Training camp is winding down, the rust has started to shake off, and the final training camp battles are nearing their conclusion. Now is as good a time as any to dust off the old templates and get back to writing about the Calgary Flames. Last time we left them the roster looked almost identical to the way it is projected to look on opening day. Due to a late playoff push where they came as short as you could be without getting in it wasn’t a free-for-all youth movement until the last game of the season. This year, with the exact same roster and some developed depth (maybe a prospect promotion), they hope to at least be one point better and find a playoff spot.

Next up we’ll analyze the game, but it’s worth a disclaimer that this is pre-season, and it should be weighted accordingly.

It’s a Team Game – It was good to see Dustin Wolf was ready to start the season because the depth defenceman that made up tonight’s roster let the right side of the net turn into a shooting gallery. Wolf was the first, second, and third star for the Flames and is the primary reason they earned the win. Most of the damage came against I the first period. The transition game through the neutral zone was stagnant and the defence struggled both to move the puck up the ice and to defend the middle of the ice when the rush was coming back. Eventually the younger roster figured it out and were able to have some stretches of pushback. In terms of both high danger and all 5v5 situations scoring chances the Flames actually held the third period advantage. Not the best look for Jake Bean and Brayden Pachal, but this is not earth-shattering news. The entire top 4 defence had the night off – Zayne Parekh wasn’t going (which seems like a positive in this scenario) – and the depth guys aren’t the most skilled puck movers. I did like Ilya Solovyov all night long and saw some nice flashes from Yan Kuznetsov.

Corsi King – Ilya Solovyov (66.33 CF%) was a major player in the goal. Stretching a beautiful pass through the neutral zone to spring Matvei Gridin (52.95 per cent) on a breakaway. He stood out amongst all the players on the back end, although I’m not sure it’s going to mean anything. He requires waivers and has experience, he could easily be an effective sixth or seventh – but if the coach wants Bean (37.09 per cent) and Miromanov (DNP) as more experienced depth what are they going to do. Andersson, Bahl, Hanley, and Weegar aren’t going anywhere, and Zayne Parekh should at least start the season in Calgary. That leaves Pachal (35.32%), Bean, and Miromanov as the incumbent depth over Solovyov, Yan Kuznetsov (36.70%), and Hunter Brzustewicz (33.57%). According to Puckpedia, Kuznetsov requires waivers now – they need to be sure they want to risk the young defenders on the waiver wire or pick them over the veteran depth that won’t be a factor long-term in Calgary.

Bahl – Andersson

Hanley – Weegar

Bean – Parekh

Miromanov – Pachal

Taken By Chance – One forward stood out as always being in the right areas when attacking as well as being a top factor in the Flames transition game all night long. Matt Coronato (64.04 SCF% // 51.76 HDCF%) looked like the best skater in the Flaming C (without goalie pads on). Looking on the paper roster it absolutely should have looked like that too. Matvei Gridin (64.04 per cent // 51.76 per cent) and his clearly pro ready release also stood out. There is no reason to rush him and he should get top line minutes with the Wranglers this year. He’ll have Aydar Suniev (24.84 per cent // 22.17 per cent), Brzustewicz (21.60 percent // 0 percent), and possibly Sam Honzek (28.60 per cent // 31.31 per cent) down in the AHL with him – plenty of offensive firepower to get things kickstarted. Lots of open space to work on your positioning and hockey IQ – of which Gridin has already shown is quite high. He attacks the middle of the ice with purpose whether with or without the puck. He looks like a future top-6 fixture right now – let’s not throw him off that trajectory by rushing him to the show. Besides, they have a bit of a clog for spots up front too.

xGF% – Rory Kerins (6.53 xGF%) finally had an off night, but that should not diminish all the great games he had prior to this. Kerins battles hard and has great vision with the puck on his stick. He’s ready to test his merit at the NHL level he just needs to steal someone’s job.

Huberdeau – Kadri – Coronato

Zary – Backlund – Coleman

Farabee – Frost – Sharangovich

Lomberg – Pospisil – Klapka

Kirkland

With the likely 8 defenceman happening the Flames do not have room to keep any extra forwards. Sam Morton (22.50 per cent) and Sam Honzek (22.50 per cent) are a couple of guys competing for a sliver of a chance at a spot up front. Honzek and his waiver slide make me inclined to think he starts in the minors. Sam Morton has a waiver exemption as well. Rory Kerins very well may pass through waivers, but it seems dumb to risk a player that’s shown he can produce like he has. He deserves a real chance, I just do not know how they are going to make that happen.

In The Crease – Dustin Wolf is the Flames most valuable player and he showed why. Completely left on an island for the first 20 minutes of the game he was only beat off a bad deflection that went directly to Catton for a tap-in. Positionally perfect, athletically gifted, and as swift as I’ve ever seen a goaltender move laterally – if Wolf can get some decent defensive help this season, he should be able to improve on his previous numbers. 3.20 expected goals against at 5v5 with just the one goal getting past him. He is ready to rumble.

Think you’ve got what it takes to outlast everyone else? Test your hockey smarts in the Daily Faceoff Survivor Pool — a high-stakes game of elimination with a $2,500 grand prize for the last fan standing. The contest continues until there’s only one survivor — and that winner takes it all. Are you ready to survive? Sign up now and make your picks!