FlamesNation Roundtable: 2022-23 season predictions

Photo credit:Mike Gould

1 year ago

It’s opening night for the Calgary Flames! Thursday represents the first game of the 2022-23 season for the locals, so our Robert Munnich sent around a series of questions to our staff and convened the illustrious FlamesNation Roundtable to help preview the season.

League-wide predictions

Pacific Division Winner

Auddie: Oilers
Colton: Flames
Mike: Flames
Noah: Flames
Paige: Flames
Ryan: Flames
Robert: Golden Knights
Shane: Oilers
Taranjot: Flames

An obvious consensus here among the staff. Given that the Flames won the division a year ago, perhaps not just a locals pick…

Central Division Winner

Auddie: Avalanche
Colton: Avalanche
Mike: Avalanche
Noah: Avalanche
Paige: Avalanche
Ryan: Avalanche
Robert: Avalanche
Shane: Avalanche
Taranjot: Avalanche

No surprises here.

Atlantic Division Winner

Auddie: Maple Leafs
Colton: Lightning
Mike: Maple Leafs
Noah: Lightning
Paige: Lightning
Ryan: Lightning
Robert: Maple Leafs
Shane: Maple Leafs
Taranjot: Maple Leafs

A split here, with the Leafs slightly edging out the Lightning.

Metropolitan Division Winner

Auddie: Rangers
Colton: Rangers
Mike: Hurricanes
Noah: Rangers
Paige: Hurricanes
Ryan: Hurricanes
Robert: Hurricanes
Shane: Penguins
Taranjot: Rangers

A tie here between the ‘Canes and Rangers.

Stanley Cup Finalists

Auddie: Penguins vs. Avalanche
Colton: Lightning vs. Flames
Mike: Penguins vs. Blues
Noah: Rangers vs. Avalanche
Paige: Rangers vs. Avalanche
Ryan: Hurricanes vs. Avalanche
Robert: Maple Leafs vs. Avalanche
Shane: Rangers vs. Golden Knights
Taranjot: Hurricanes vs. Avalanche

Lots of Avalanche and Rangers representation here.

Stanley Cup Champion

Auddie: Penguins
Colton: Flames
Mike: Penguins
Noah: Avalanche
Paige: Rangers
Ryan: Hurricanes
Robert: Avalanche
Shane: Rangers
Taranjot: Avalanche

A general lack of consensus, but the most common choice is a Colorado repeat.

Flames-specific predictions

What will the Flames’ record be?

Auddie: 48-28-6 (102 points)
Colton: 52-19-11 (115 points)
Mike: 51-23-8 (110 points)
Noah: 48-24-10 (106 points)
Paige: 47-20-15 (109 points)
Ryan: 49-25-8 (106 points)
Robert: 51-25-6 (108 points)
Shane: 46-26-10 (102 points)
Taranjot: 48-23-11 (107 points)

Everybody has the Flames north of 100 points, some very much so.

Who will be the Flames’ leading point scorer?

Auddie: Elias Lindholm
Colton: Jonathan Huberdeau
Mike: Jonathan Huberdeau
Noah: Jonathan Huberdeau
Paige: Jonathan Huberdeau
Ryan: Jonathan Huberdeau
Robert: Jonathan Huberdeau
Shane: Jonathan Huberdeau
Taranjot: Jonathan Huberdeau

There’s a lot expected of the new guy.

Who will be the Flames’ leading goal scorer?

Auddie: Andrew Mangiapane
Colton: Elias Lindholm
Mike: Elias Lindholm
Noah: Elias Lindholm
Paige: Elias Lindholm
Ryan: Nazem Kadri
Robert: Andrew Mangiapane
Shane: Elias Lindholm
Taranjot: Nazem Kadri

Lots of Lindholm here, but Kadri and Mangiapane are also well-represented.

Who will be the Flames’ best defenceman?

Auddie: MacKenzie Weegar
Colton: MacKenzie Weegar
Mike: Rasmus Andersson
Noah: MacKenzie Weegar
Paige: Rasmus Andersson
Ryan: Rasmus Andersson
Robert: MacKenzie Weegar
Shane: Rasmus Andersson
Taranjot: Rasmus Andersson

As with the scoring race, lots of love for the new guy, but Andersson gets the slide edge here.

How many starts will Jacob Markstrom get?

Auddie: 60
Colton: 65
Mike: 63
Noah: 60
Paige: 50
Ryan: 57
Robert: 66
Shane: 58
Taranjot: 52

Big variation here, as some folks (in the mid-to-low 50s) likely think Dan Vladar gets in more than last season, while others (the folks in the 60s) don’t share that view.