While it’s difficult to compare baseball and hockey directly — two sports that share almost no similarities — when it comes to building a team and the mentality it takes to win, there are still lessons to be learned.

The Calgary Flames have opened their season with plenty of uncertainty when it comes to scoring goals, backup goaltending and more. Still, many believe this team can avoid landing in the “mushy middle” again and instead sneak into a playoff spot.

There’s a recipe for winning — something all top teams follow to a certain extent — and there’s a reason it works. So, why couldn’t the Flames look at winning teams in another sport and try to translate that success to hockey? What could the Flames learn from the Toronto Blue Jays?

This is one area where both teams entered their respective seasons in similar positions. Both the Flames and the Blue Jays had a bona fide backstop expected to play the bulk of the games. Both also began camp unsure of who would take the backup spot, but each had internal competition for the role.

For the Blue Jays, it was Tyler Heineman who won the job out of spring training — and he never looked back. What mattered most was his mentality. Heineman knew he wasn’t competing for the No. 1 job, but that never affected his effort or determination to perform. He understood that when called upon, he had to be ready — to earn the trust of his pitchers and the confidence of his teammates.

Even though it’s early, that’s something the Flames don’t have right now. They wouldn’t have started Dustin Wolf on back-to-back nights to open the season if they truly trusted their backup goalie. The internal competition didn’t work for Calgary. The Flames said they chose Devin Cooley based on “familiarity.” But familiarity doesn’t win games.

It’s been clear since the summer that the Flames need a veteran presence behind Wolf — someone who can make 15 to 20 starts and still give the team a chance to win each night.

Looking around the league, there are options. Several NHL teams have three capable goalies on their depth charts. Perhaps Matt Murray in Seattle, James Reimer in Toronto, or even a reunion with David Rittich of the New York Islanders could make sense. Free agency remains an option too, with Ilya Samsonov still unsigned.

If the Flames want any kind of success this season, they need to find their own Tyler Heineman.

On a winning team, you always have your unsung heroes — depth players who entered the season with modest expectations but rose above them to become key contributors.

The Blue Jays had no shortage of that this season. Whether it was Ernie Clement, Nathan Lukes or Myles Straw, several players made meaningful contributions day in and day out. They didn’t sit back and wait for the stars to carry the load. They went out every day to prove they belonged in the lineup — and that they could be a force.

Through the pre-season and the first few games of the year, the Flames just don’t look dangerous. Aside from a couple of players, it feels like no one on the team is capable of scoring. You simply can’t rely on your top line to win every game.

This is where the likes of Adam Klapka, Justin Kirkland and Joel Farabee need to step up. Farabee has actually looked strong to start the season, but the Flames need much more from their bottom six if they hope to find consistent success.

There are also players with the Calgary Wranglers chomping at the bit for an opportunity to play NHL games. Those on the cusp between the Flames and Wranglers need to take charge — just as the Blue Jays’ depth players did — by doing the little things right and finding ways to contribute. Create some offence, keep the puck out of your net, and who knows where that could take your career.

The biggest difference between a team like the Blue Jays and the Flames is the level of star power. The Flames don’t have players comparable to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette or Kevin Gausman. They don’t have that one player — maybe apart from Wolf — who can single-handedly carry the team and win games on a regular basis.

But winning takes more than just star power. You need strong leaders — in the dugout or on the bench.

A fair comparison might be George Springer and Nazem Kadri. Both are veteran players who can still perform at a high level. While neither wears a “C” on their jersey, both are respected voices in their locker rooms and lead by example.

The Flames need more from their leaders. Mikael Backlund is a great captain, but even he needs to set a stronger example on the ice. Younger players look to veterans like Backlund, Rasmus Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar to show them what being a professional looks like — and how to win. If the example isn’t there, there’s nothing to follow.

There’s also room for new leaders to emerge. Morgan Frost and Kevin Bahl could become new voices in that room. You don’t need to have a letter on your chest to lead.

You look at the Blue Jays, and they couldn’t embody the word “team” more if they tried. That starts at the top, but everyone plays a part. Everyone feels they belong, everyone feels supported, and everyone knows their teammates have their back — even after mistakes or slumps. A tight-knit team that’s on the same page will always play better. The Flames seem closer to having that kind of environment compared to where they were a couple of years ago, but it feels like there is still work to be done. There is space for new contributions and for the leaders already on the team to take it to another level.

At the end of the day, hockey and baseball are vastly different in how they’re played and built. But when you strip it down to mentality and mindset — both individual and collective — there’s a lot the Flames can take from a team like the Blue Jays.

We’re hopeful the Blue Jays can continue their playoff run and bring a World Series back to Canada. And while it might not feel nearly as likely, perhaps the Flames can start heading in the right direction too — and maybe, just maybe, bring the Stanley Cup back to Calgary. It’s probably a few years away, but you never know.

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