Latest On The Calgary Flames
A team with a lot of potential after what might have been the busiest offseason of any team, the Calgary Flames replaced their dynamic duo of Johnny Gaudreau And Matthew Tkachuk with rounded additions included Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegarand Stanley Cup winner Nazem Kadri.
However, the team has struggled with consistency this season. Currently sitting in the second wildcard spot in the Western Conference, questions are swirling as to what steps the Flames will take to improve their roster before the March 3 trade close. Today, TSN’s Chris Johnston shared what he’s heard about Calgary’s deadline plans.
According to Flames general manager Johnston Brad Treliving has sought to bolster the team’s forward line “through much of the season.” Johnston says that could go hand in hand with a top-six forward, unlike the team’s deadline-date signings last year.
It’s a thought process likely sparked by the disappointing offensive performance of Huberdeau, who has scored just 10 goals and is well below a points pace per game with 36 in 51 appearances.
There have been some positives in Calgary’s current group of top six forwards. 24 years old Dillon Dube also sees an increasing role Elias Lindholm And Tyler Toffoliand he’s responded with a career-high 33 points in just 54 games.
Jacob Pelletier was also increased at times alongside Kadri and Huberdeau. However, he only has one assist in eight NHL games as his minutes remain limited under the head coach Darryl Sutter.
He also notes that Treliving could also look into adding a defender to prop up his blue line. They could use a more versatile partner Nikita Zadorov on the third pair as a veteran Michael Stone has averaged just 13:07 ice time per game and has posted poor advanced defense numbers.
Johnston said he thinks the front office is “as perplexed as the rest of the hockey world” by Calgary’s ups and downs this season. The team had hot spells, but they were mostly immediately wiped out by bad luck. As a result, they sat on the verge of a playoff spot after finishing first in the Western Conference last season.
Given their somewhat shaky position in a tight Western Conference wildcard race, it makes sense that Calgary would hold out with eight games remaining before deadline.
Johnston believes the team will eventually make a move. Still, it might be premature to spend assets on an addition if the team can’t string together wins to cement a playoff position.