Post by Calgary Flames on Nov 9, 2024 10:58:42 GMT -6
The Flames currently sit with a record of 3-8-1 good for an embarrassing 3rd worst in the Western Conference and 3 points adrift of the final wild card spot. Not good enough. Not good enough at all. What's the culprit? Goal-mother-fucking-tending. The Flames have had abysmal play between the pipes. Only the New Jersey Devils have given up more than the Flames 65 goals against. Dan Vladar was brought in to steady the crease and has an 0.877 SV% and a 3.84 GAA. Not good but he's better than the rest of the trash pretending to be professional hockey players. Case DeSmith has an 0.858 SV% and 6.11 GAA. In desperation Scott Wedgewood was allowed to play a game and now sports an 0.829 SV% and a smooth 7.00 GAA. Barf. Mega Barf.
Aside from the goaltending the defense could be a little better as the Flames are routinely getting outshot but there are some positives as well that are providing the faintest glimmer of hope for the team. Three players, Trocheck, Necas, and Dahlin are above a point per game with Trocheck among the league leaders with 24 points in 14 games. Some of the new comers have started to find their feet with Zadina and Tatar playing well of late and Nick Leddy has been one of the better defenders with 9 assists so far.
The Flames next 3 games are the Sabres, Kings, and Canucks. Even though it is early in the season, the two games against the Flames' division rivals will provide some hope or some additional despair as the Kings and Canucks currently hold down the two Western Conference wildcard spots.
In other news, Vincent Trocheck has not committed his future to the Flames so could be on the move if the team continues to struggle. The Flames have 9 roster players who are willing to sign a contract now or will be qualified as RFAs. The RFAs include some of the teams best players including Dahlin, Heiskanen, Timmins on D and Martin Necas up front. With Trocheck likely to move on, and some of the other roster decisions looming next off-season, the Flames could be flush with cash for the first time in a long time (like ever). GM Sean McAndrews generally likes to build through the draft but so far, in the early years of the PFHL, he has spent close to the cap.
The good news is that the core of the team is almost entirely locked up due to the high number of RFAs and the Flames have three 1sts and two 2nds in the next draft. They also have Jacob Bernard-Docker with a massive 27 points through 14 games putting him among the very best defenders in the AHL. Jonathan Berggren is also performing exceptionally well with 26 points in 14 games. In net Daniel Chechelev continues to develop well but Dustin Wolf has got off to a strong start to the NHL year and could be in-line for a good re-rate (not jinxing it).
Here's hoping the Flames turn things around. Or not. Apathy is setting in.
Aside from the goaltending the defense could be a little better as the Flames are routinely getting outshot but there are some positives as well that are providing the faintest glimmer of hope for the team. Three players, Trocheck, Necas, and Dahlin are above a point per game with Trocheck among the league leaders with 24 points in 14 games. Some of the new comers have started to find their feet with Zadina and Tatar playing well of late and Nick Leddy has been one of the better defenders with 9 assists so far.
The Flames next 3 games are the Sabres, Kings, and Canucks. Even though it is early in the season, the two games against the Flames' division rivals will provide some hope or some additional despair as the Kings and Canucks currently hold down the two Western Conference wildcard spots.
In other news, Vincent Trocheck has not committed his future to the Flames so could be on the move if the team continues to struggle. The Flames have 9 roster players who are willing to sign a contract now or will be qualified as RFAs. The RFAs include some of the teams best players including Dahlin, Heiskanen, Timmins on D and Martin Necas up front. With Trocheck likely to move on, and some of the other roster decisions looming next off-season, the Flames could be flush with cash for the first time in a long time (like ever). GM Sean McAndrews generally likes to build through the draft but so far, in the early years of the PFHL, he has spent close to the cap.
The good news is that the core of the team is almost entirely locked up due to the high number of RFAs and the Flames have three 1sts and two 2nds in the next draft. They also have Jacob Bernard-Docker with a massive 27 points through 14 games putting him among the very best defenders in the AHL. Jonathan Berggren is also performing exceptionally well with 26 points in 14 games. In net Daniel Chechelev continues to develop well but Dustin Wolf has got off to a strong start to the NHL year and could be in-line for a good re-rate (not jinxing it).
Here's hoping the Flames turn things around. Or not. Apathy is setting in.
