Calgary bullish at 14

CALGARY – The Calgary Flames head into the 2012 NHL Entry Draft with optimism that they can not only make the necessary changes that will not only get the Flames back into the playoffs but go far once they get there. While the Flames may have the 14^th overall pick, they will have to improve on an offense that failed to launch for most of the season.
Calgary finished 24^th in offense but was 14^th in defense. The roles were reversed on special team when the Flames finished 13^th on the power play and 9^th on the penalty kill. So what kind of changes will the Flames make? Let’s find out.
The Flames got most of their offense from the left wingers and center positions. Mike Cammalleri and Olli Jokinen had a combined 43 goals from the center position. Alex Tanguay and Curtis Glencross pumped in 39 on left wing, and Jarome Iginla and Lee Stempniak had 56 with Iginla leading the team with 32 of those goals.
On defense only three defensemen were a positive in the plus minus category: TJ Brodie Anton Babchuk, and Cory Sarich. The defensive unit only accounted for 25 goals this year. With Mark Giordano leading the team with 9.
The goaltending situation is Miikka Kiprusoff and a bunch of potential behind him so at some point and time the Flames will have to address it in the draft and in free agency. No goaltender has been taken so far in our mock draft and it might be a bit of a reach to take one at 14, especially since the top goaltending prospect is a Russian.
As far as free agents go Jokinen, Stempniak, and David Moss are UFA’s as is Sarich and Scott Hannan on defense. The Flames have a decent stable of prospects and will be counted on to make some roster spots come training camp time.
Calgary will surely look for offense come draft day, especially in the first round. On PHN’s draft board Brendan Gaunce, Tomas Gertl, and Stefan Matteau would look nice at the center position. If the Flames decide a winger is more important than a center Sebastian Collberg would look good on right wing.
If the Flames decide to go with defense there will be plenty to choose from with Hampus Lindholm and Derrick Pouliot still on the board, but we get the feeling the Flames will stay away from them. We expect the Flames to make the following call come draft day.
“With the 14^th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, the Calgary Flames select, from the Bellville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League, center Brendan Gaunce.”
To learn more about Brendan Gaunce click here .
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohckeynews.com
Contact the photographer at Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com