Rasmus Andersson seemed like a good bet when he was picked 53rd overall in 2015. A near point-per-game defender for the Barrie Colts that year, Andersson was well liked for his offensive capabilities and hockey IQ, but slipped due to concerns about his fitness and commitment. Two years later and Andersson still looks a good…
It’s no secret that Troy Brouwer’s first season in Calgary was a disaster. The player’s scoring fell below expectations and he was essentially Typhoid Mary when it came to his impact on his linemates’ possession and scoring chance rates. By the end of the season, Glen Gulutzan had demoted Brouwer to the team’s fourth line….
Adam Fox was an intriguing choice when the Flames selected him 66th overall in the 2016 entry draft. An undersized rearguard from Jericho, New York, Fox already had an impressive resume, including the single season points record by an under-18 defenseman in USNTDP. Before he left for college hockey, he sat third in points all…
It’s no secret the Calgary Flames have enviable organizational depth on the blueline. With the addition of guys like Travis Hamonic and Juuso Valimaki this summer (as well as the emergence of Adam Fox), the Flames may end up with more defenders than they know what to do with in a couple of years. The…
Coming out of college, Jon Gillies looked like the Calgary Flames’ next homegrown starting goaltender. Unfortunately the 23-year-old has run into a series of obstacles at the pro level, to the degree that his status as a premier prospect has dimmed considerably since this time last year. Dropping from third to 11th in our rankings,…
It’s the middle of August and a couple of things still haven’t happened yet: the Calgary Flames haven’t bolstered their suspect winger depth and Jaromir Jagr hasn’t signed with an NHL team. On the surface, it seems like a natural marriage. Calgary’s RW depth is particularly shallow and Jagr is looking to play at least…
Things seemed to be on the upswing for Hunter Shinkaruk when he joined the Flames organization last year. His sophomore effort in the AHL helped to resuscitate his stock as a quality offensive prospect thanks to his 27 goals and 51 points. Unfortunately for Calgary and the player, Shinkaruk took a step back rather than forward…
It’s an understatement to say that the Calgary Flames’ crease situation has been complicated the past few years. The organization has struggled to find consistent goaltending since Miikka Kiprusoff retired in 2013, which has caused Brad Treliving to cast about in various directions in an effort to improve Calgary’s puck stopping. David Rittich’s surprise contract…
Aside from Sam Bennett, Brad Treliving’s remaining priority this summer may be re-signing Mikael Backlund. After labouring in relative obscurity for years, Backlund established himself as a premier two-way centerman last season, managing a career high 22 goals and 53 points while playing some of the toughest circumstances in the league. As a result, the 28-year-old…
With Brad Treliving rapidly re-signing all of his remaining RFAs, there’s not much left for the team to do this summer besides arranging the chess board. Although the team has said they’d like to add another quality forward before the summer is over, the chances of that happening dwindle as the offseason progresses. It’s possible…
Sam Bennett, at fourth overall, is the highest draft pick in Calgary Flames history. He was a highly touted talent in his draft year, with some projections naming him as a potential first overall choice. The hype wasn’t unwarranted. Bennett managed 36 goals and 91 points for the OHL Kingston Frontenacs in a season where…
If the NHL season started tomorrow, the Calgary Flames could more or less ice a full roster. Brad Treliving has accomplished most of his offseason to-do list, leaving him a healthy six to eight weeks to tie up loose ends. For the Flames GM, this is a preferable position relative to his last offseason, when contract…
