<p>What are the Calgary Flames right now?</p>
<p>Having watched the Flames play their first 29 games of the 2022-23 season, I keep coming back to the question &#8220;what is this team?&#8221;. Are they good? Are they bad? Are they good enough to win a playoff series or two? Will they make the playoffs? I don’t have much of a definitive answer to these questions.</p>
<p></p>
<p>There are nights when they play great and look like a team that can go deep into the post season. They’ve looked great in wins against the Golden Knights, Hurricanes, Penguins, Jets and Panthers. But then there are other games when wonder if they can even make the playoffs.</p>
<p>Let’s dive into this question of “what are the Calgary Flames?” and see some answers from #FlamesTwitter.</p>
<h2><strong>Things we know</strong></h2>
<h3><strong>The Flames are rock solid in net</strong></h3>
<p>There are a couple aspects of this team that we already know. First is that they are a team with strong goaltending. Jacob Markstrom has been hot and cold to start this season to say the least. But he is closer to being the guy we saw last season, and the last few weeks rather than the guy who struggled to start this season. In Markstrom’s last 5 starts he has a save percentage of 0.925%, a goals against of 2.01, and a goals saved above expected of 2.70. Markstrom has found his game and he will not be an issue for the Flames long term.</p>
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<p lang="da" dir="ltr">JACOB MARKSTROM 👏👏👏 <a href="https://t.co/unxxBb55Uv">pic.twitter.com/unxxBb55Uv</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1602499220346671105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dan Vladar makes a bunch of huge saves in this crazy sequence. <a href="https://t.co/RMN4XNHUCv">pic.twitter.com/RMN4XNHUCv</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1596617132510687232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Dan Vladar has turned into a solid, reliable backup goalie. He can come in and give the Flames quality minutes as he has proved this season. The goaltending is the least of their worries.</p>
<h3><strong>Head coach/team defence</strong></h3>
<p>The best thing going for the Flames organization right now might be their head coach, Darryl Sutter. That&#8217;s likely an unpopular opinion among the fan base right now, but it&#8217;s true. Sutter is the best Head Coach the Flames organization has had since the late 1980’s. Sutter has taken a lot of heat recently, some of it justified. But let’s not forget that Sutter almost single handily brought this franchise back to relevancy. One way that he has done that is through implementing an up tempo, tight checking defensive structure.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Doug Risebrough<br />Guy Charron<br />Dave King<br />Pierre Page<br />Brian Sutter<br />Don Hay<br />Greg Gilbert<br />Jim Playfair<br />Mike Keenan<br />Brent Sutter<br />Bob Hartley<br />Glen Gulutzan<br />Bill Peters<br />Geoff Ward</p>
<p>Let&#39;s enjoy having a great head coach while we can. The Flames organization obviously struggles to hire them</p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1601696271542398976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The Flames defensive structure is good enough to win multiple rounds in the playoffs. I firmly believe that.  There are not a lot of games where the Flames give up a ton of high-quality scoring chances to their opposition. Calgary ranks fifth in the NHL in HDCA/60, sixth in xGA/60, and sixth in CA/60. They’re top ten in those critical stats, and that’s with a lot of new players still getting used to a Sutter system. This team will continue to grow on the defensive side of their game. The Flames will be a force in their own end come March and April.</p>
<h3><strong>They struggle to produce high danger chances</strong></h3>
<p>One thing that has become clear is that the Flames are not close to being as dangerous offensively compared to last season. This team struggles to produce offence. They are a high shot volume team. They’ll routinely outshoot their opponents on the majority of nights. But too many of those shots come from the outside and not much comes from it.</p>
<p>In all situations, Calgary ranks 23rd in HDCF/60, 22nd in SCF/60 and 21st in GF/60. That is not good enough for a team who has a very <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/news/the-flames-have-two-years-to-win-a-stanley-cup">small window to win the Stanley Cup</a>.</p>
<p>Based off what we have seen so far and what we know, here is my best explanation for what the Flames are:</p>
<ul>
<li>The Flames are a good team, not a great team</li>
<li>They have an excellent head coach and goaltending tandem</li>
<li>Their success will come from discipline and sticking to their defensive structure</li>
<li>They will fight for second/third in the Pacific or a wild card spot</li>
</ul>
<p>It feels like the Flames are back to being mediocre. Not good enough to win a Stanley Cup, but not bad enough to get a high draft pick. No mans land.</p>
<p>I asked #FlamesTwitter for their thoughts on what they think the Flames are. There were a lot of interesting answers, with the overwhelming thought that this team is mediocre.</p>
<p><em><strong>Let us know in the comments section what you think this Flames team is right now. </strong></em></p>
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<p lang="pt" dir="ltr">Medicore. As per usual</p>
<p>&mdash; CanadaBricks (@BricksCanada) <a href="https://twitter.com/BricksCanada/status/1602788564353585152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">extremely mid</p>
<p>&mdash; Ayden (@Ayden5613) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ayden5613/status/1602776293237719040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mediocre like always.</p>
<p>&mdash; ThePositiveFlamesFan (@dizzybone26) <a href="https://twitter.com/dizzybone26/status/1602804318306177027?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Team still trying to find the right chemistry with all the pieces to make a playoff run if they start clicking</p>
<p>&mdash; Stu (@STabcdef) <a href="https://twitter.com/STabcdef/status/1602774009887993856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Learning to be a new team after monumental changes.</p>
<p>&mdash; Annoyed Flames Fan (@_JaysRealDeal_) <a href="https://twitter.com/_JaysRealDeal_/status/1602826113650413569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p lang="es" dir="ltr">mediocre</p>
<p>&mdash; Milan Lucic is washed (@raptors_enjoyer) <a href="https://twitter.com/raptors_enjoyer/status/1602773563014287361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p lang="es" dir="ltr">Mediocre.</p>
<p>&mdash; Art Vandalay (@VandalayCEO) <a href="https://twitter.com/VandalayCEO/status/1602807624231174144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The same as the last decade. 1 year good 1 year bad</p>
<p>&mdash; Jonathan Munro (@J_munro) <a href="https://twitter.com/J_munro/status/1602792277705097216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">certainly a team that plays in the NHL</p>
<p>&mdash; James Johnson 🔥 (@JamesJohnsonYYC) <a href="https://twitter.com/JamesJohnsonYYC/status/1602772835877158913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Calgary Flames are a headache for anyone who cheers for them. Finished the sentence for you.</p>
<p>&mdash; eliteKADRI🔥 (@mattallarie) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattallarie/status/1602781804951379971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>

