The Calgary Flames have played three games to begin the 2024-25 season. The Flames have won all three games. The three games were not picture perfect. They have room for improvement.
But you cannot argue with the results.
As we ruminate on three impressive outings to start the season, let&#8217;s check in with our pals in the mailbag!
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Early mailbag question <a href="https://twitter.com/FlamesNation?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FlamesNation</a>. Penny for your thoughts about Coronato as the sole extra forward for the first two games?
&mdash; Devin Loucks (@Gilaeth) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gilaeth/status/1845290805512241293?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
It&#8217;s worth noting that Matt Coronato slotted into Sunday&#8217;s game in Edmonton and was plus-2 (and had a pretty good game) on the fourth line alongside Ryan Lomberg and Justin Kirkland. Heck, Coronato had a couple good looks and probably could&#8217;ve had a goal or two.
That said, here&#8217;s the problem the Flames have right now: Coronato&#8217;s a talented offensive player who probably needs to play in the Flames&#8217; top three forward lines to be as effective as he can be. (He&#8217;s decent in fourth line spot duty, but that&#8217;s not really his skillset.) Right now, the top nine spots are taken by Sam Honzek, Andrei Kuzmenko, Jonathan Huberdeau, Anthony Mantha, Connor Zary and Blake Coleman. Unless somebody is traded, injured or wildly under-performs, Coronato doesn&#8217;t really have a spot available in that rotation.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Ryan what forward line and d pairing have surprised you most the first 3 games of the season? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#flames</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yyc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#yyc</a>
&mdash; Big Daddy (@bigdaddybustard) <a href="https://twitter.com/bigdaddybustard/status/1845626417821970742?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
If you had told me that Jonathan Huberdeau, Martin Pospisil and Anthony Mantha would be this effective early on, I wouldn&#8217;t have believed you. It usually takes awhile for guys to figure out their roles on a line, especially guys that haven&#8217;t play together a ton. They&#8217;ve been very good.
And Kevin Bahl and Rasmus Andersson were flat-out excellent against Edmonton. They did their jobs well in all three zones, and were key reasons why the Flames remain unbeaten.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
What do you attribute to the Flames good start to the season?
&mdash; Ed Helinski 🇺🇸🇵🇱 (@MrEd315) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrEd315/status/1845633122462838819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
There are two reasons I think the Flames are doing well early on.
First, they had a good pre-season. And yeah, the pre-season does not count and is too damn long. But I think the Flames did a great job of using it productively, in terms of working on systems and tactics and combinations that could work well together. As a result, they look more cohesive than I think we see teams often look early on.
But in a big-picture sense, think about this: what&#8217;s at stake for the Flames this season? They traded away their big pieces. They have oodles of young players in their system and on their roster, and they don&#8217;t really have high external expectations. They can just play and not worry about the big picture. And that can be really, really freeing for a team.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Where do you think Poirier&#39;s realistic ceiling is?
&mdash; ℕ𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕡𝕊𝕦𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕘𝕦𝕪 (TFF) 🇨🇦 (@NonstopSuperguy) <a href="https://twitter.com/NonstopSuperguy/status/1845643231150969011?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Oh man, I really love how Jeremie Poirier plays with the puck. When he&#8217;s confident and playing his game, he can be a great offensive catalyst at five-on-five and on the power play. Right now, I don&#8217;t know if he has the details away from the puck down well enough to be an all-situations top-four NHLer, but he could be a PP specialist – he thinks the game that well.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Why are Oiler people so whiny on twitter
&mdash; Anne M (@TazandGiosmom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TazandGiosmom/status/1845629827761819809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
One word: expectations. After the season the Oilers had last year, there&#8217;s a realistic, palpable chance that they could win the Stanley Cup. And when cracks appear in that foundation, no matter how early in the season or small the cracks may be, it can drive Oilers faithful absolutely bonkers.
Got a question for a future mailbag? Contact Ryan on Twitter/X at @RyanNPike or e-mail him at Ryan [at] TheNationNetwork.com! (Make sure you put Mailbag in the subject line!)
<h2>The FlamesNation Monday Mailbag is presented to you by Village Honda</h2>
Looking to sell your vehicle? Village Honda wants to buy it. We offer complimentary, no obligation appraisals, payment in 24 hours, top value trade in values and best of all, no stress. Skip selling your vehicle privately and stop in Village Honda today. No appointment necessary.
Village Honda is proud to be your dealership for life in Calgary since 1987. We are located in the Northwest Auto Mall under the giant Canadian flag or online at <a href="http://www.villagehonda.com/">www.villagehonda.com</a>.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-116342" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/Village-Honda-for-Monday-Mailbag.jpg" alt="" width="727" height="404" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/Village-Honda-for-Monday-Mailbag.jpg 727w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/Village-Honda-for-Monday-Mailbag-300x167.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 727px) 100vw, 727px" />

The Calgary Flames have played three games to begin the 2024-25 season. The Flames have won all three games. The three games were not picture perfect. They have room for improvement.

