What happened to the wranglers? They have now lost 6 in a row. What happened to there special teams? This wranglers team isn’t even close to the 2022-23 2023-24 or the 2024-25 team. It feels like a very fragile hockey team right now
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FlamesNation Mailbag: The Olympic break is nearly upon us
Photo credit: Mike Gould
Gang, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy begin on Feb. 5. We’ll get two awesome hockey tournaments featuring the top women’s (Feb. 5-19) and men’s (Feb. 11-22) national teams in the world.
And between now and then, the Calgary Flames have four games left on the docket before we break for the Olympics. As we prepare for the homestretch before the Olympics, let’s dive into the mailbag!
Honestly, a few things happened that have piled up on them a bit.
- On Nov. 4, Yan Kuznetsov was called up to the Flames. Kuznetsov is a superb two-way defender and he’s so good at calming down games in the defensive zone and killing penalties. Games tend to get a little more shaky defensively without his stabilizing presence on the back end.
- On Dec. 2, Ivan Prosvetov got injured. Prosvetov is an experienced pro goaltender with a bunch of NHL games under his belt and, like Kuznetsov, having him in net is a big calming presence. In Prosvetov’s absence, the Wranglers have leaned on Owen Say (until he got injured) and Arsenii Sergeev, a pair of rookies. There’s a drop-off in terms of how well they can manage games.
- On Dec. 8, Hunter Brzustewicz got called up to the Flames. Brzustewicz is more of an offensive specialist than Kuznetsov, but he’s also a guy that can play a lot against top players and generate more chances than he’ll give up.
Take away your top two blueliners and your starting goaltender and your team will be a bit shaky for awhile.
What do you think the development plan will be on Zayne Parehk post trade deadline?
Let’s assume that Zayne Parekh maxes out his two weeks in the AHL and returns to the Flames starting around the start of February. That’ll leave 28 games on the docket. I would aim to play Parekh in at least half of those games and basically give him a steady dose of power play time. (The only reason I’d say not to play him in every game is so he has a bit of physical recovery and development built into things.)
He’s not a complete player and he’ll need some time to bulk up in the gym. But man, the tools are there, and it’s just about helping him catch his body and his on-ice execution up to his hockey mind. The kid is flat-out brilliant and once the tools and the toolbox are aligned, the sky may be the limit.
Probably a pipe dream but... If Kadri wanted to and Carolina is interested, what kind of framework would you see for a trade of Kadri for Nikishin? Feel like a solid young LHD would be the kind of return the Flames want for Kadri, and the Hurricanes have the cap space and need.
Alexander Nikishin is a 24-year-old left shot blueliner who has 21 points this season with Carolina and will be a restricted free agent after this season. He’s gonna get paid. Nazem Kadri is older, yeah, but he’s cost-controlled and could help Carolina out.
I really want to suggest a one-for-one trade. It saves Carolina from having to figure out Nikishin’s next contract. It gives them a centre. (Would the Flames need to throw in a mid-to-late round pick to avoid retaining salary?)
I like this idea, but I’m not sure how the balance value and risk between the two sides properly.
Who’s on an expiring deal and who could get dealt next from Calgary?
Hardly anyone is on an expiring deal, except for Ryan Lomberg, Jake Bean and Justin Kirkland.
I would not be shocked if Blake Coleman is moved. Maybe even Nazem Kadri, given all the chatter all the insiders seem to be hearing.
Hi Ryan, Mark Giordano was a Flame I always admired for his play and his character. His retirement announcement seemed very quiet/under the radar last fall, and I was disappointed that it really didn't seem to be acknowledged by the Flames,
Honestly, it may just be as simple as Mark Giordano was working for the Toronto Maple Leafs at the time and if you’re going to make a big hubbub about his retirement, you’d want to find a way to be involved in it in some way. He was a heck of a player and one of the better captains in club history.
Ryan, if you had to take a guess now after the Rasmus trade where do you think the flames will finish in the league standings? Thanks!
The smart people at The Athletic do forecasting of standings based on their statistical modelling, and they are projecting the Flames to finish 31st overall in their most recent projections.
Got a question for a future mailbag? Contact Ryan on Twitter/BlueSky at @RyanNPike or e-mail him at Ryan.Pike [at] BetterCollective.com! (Make sure you put Mailbag in the subject line!)
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