We are 41 games into the Calgary Flames 2024-25 season. We thought now would be a great time to get the FlamesNation crew together for a little roundtable to recap what we’ve seen so far this season and make some predictions for the second half of the year!

Let’s get into it!

Which player or storyline has been the biggest pleasant surprise this season?

Boomer: It doesn’t qualify as a surprise necessarily, but seeing Dustin Wolf play at a high level has been encouraging. He’s shown pretty clearly he can handle the pressure and workload of being a number one.

Flash: I thought Justin Kirkland was the best thing happening on the team. Finally finding a full-time NHL job 11 seasons after being drafted. He was effective and the Flames fourth line is missing him as a possible Rooney replacement.

Gould: Has to be Matty Coronato, who has done pretty much everything right to develop into an impact NHL forward over the last 12 months. He’s been so, so good. Looks like a future star — similar to Jonathan Marchessault, perhaps?

Paige: Jonathan Huberdeau. We’ve been tough on him since he arrived in Calgary, but it is very nice to see him coming around this season.

Pinder: Connor Zary and Dustin Wolf have to be the front runners. We knew both were likely good NHLers, but now there’s legitimately a solid chance they’ll become integral core pieces down the middle.

Pike: Brayden Pachal grabbing hold of an everyday third pairing spot and really carving out a solid NHL niche for myself has been really fun to watch.

Robert: The way the Flames depth defenders have played. Kevin Bahl, Brayden Pachal, Jake Bean, and now Joel Hanley have all played above expectations, especially over the last couple months.

Ryley: Aside from the team being in the playoff hunt, the most surprising storyline/player this season has been Dustin Wolf. We all knew he was good, but we don’t know he’d be this good this quickly and he has a legitimate shot to finish as a Calder Trophy nominee

Which player or storyline has been the biggest disappointment?

Boomer: This would probably be a tie for me between Andrei Kuzmenko and Yegor Sharangovich. In fairness, Sharangovich missed the start of the year due to injury but the expectation was certainly to have more than 7 goals between them by the midway point.

Flash: I think the Kuzmenko storyline is the only one here. Calgary’s youth is fantastic, their most expensive guys are leading the team offensively – it’s just Kuzmenko that can’t bring everything together.

Gould: Unfortunately, it’s gotta be Yegor Sharangovich, who looks like he might never score again. Jokes aside, he hasn’t looked as engaged in the play as last year, but he’s also coming off an injury and is on one of the unluckiest percentage runs I’ve ever seen. He’ll bounce back.

Paige: Yegor Sharongovich. He’s not at that same level of scoring and confidence as last season. He hasn’t been clutch in the ways we had come to expect.

Pinder: Andrei Kuzmenko scored at a 40 goal pace after arriving in Calgary in the Lindholm deal. A year later he’s spending time in the press box. Surely not the deadline asset everyone was hoping for.

Pike: Andrei Kuzmenko losing his mojo is the big one for me. It’s borderline amazing that the power play has improved so much despite Kuzmenko being a non-factor.

Robert: Easily Andrei Kuzmenko. I genuinely thought he could have been a point per game player based off the way he finished last season. Where would this team be if he had lived up to expectations?

Ryley: Andrei Kuzmenko has been a disappointment this season, as expectations were high after producing well for the Flames last season. If he had performed well this year, the Flames could’ve flipped him at the deadline for more picks or prospect capital.

Who has been your favourite player to watch?

Boomer: The answer to this question at the end of last season would have been Connor Zary, and he’s still the one for me. You have to love his willingness to try and make plays and create chances. Honorable mention to Lomberg.

Flash: Connor Zary, Matt Coronato, and Dustin Wolf give me a reason to enjoy tuning in. Zary has dazzling dangles, Coronato has an unrelenting work ethic and a top notch shot, and Dustin Wolf may just be the most athletic goaltender in the National Hockey League.

Gould: It’s Dustin Wolf. Whenever he’s in net, the Flames are must-see TV. Without a doubt the best rookie the Flames have had in a decade.

Paige: Dustin Wolf. He deserves his opportunities this year and he is taking full advantage of them.

Pinder: Wolf reminds Flames fans what an elite goalie can mean to a franchise. He’s been shakier on the road and has a few stinkers in there, but generally speaking He’s been excellent as a rookie.

Pike: The details of Matt Coronato’s game are so fun to watch in person.

Robert: Connor Zary’s ability to carry the puck and dangle have been a lot of fun to watch. I think he’s Calgary’s most dynamic forward. Hopefully he’s back soon.

