logo
FlamesNation has no direct affiliation to the Calgary Flames, Calgary Sports and Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Flames 2024-25 second quarter report cards: Forwards
alt
Photo credit: © Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Robert Munnich
Jan 12, 2025, 16:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 12, 2025, 22:47 EST
Comments
We’re officially at the halfway mark of the 2024-25 season for the Calgary Flames. We gave out some report cards a couple months ago at the quarter mark. Today we are doing the same for the second quarter of the season (Nov. 24 – Jan. 12).

Jonathan Huberdeau: A

Stats: 20GP – 12G – 8A -20P 
The guy who has turned around his game the most on the Calgary Flames over the last 20 games is Jonathan Huberdeau. It’s not even close. He’s gone from being a guy who wasn’t making much of an impact on the game, to a point per game, goal scoring machine.
Huberdeau is tied for 9th in the NHL in goals, and 45th in points since Nov. 24. This is the type of production Flames fans have been clamouring for.
We’ll see if he is able to keep up that pace between now to the end of the season.

Matt Coronato : A

Stats: 20GP – 4G – 9A – 13P 
Matt Coronato has been the biggest pleasant surprise this season. He went from being a healthy scratch on opening night, to being sent to the AHL, to being one of the best players on this Flames team.
His counting stats aren’t anything crazy. He’s put up 11 points in his last 20 games. He’s really picked up his game since being put on a line with Backlund and Coleman. In his last 10 games he’s put up 8 points.
He just looks like a dynamic forward with an electric shot. I could see him being a consistent 20-30 goal scorer for a long time in the NHL.

Nazem Kadri: B+

Stats: 20GP – 10G – 8A – 18P 
Kadri is in the same boat as Huberdeau. We’ve seen a significant improvement in his play over the last 20 games scoring 10 goals and 18 points during that span. He and Huberdeau have out chanced and outscored their opposition at 5-on-5 since being put together on a line.
Over the last few weeks in particular, Kadri looks a lot more engaged and is turning over the puck less. Two aspects of his game that plagued him in the first 21 games.

Connor Zary: B+

Stats: 19GP – 6G – 6A – 12P 
The injury to Connor Zary is devastating for a Flames team that struggles to score goals and generate offence.
Zary has been excellent for the Flames. He is their most dynamic forward and is a ton of fun to watch. He’s third on the Flames in points over the last 20 games with 13. And he’s done that despite the fact he’s playing with struggling line mates and playing the 8th most minutes among forwards at 5-on-5.
The only part of his game you want to see him improve is his shot. Zary puts himself into positions to score a lot of goals. But he just doesn’t have the shot right now to take advantage of his smarts.

Blake Coleman: B

Stats: 20GP – 5G – 7A – 12P 
It’s hard to evaluate Coleman in Q2 because he’s been two completely different players. You have the Coleman on the wing with Mikael Backlund. And you have the Coleman without Backlund.
The Flames got outscored 13-4 this season with Coleman on the ice without Backlund. When they are on the ice together, the Flames have outscored their opposition 16-8.
Coleman was away from Backlund from Nov. 20 to Dec. 13. During that time, Coleman put up 3 points in 11 games and was a -7. That’s a 22 point pace over 82 games. That deserves a C or D grade.
Since being put back on a line with the captain, Coleman has put up 9 points in 11 games and is a +3. That’s a 67 point pace. That deserves an A grade.
So we’ll split the difference and give him a B.

Mikael Backlund: B

Stats: 20GP – 4G – 5A – 9P 
There’s not much to say about Backlund’s game because he’s been this player for the last 10 years. Once again, the captain has been a reliable, two-way centre who takes on all the toughest match-ups at 5-on-5 and the penalty kill. He’s also making his teammates better. Just look at the numbers Coleman and Coronato put up when they are with Backlund compared to when they’re not.
He picked up 9 points in his last 20 games, a 37 point pace over 82 games. He is delivering on exactly what the Flames expect from him.

Ryan Lomberg: B

Stats: 18GP – 1G – 1A – 2P 
Lomberg was brought to Calgary to be a physical force and bring some speed and swagger to the Flames. You would obviously like to see some more offence from him. He’s talented enough to be a 10 goal scorer in the NHL. But that’s not why he is in Calgary.
A lot of Lomberg’s value comes from his work off the ice. He brings an incredible amount of positively and energy to the the Flames locker room and has been a major reason why the Flames culture has improved dramatically since last season. He has done exactly what the Flames wanted him to do when they signed him as a free agent in July.

Martin Pospisil: B-

Stats: 20GP – 0G -5A – 5P 
Counting stats don’t tell the story with Martin Pospisil. Would you like to see some more production from him? Absolutely. But the thing you have to like about his game is that he is back being a physical force. He is doing a great job forechecking, winning puck battles, and using his speed to create space for his linemates, Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri.
Pospisil’s underlying numbers have been some of the best on the team over the last month. But he needs to start actually producing points. Especially when he’s playing on a line with your two most talented forwards.

Jakob Pelletier: B-

Stats: 15GP – 1G – 4A – 5P 
Pelletier has been solid since being called up from the AHL. He’s put up five points in 15 games, a 28 point pace over 82 games.
The offensive numbers aren’t anything to write home about. For me, it’s the energy. defensive game, penalty killing, and leadership that makes Pelletier such an intriguing player.
Pelletier is 4th among forwards on the Flames in ice time on the PK. The Flames have outscored their opposition 7-4 with Pelletier on the ice at 5-on-5. He out chances teams when he’s on the ice.
Pelletier is never going to be a point producer in the NHL. But he can still be an effective player with all the intangibles he brings to the team.

Yegor Sharangovich: D

Stats: 20GP – 2G – 4A – 6P 
It’s been a rough go for Yegor Sharangovich this season. He has not looked like the same player since returning to the lineup from a lower body injury he suffered in the preseason.
He has four points in his last 18 games. He hasn’t scored a goal in his last 15 games.
The most troubling part of his game is the lack of competitiveness, physicality, and overall impact. He’s not doing much to help this team win games.
We’ve seen him look a little better in his last two games. Hopefully he can continue getting shots on net. If he can’t get his game going, it’s going to put a serious dent in the Flames playoff chances.

Walker Duehr: D

Stats: 13GP – 0G – 1A – 1P 
Walker Duehr is not a NHL player. He certainly has the speed to be in the big leagues. But I question whether or not he has the skill or hockey IQ to be a full time NHLer.
There are a lot of nights where he has no impact on the game. If he wants to stay in the NHL he’s going to have to play with a lot more intensity and physicality. He needs to embrace his role as a physical, fast, energy provider. He should be leading this Flames team in hits and blocked shots. It’s not an easy way to make a living, but it’s what he’s going to have to do if he wants stay in the NHL.

Kevin Rooney: D

20GP – 1G – 1A – 2P 
Kevin Rooney is hurting the Calgary Flames more than he is helping them. I wrote about his struggles yesterday. Read that article to get an idea just how bad he has been in the second quarter of the Flames season.

Andrei Kuzmenko: F

Stats: 11GP – 0G – 1A – 1P 
It was another terrible quarter for Andrei Kuzmenko. He has one assist in his last 11 games. He’s been a healthy scratch on a lot of nights and for good reason.
It’s mind boggling how a guy with the high end talent of Kuzmenko could be so ineffective this season. We’ve seen him show the potential to be a point per game player. But he just hasn’t been able to put it all together.
The Flames are dealing with injuries to Anthony Mantha, Justin Kirkland, and now Connor Zary. Kuzmenko has a chance to prove himself again in the third quarter of the season. Let’s see of he can get back to being the player he was last season.

Editorials

Breaking News