What are the Calgary Flames right now?

Having watched the Flames play their first 29 games of the 2022-23 season, I keep coming back to the question "what is this team?". Are they good? Are they bad? Are they good enough to win a playoff series or two? Will they make the playoffs? I don’t have much of a definitive answer to these questions.



There are nights when they play great and look like a team that can go deep into the post season. They’ve looked great in wins against the Golden Knights, Hurricanes, Penguins, Jets and Panthers. But then there are other games when wonder if they can even make the playoffs.

Let’s dive into this question of “what are the Calgary Flames?” and see some answers from #FlamesTwitter.
<h2><strong>Things we know</strong></h2>
<h3><strong>The Flames are rock solid in net</strong></h3>
There are a couple aspects of this team that we already know. First is that they are a team with strong goaltending. Jacob Markstrom has been hot and cold to start this season to say the least. But he is closer to being the guy we saw last season, and the last few weeks rather than the guy who struggled to start this season. In Markstrom’s last 5 starts he has a save percentage of 0.925%, a goals against of 2.01, and a goals saved above expected of 2.70. Markstrom has found his game and he will not be an issue for the Flames long term.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1602499220346671105?s=20&amp;t=FksglBIv5sT0d-PZ5PKMTQ

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1596617132510687232?s=20&amp;t=FksglBIv5sT0d-PZ5PKMTQ

