Newly acquired Flames could make an impact on the powerplay

A main reason the Flames missed the playoffs in 2017-18 was their inability to score. A low shooting percentage played a part in that; so did a lacklustre forward lineup.

In increasing both the overall quality and depth of their forward group, the Flames may be well on their way to rectifying that particular blight. Something else those additions should help? The powerplay.

The Flames’ third-worst powerplay in the NHL was a major reason as to why they missed the postseason. One way to fix it for next season had already been accomplished long before any other moves were made: Bill Peters replaced Glen Gulutzan and, perhaps more importantly, Geoff Ward replaced Dave Cameron.

But then, there’s the new look group that’s developing: and they, too, should be able to give the man advantage a much-needed shot in the arm.

Consider, the Flames’ top 10 players on the man advantage through 2017-18:

Dougie Hamilton and Micheal Ferland have to be removed by default. Hamilton is actually a pretty big loss; he was the Flames’ most productive defender. The Flames should, however, be able to survive the loss of Ferland; recall that, while extremely productive at times, he was not a consistent scorer. Only one of his powerplay goals came in 2018.

Now, though, the Flames have a few new bodies to replace them: James Neal and Elias Lindholm should be top producers, and both Lindholm and Derek Ryan are, in all likelihood, more productive non-Hamilton right shots than the Flames previously had available to them.

If the Flames absolutely need another defender as well, then Hanifin has potential. It’s worth noting that he was 10th among Hurricanes players in powerplay ice time, but he had the second most minutes among all their defencemen at 142:04 – well behind Justin Faulk’s 222:56.

Consider the new bodies’ powerplay stats from 2017-18:

The Flames may not have added any extremely high end producers, but just as they have at even strength, they’ve both shored up their powerplay depth and increased their options. They’ve added two right shots at forward, and both have more potential than the one (Troy Brouwer) the Flames had to work with prior. Further, Neal was added in part due to his offensive prowess; that should extend to the powerplay, as well.

Scoring is one thing, though; just being able to generate chances is another. After all, not every chance will go in – but the more chances one can build up, the more likely one is to score.

So, once again, the old guard from 2017-18, with stats from Natural Stat Trick (iSCF being individual scoring chances for, scoring chances defined by NST):

It’s not surprising to see Hamilton so high up there – as an offensive defenceman, the powerplay in particular should be his bread and butter – but Ferland put up some pretty good numbers, and particularly higher rates, as well (although in fewer minutes, it should be remembered, and don’t discount his high shooting percentage – just because he did it last year doesn’t mean he was set to perform just as well this upcoming season).

Can any of the newer guys replace them?

Not on a one-for-one basis, no – but collectively, and by pushing out some of the underperforming Flames, the overall powerplay units should get a boost.

Though he doesn’t have much to base him on – a career 90:53 spent on the powerplay, and just 5:01 this past season – Austin Czarnik is another possibility. He has a career four powerplay assists, and had 12 shots and 25 individual corsi events in 2016-17. His rates for that season were 2.10 P/60, 17.47 iCF/60, and 6.99 iSCF/60 – extremely limited minutes a season removed, but still, some promise. And he’s also the all important right shot.

A top powerplay unit should load up on the best the Flames have to offer. That means, without question, Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk, and Sean Monahan present, likely with Mark Giordano manning the blue line. (Hindsight benefits us all, but Tkachuk’s stats help highlight just how egregious it was that it took so long to get him on the top unit: he’s elite in just about every sense of the game, it would appear.) Lindholm gives the group a more productive and reliable right shot to balance them out.

Mikael Backlund should still man the second unit; he’s a player that’s proficient in every game situation. Neal adds a new threat to that unit, while Ryan provides a more productive right shot than Brouwer. From there, the Flames have a few more options at hand: Hamilton is gone, but Brodie, Hanifin, or both are still decent options, while always leaving room for another forward to prove himself (i.e. Czarnik, Sam Bennett, Mark Jankowski, or someone yet to be considered).

The new personnel, combined with what should be improved systems from Ward, should – hopefully – lead to a stronger powerplay: and from there, a better chance at the postseason.

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