouted a lot of Seattle games, adding to the speculation that they are bringing home their old captain. The Flames would have to do another deal to make room or bring in a third team to make the cap fit. I have a hard time believing that will happen, but you never know. 

The team has signed  Rory Kerins. A skilled playmaking centre from OHL Greyhounds. 

There may be another forward for depth on the bottom six if they don't pick up a defenseman. Sutter would still like to add some scoring. The Flame's bottom six has to pitch in on the offensive game. Again, this will take some maneuvering because of cap constraints. I am not expecting much. Sutter wants to improve this team at the deadline. Cap management will have to come into play to make this work. 

The fans would love to see the Flames bring up Matthew Phillips, who is lighting it up in Stockton. The smooth-skating forward is becoming a star with his playmaking abilities. He is proving that he has what it takes to make in the show. Jakob Pelletier is also showing why he is considered one of the best prospects for the Flames. The two players might be worth keeping track of, as the Stockton Heat is one of the best teams in the AHL. 

The Flames are committed to improving the team, whether they bring up some bodies from Stockton or go the trade route. 

Randy

The Toffoli Acquisition: We are Going for It!

The Flames are making a statement. They are on a six-game winning streak, and Sutter has been yelling his order for a top-6 forward. To state the obvious, the reason they are winning is the first line. 

In the Calgary Flames' eyes, they have acquired the best top-six forward in the market in Tyler Toffoli. That leads to the entire reasoning behind the trade: the Flames need scoring support. Before the game last night, I could see Tyler playing the second or third line. Toffoli fit perfectly with Monahan and Dube. Monahan and Dube looked like brand new players. What Toffoli does for the Flames is give them three scoring lines.  

The Flames are running on all cylinders right now. The forwards are flying; the speed on this team is incredible. Every forward is contributing on the offensive side of the game. One source said, "This move gives the Flames four offensive lines."  Yes, the offensive play is at an all-time high, but their never-say-die attitude is what makes this team so effective.  

It is crazy how they work this board game; they hit you until they take away the puck from you. "If you get caught playing their game, you will be sore all over and on the wrong side of the scorecard." 

One more quote I hear all that time from several fans is "we finally have a defense that can score." The team is working as one, and there is no I in the word team. Every player is on board and involved in all aspects of the game. In other words, these players are now working as teammates, not as individuals. 

#13 is Going to Get Paid

Gaudreau showed how good he was last night. Everyone is talking about Johnny about how the Flames need to sign him. I have never heard so many people tweeting "pay the man." The only question is how much. 

The true leader of the Flames this season, Johnny is on pace for a career season. Johnny is on pace for 106 points and 35 goals, both career highs. Johnny is on pace for 22 power-play goals, the second-best in his career. How the Flames go depends on how Johnny goes.

Johnny is on pace on career highs in everything except in power-play goals. Upon writing this blog, Johnny leads the Flames in points and assists. 

I don't think I have seen Johnny this focused in his career. He is undoubtedly one of the best Flames players ever. 

Here is a collection of how good he is. 

The biggest obstacle is, of course, the team's salary cap. To make things worse, the cap is not going up significantly in the next three years. Johnny is worth north of 8 million dollars. Both sides know that. Both parties also know the Flames can't go much higher than 8 million. Gaudreau will give in his demands a little more than the Flames. Last I heard, they are about 2 million apart. I expect the Flames to go as high as 8.25 million. Whether Johnny will stay for that is anyone's guess. 

Randy

Crossroads

Crossroad #1 Johnny Gaudreau

The Flames are coming to crossroads; the Gaudreau contract expires at the end of this season. The major roadblock is that Gaudreau does not want contracts negotiations to continue during the season. If that persists, there has to be a point where the Flames have to address the Gaudreau contract talks. 

The way I see it, they have three options. 

(1) Keep Gaudreau and have a chance to lose him for nothing. 

(2) Trade Gaudreau for a rebuild and collect as many assets as you can get.  

(3) Ask Gaudreau to reopen the negotiations and pay the man.  

I have changed my opinion on the Gaudreau situation. Previously, I was all for a Gaudreau trade. But with the way he has been playing, I would love the Flames to re-sign him. 

So, I choose number three. But I am not sure Gaudreau wants to discuss the contract until the off-season. If he refuses, then the Flames have to use one of the first two options. Whether the Flames are close to a playoff or fading will shape which option the Flames will take.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Crossroad #2 Oliver Kylington

Oliver has been on a roll of late. Oliver is on a career year right in time for his RFA. Oliver has been the story of the year so far. I love the way he plays. He is becoming a very good young dman. He picks the right times to pitch in and speed to the offence. If he continues to play as he has, the Flames may have to shed some coin to re-sign the soon-to-be RFA.

Crossroad #3 Juuso Välimäki

Juuso came out with some not-so-complimentary comments about not playing lately. Jusso has been in out for ten games in a row. Either he is not very good, or he is stubborn and is unwilling to change his play. Or maybe the coaches have not been clear enough about what is expected of him.  

What is clear is that the Juuso situation has come to a head. How will the Flames handle it? I predict his days are numbered.

Crossroad #4 Darth Vladar

Vladar has proven his worth as an NHL-caliber goalie. His play of late has been outstanding. In the game in Toronto, Vladar stole the point, making save after save. Russ Cohen @sportsology on Twitter said something along the lines of, "The Flames don't drop a beat with Vladar in the net." Strong praise considering how well Markstrom has played this season.

The Flames are coming to several crossroads. It will be interesting to watch which forks in the road they will take.

Randy