But you cannot argue with the results.

As we ruminate on three impressive outings to start the season, let's check in with our pals in the mailbag!

https://twitter.com/Gilaeth/status/1845290805512241293

It's worth noting that Matt Coronato slotted into Sunday's game in Edmonton and was plus-2 (and had a pretty good game) on the fourth line alongside Ryan Lomberg and Justin Kirkland. Heck, Coronato had a couple good looks and probably could've had a goal or two.

That said, here's the problem the Flames have right now: Coronato's a talented offensive player who probably needs to play in the Flames' top three forward lines to be as effective as he can be. (He's decent in fourth line spot duty, but that's not really his skillset.) Right now, the top nine spots are taken by Sam Honzek, Andrei Kuzmenko, Jonathan Huberdeau, Anthony Mantha, Connor Zary and Blake Coleman. Unless somebody is traded, injured or wildly under-performs, Coronato doesn't really have a spot available in that rotation.

https://twitter.com/bigdaddybustard/status/1845626417821970742

If you had told me that Jonathan Huberdeau, Martin Pospisil and Anthony Mantha would be this effective early on, I wouldn't have believed you. It usually takes awhile for guys to figure out their roles on a line, especially guys that haven't play together a ton. They've been very good.

And Kevin Bahl and Rasmus Andersson were flat-out excellent against Edmonton. They did their jobs well in all three zones, and were key reasons why the Flames remain unbeaten.

https://twitter.com/MrEd315/status/1845633122462838819

There are two reasons I think the Flames are doing well early on.

First, they had a good pre-season. And yeah, the pre-season does not count and is too damn long. But I think the Flames did a great job of using it productively, in terms of working on systems and tactics and combinations that could work well together. As a result, they look more cohesive than I think we see teams often look early on.

But in a big-picture sense, think about this: what's at stake for the Flames this season? They traded away their big pieces. They have oodles of young players in their system and on their roster, and they don't really have high external expectations. They can just play and not worry about the big picture. And that can be really, really freeing for a team.

https://twitter.com/NonstopSuperguy/status/1845643231150969011

Oh man, I really love how Jeremie Poirier plays with the puck. When he's confident and playing his game, he can be a great offensive catalyst at five-on-five and on the power play. Right now, I don't know if he has the details away from the puck down well enough to be an all-situations top-four NHLer, but he could be a PP specialist – he thinks the game that well.

https://twitter.com/TazandGiosmom/status/1845629827761819809

One word: expectations. After the season the Oilers had last year, there's a realistic, palpable chance that they could win the Stanley Cup. And when cracks appear in that foundation, no matter how early in the season or small the cracks may be, it can drive Oilers faithful absolutely bonkers.

Got a question for a future mailbag? Contact Ryan on Twitter/X at @RyanNPike or e-mail him at Ryan [at] TheNationNetwork.com! (Make sure you put Mailbag in the subject line!)
<h2>The FlamesNation Monday Mailbag is presented to you by Village Honda</h2>
Looking to sell your vehicle? Village Honda wants to buy it. We offer complimentary, no obligation appraisals, payment in 24 hours, top value trade in values and best of all, no stress. Skip selling your vehicle privately and stop in Village Honda today. No appointment necessary.

Village Honda is proud to be your dealership for life in Calgary since 1987. We are located in the Northwest Auto Mall under the giant Canadian flag or online at <a href="http://www.villagehonda.com/">www.villagehonda.com</a>.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-116342" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/Village-Honda-for-Monday-Mailbag.jpg" alt="" width="727" height="404" />

FlamesNation Mailbag: Promising early returns

Kashawn Aitcheson may be the best available player when the Flames pick at the 2025 NHL Draft

The Wranglers and Firebirds have a rivalry forged in the Calder Cup playoffs

The 2024-25 season represents another lost opportunity for ‘middling’ Flames

Flames send forward Adam Klapka to the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers for the playoffs

Calgary Flames right wing Matt Coronato (27) controls the puck against the Ottawa Senators during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Recent articles from Ryan Pike

Breaking News