The Calgary Flames had the hockey world in the palms of their hands in the 2014-15 season and post season. The Flames played a spirited brand of hockey and were exciting to watch.
The 2015-16 season was a bit of a disappointment with injuries piling up and a less than stellar effort as compared to the previous campaign.
The club ended up fifth in the Pacific Division and a distant 12th in the Western Conference.
Johnny Gaudreau needs to step up this season for Calgary – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
The step back from 14’15 cost Bob Hartley his head coaching position with the Flames; he was replaced in the off season by Glen Gulutzan.
Coming into the Flames’ fold in the off season were winger Troy Brouwer, goalies Chad Johnson and Brian Elliot along with Alex Chiasson on the right wing.
Elliot’s entrance into the Flames crease should settle the defense down this coming season and Chad Johnson as a solid backup will further solidify what was arguably a weak link last season for Calgary.
Any chance to bolster the defense will start in goal as it should and the blueline corps could use the help.
The Flames were last in the NHL this past season in goals allowed with a 3.13 average per game. Making matters more difficult for them was their penalty kill which also came in last in the league at 75.5% effectiveness, not nearly what it takes to win in the NHL.
Calgary will have some issues with depth on the forward lines as Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan are the go to players along with newly acquired Brower.
The Flames signed Brower to a $.5 million multi-year contract that will put salary cap pressure on general manager Brad Treliving.
Gulutzan was an assistant with the Vancouver Canucks for three seasons before taking the job with the Flames. He was head coach of the Dallas Stars for two seasons and led the Stars’ AHL affiliate for two seasons in Cedar Park, Texas.
Gulutzan will need to ramp up the defense as well as finding second, third and fourth line forw3ards.
On defense, the Flames are thin as they are on offense. After Mark Giordano, TJ Brodie and Dougie Hamilton the club is devoid of elite players. Hamilton needs to regain some form this season after a dreadful campaign last season where he found himself out of favor with Hartley. A new coach may give him a chance to revive his abilities and confidence.
The pile of pucks in the Flames’ net can be blamed only in part on the woeful goaltending last year, the blueline needs to take the lion’s share of the responsibility as goalies were left on their own most nights.
Brian Elliot’s move to Calgary should settle the defense and give the Flames more impetus to move up – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Brodie and Giordano need career years this coming season to make the Flames competitive again.
Without more depth, Calgary is looking at another long season. Elliot in net will help but he may wish he had made other choices in free agency.
The salary cap will also be a problem for the club as the season progresses and may limit trade options.
But we see the Flames making it to the post season this year and finding a way to make their fans believe they have a roster on which to build for the future.
You must be logged in to post a comment.