The Flames are officially one week and three preseason games into 2021 training camp. While a good chunk of Calgary’s opening night lineup seems to be determined, I still have a few questions I’m interested to have answered between now and then. With five exhibition games to go, there’s plenty of time for these topics…
The last (and only) time the Flames have gone a season without a captain was 1990-91. Since Joe Nieuwendyk assumed the role the following year, Calgary has had a serving captain every season for the last three decades. With the departure of Mark Giordano, though, the position is vacant ahead of the 2021-22 campaign, which…
Year one of Jacob Markström’s six-year, $36 million contract didn’t go according to plan. The Flames missed the playoffs and Markström’s mid-season dip in performance was a big reason why. As Markström enters his second season with the team, Calgary has reason to expect a better performance from their number one goaltender. If that doesn’t…
Rasmus Andersson is one of the most fascinating Flames players to watch this year. The fourth-year defenceman wasn’t alone amongst important players having down seasons in 2021. Knowing how Calgary’s blueline story has played out this summer, though, a rebound year from Andersson looms as one of the most crucial keys to a return to…
When the Flames signed Dillon Dube to a three-year contract at $2.3 million per last week, it seemed on the surface like a fair deal for both sides. Despite having yet to play a full “normal” NHL season, there’s plenty to suggest Dube is trending towards being a core piece for Calgary. That said, he’s…
A huge season lies ahead for defenceman Juuso Valimaki. After signing a two-year deal at $1.55 million per last week, Valimaki is officially off his entry level contract and can start carving out his spot on Calgary’s blueline. Valimaki will be an RFA with arbitration rights when this deal expires, giving him a couple seasons…
A good chunk of Flames fans are waiting for another “shoe to drop” at forward. A potential Jack Eichel acquisition from Buffalo is the most frequent discussion topic these days, while the immediate futures of Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk are debated plenty. While a move involving any one of those names could very well…
General manager Brad Treliving has been busy this week. Since Monday, Calgary has made three trades, signed a pair of NHL forwards, and added numerous depth pieces on two-way deals. In the process, the Flames have upgraded their forward depth but questions remain elsewhere on the roster. Whether it’s a significant move at forward, supplementing…
The beginning of free agency is just a snapshot of an off-season, but the Flames were definitely busy on Wednesday. While it’s too early to draw any definitive conclusions on Calgary’s summer, one thing is already abundantly clear: they’re a better group at forward than the last time we saw them. The rest of the…
Johnny Gaudreau’s future in Calgary is perhaps the team’s biggest storyline this summer, of which there are many. It has been my belief for some time Gaudreau and the Flames would end up agreeing on an extension, and that remains the case today. I believe it’ll happen and if/when it does, assuming a fair deal…
Many have pointed to this summer as one of the most pivotal in franchise history. And, so far anyway, things have been quiet in Calgary save a few coaching decisions and an expected Brett Ritchie re-signing. That all changes tonight when Seattle finally ends the suspense at the NHL Expansion Draft. By this time next…
Mixed in with all the negativity during Calgary’s 2021 season, there were a few promising individual performances. We have a ton of questions looking forward to next year, most of them based on the frustrating results of this past season. Flames fans are hoping for significant bounce back years from key players, and for good…