Ryley: While the young players (Connor Zary, Matt Coronato, Dustin Wolf) have been exciting, it’s nice to see Jonathan Huberdeau become the player we thought he’d be when the Flames traded for him. He’s already scored the most goals he’s had in a season as a Flame!

What has been your favourite moment of the first 41 games of the season.

Boomer: Sad to say I think it was all the way back to game one in Vancouver. Mantha scored and dropped the gloves with JT Miller after Miller injured Kevin Rooney. The Flames would give up a game tying goal with just over a minute left before Zary scored a highlight reel goal to win it in OT.

Flash: I need Rasmus Andersson to score more goals at home because the stare downs have been epic. Wolf’s shutouts rank up high on the list as well.

Gould: Every time Jonathan Huberdeau scores a highlight-reel goal. What a story that’s been.

Paige: Naming Johnny Gaudreau as the first star in the Columbus game at home and Backlund and Andersson bringing Guy Gaudreau out to acknowledge the award.

Pinder: More memorable than favourite, but the Johnny tributes in CBJ and CGY shook the entire hockey work and left lasting marks in Flames fans’ memories.

Pike: Rasmus Andersson scoring the opening (and game-winning) goal during the Johnny Gaudreau tribute game.

Robert: The Rasmus Andersson stare downs and Justin Kirkland’s shootout goals.

Ryley: I live in Ottawa and for the first time in my life, I got to see the Flames play live. Unfortunately, they fell 4-3 in regulation, but a late Flames goal made it close and it was a very fun experience.

Will Craig Conroy makes any trades between now and the deadline?

Boomer: I presume he will, but it’s really hard to predict what it could be. Vladar hasn’t played well enough in my opinion to draw much attention, and a huge deal like a Rasmus Andersson trade still feels like it could be an off-season move. Ideally, you’d like to see Conroy use their cap room and perhaps take on a cumbersome contract for another team and add an asset in the process.

Flash: I think he will yes. He’s done a great job across the board in terms of drafting and acquiring assets (and value) for the UFAs he had to deal with. Dan Vladar makes sense with Wolf’s emergence as someone that should be on the move. I’m interested to see if he uses his cap space as an asset to acquire draft picks for teams in tight financial spots.

Gould: Yes, but nothing super major. I think he’ll try to get whatever he can for Joel Hanley, Kevin Rooney, and Dan Vladar, but that’s pretty much it.

Paige: Yes. We knew they were shopping for a centre and the situation with Connor Zary prioritizes that further.

Pinder: Yes. Would be nice to see the Flames use their ~$20 million in cap space to help broker deals at the deadline at a minimum. A good run from Vladar would make him an easy sell. Cooley ready and waiting.

Pike: Minor tinkers, but nothing substantial.

Robert: Craig Conroy would be crazy not to take advantage of his cap space. I think the Flames will take on at least one bad contract and maybe trade a guy like Dan Vladar if they can get something for him. I do not see him trading any veterans with term remaining on their deals.

Ryley: Probably, but as of right now it’ll unlikely be a “buyer or seller” move. It wouldn’t be shocking if there’s a lateral move (Kuzmenko for an NHL defenceman or something), but once we move closer to the deadline, there’ll be more clarity whether they buy or sell.

Will the Flames make the playoffs? Barely miss? Or finish in the bottom ten of the NHL standing

Boomer: I don’t think the Flames will find a way into the post-season, but I get the feeling they might find that undesirable spot between a wild card position and a bottom 10 spot.

Flash: They seemed destined to do what they always do. Finish somewhere ranked 7-10th in the conference. Too good to be bad and not quite good enough for any guarantees. The mushy middle. That’s on great goaltending, quality coaching, and just not enough high end offence.

Gould: I think they’ll sneak in as the eighth seed in the West.

Paige: They show glimmers that they are a playoff team. I still worry they’ll be battling for a spot come the end of the regular season and just fall short.

Pinder: Bottom 10. Peak pain would be 11-16th from the bottom. No playoffs nor a top 10 pick. Nobody wants that.

Pike: I think the Flames miss by something like 5-7 points.

Robert: I just can’t see a team that struggles to score like Calgary, who is dead last in the NHL in goals since October 14th, making the playoffs. I think they finish close to where they did last season.

Ryley: Ideally, the Flames finish in the bottom of the standings as it’ll benefit them the most long-term. With that being said, it’d be fun to see them make the post-season and who knows, if you’re in, you can win!

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