Dan Vladar has turned into a solid, reliable backup goalie. He can come in and give the Flames quality minutes as he has proved this season. The goaltending is the least of their worries.
<h3><strong>Head coach/team defence</strong></h3>
The best thing going for the Flames organization right now might be their head coach, Darryl Sutter. That's likely an unpopular opinion among the fan base right now, but it's true. Sutter is the best Head Coach the Flames organization has had since the late 1980’s. Sutter has taken a lot of heat recently, some of it justified. But let’s not forget that Sutter almost single handily brought this franchise back to relevancy. One way that he has done that is through implementing an up tempo, tight checking defensive structure.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1601696271542398976?s=20&amp;t=FksglBIv5sT0d-PZ5PKMTQ

The Flames defensive structure is good enough to win multiple rounds in the playoffs. I firmly believe that.  There are not a lot of games where the Flames give up a ton of high-quality scoring chances to their opposition. Calgary ranks fifth in the NHL in HDCA/60, sixth in xGA/60, and sixth in CA/60. They’re top ten in those critical stats, and that’s with a lot of new players still getting used to a Sutter system. This team will continue to grow on the defensive side of their game. The Flames will be a force in their own end come March and April.
<h3><strong>They struggle to produce high danger chances</strong></h3>
One thing that has become clear is that the Flames are not close to being as dangerous offensively compared to last season. This team struggles to produce offence. They are a high shot volume team. They’ll routinely outshoot their opponents on the majority of nights. But too many of those shots come from the outside and not much comes from it.

In all situations, Calgary ranks 23rd in HDCF/60, 22nd in SCF/60 and 21st in GF/60. That is not good enough for a team who has a very <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/news/the-flames-have-two-years-to-win-a-stanley-cup">small window to win the Stanley Cup</a>.

Based off what we have seen so far and what we know, here is my best explanation for what the Flames are:
<ul>
 	<li>The Flames are a good team, not a great team</li>
 	<li>They have an excellent head coach and goaltending tandem</li>
 	<li>Their success will come from discipline and sticking to their defensive structure</li>
 	<li>They will fight for second/third in the Pacific or a wild card spot</li>
</ul>
It feels like the Flames are back to being mediocre. Not good enough to win a Stanley Cup, but not bad enough to get a high draft pick. No mans land.

I asked #FlamesTwitter for their thoughts on what they think the Flames are. There were a lot of interesting answers, with the overwhelming thought that this team is mediocre.

<em><strong>Let us know in the comments section what you think this Flames team is right now. </strong></em>

https://twitter.com/BricksCanada/status/1602788564353585152?s=20&amp;t=FksglBIv5sT0d-PZ5PKMTQ

https://twitter.com/Ayden5613/status/1602776293237719040?s=20&amp;t=FksglBIv5sT0d-PZ5PKMTQ

https://twitter.com/dizzybone26/status/1602804318306177027?s=20&amp;t=FksglBIv5sT0d-PZ5PKMTQ

https://twitter.com/STabcdef/status/1602774009887993856?s=20&amp;t=FksglBIv5sT0d-PZ5PKMTQ

https://twitter.com/_JaysRealDeal_/status/1602826113650413569?s=20&amp;t=FksglBIv5sT0d-PZ5PKMTQ

https://twitter.com/raptors_enjoyer/status/1602773563014287361?s=20&amp;t=FksglBIv5sT0d-PZ5PKMTQ

https://twitter.com/VandalayCEO/status/1602807624231174144?s=20&amp;t=FksglBIv5sT0d-PZ5PKMTQ

https://twitter.com/J_munro/status/1602792277705097216?s=20&amp;t=FksglBIv5sT0d-PZ5PKMTQ

https://twitter.com/JamesJohnsonYYC/status/1602772835877158913?s=20&amp;t=FksglBIv5sT0d-PZ5PKMTQ

https://twitter.com/mattallarie/status/1602781804951379971?s=20&amp;t=FksglBIv5sT0d-PZ5PKMTQ

What are the Calgary Flames right now?

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