Burning Questions: Is Flames’ future direction now clear?

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The skating stars are, for the following week, out of workplace.

Calgary Flames alternate captain Rasmus Andersson, requested in regards to the sport plan for the annual all-star break/bye, put it this manner: “You’re actually going to attempt to simply get away, get pleasure from a pleasant beer by the pool and attempt to get hockey away out of your ideas for a bit of bit.”

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Factor is, in a market like Calgary, people are all the time considering hockey.

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And with the Flames at the moment sitting on the mistaken aspect of the playoff cutoff, with a hat-trick of key items on expiring contracts and with the commerce deadline simply over 5 weeks away, there may be lots to consider.

Postmedia’s beat reporters, Danny Austin and Wes Gilbertson, weigh in with their solutions to a handful of burning questions in regards to the present state of the Flames and what may come subsequent …

The Flames hit the break with a 22-22-5 file. As they cut up for his or her holidays, they have been sitting in twelfth within the Western Convention standings. Decide one phrase to explain their season thus far …

Danny Austin: Regular? Yep. In my eyes, the Flames have by no means actually wavered from being precisely what they’re. They’re a .500 crew they usually’ve steadily confirmed that repeatedly. They’re undoubtedly not a Stanley Cup contender, however they’ve much more good days than the NHL’s true bottom-feeders. It’s actually virtually alarming simply how a lot of a .500 crew they’re. Their file in December? 5-6-2. January? 6-6-0. I’m unsure what different proof anybody wants. The Flames are what they’re, and that’s a crew that loses as usually because it wins. The upper-ups on the group have to point out us whether or not they suppose that’s adequate or not, as a result of they’re in — at finest — the mushy center proper now and there are not any simple fixes to get out of it.

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Wes Gilbertson: Revealing. Bear in mind, again in September, there have been loads of questions on what to anticipate from these Flames, about whether or not their face-plant final season was merely the results of important change, subpar goaltending and a soured relationship with their outdated coach. Nicely, the previous few months have revealed this present core isn’t constructed to contend. They’re on the fringes of the playoff race and definitely not on any record of Stanley Cup frontrunners. On a extra constructive notice, it’s additionally been revealed that a number of the children are able to contribute, and maybe in additional important roles than beforehand projected. Connor Zary has been an offensive difference-maker. Martin Pospisil is trying like a longtime NHLer, so long as he can keep wholesome whereas taking part in his pesky model. So each good and dangerous, ‘revealing’ is the phrase I’d select.

Whereas there was a lot of discuss from contained in the locker room about taking pictures for a wildcard spot, the Flames stumbled into the break with a 2-4 file on a six-game homestand. Does that seal their playoff destiny? Does it cement the course that common supervisor Craig Conroy ought to take because the March 8 commerce deadline nears?

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Danny Austin: They’re not going to be patrons, that’s for certain. I don’t need to come throughout as pessimistic, however this group has had 49 video games to persuade Conroy that they’re price conserving collectively. After 49 video games, you might be what you might be. And what are the Flames? They’re a .500 crew. Is that every one the Flames aspire to be as a company? The one strategy to get out of the muddy center is to make daring strikes. That doesn’t essentially imply a full rebuild, however Conroy can’t presumably be taking a look at this group and considering he desires to run it again repeatedly.

Wes Gilbertson: The opposite wildcard hopefuls have their very own flaws, however Conroy can’t — and received’t — get sidetracked by the chase for the eighth seed within the Western Convention. I don’t suppose that ugly homestand modified something, just because I consider that Conroy decided his course weeks in the past. Factor is, you don’t announce these selections by way of press launch — ‘The Calgary Flames wish to announce that Elias Lindholm, Chris Tanev and possibly Noah Hanifin will quickly be traded.’ Followers will have to be affected person for just a few extra weeks as Conroy appears to be like to maximise their commerce worth. Perhaps Hanifin finally re-ups, as has been rumoured, however I’m wondering why it’s not completed but.

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If Conroy is listening to commerce provides for pending free brokers Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev, what kind of items ought to he be concentrating on in return?

Danny Austin: I believe it’s completely different for every man. I’m nonetheless not satisfied that they’ll transfer on from Hanifin, who simply turned 27. He’s the youngest of that trio. For the others? I actually preferred what Conroy did in his first deal as common supervisor when he despatched Tyler Toffoli to the New Jersey Devils for Yegor Sharangovich and a draft decide. Toffoli needed to be moved, and the Flames acquired a man in his 20s who has thrived with extra ice time and a unique state of affairs. Until you’re going full, full, full rebuild and attempting to commerce all of your different veterans, too, searching for that type of quote-unquote distressed asset looks like the correct transfer.

Wes Gilbertson: This isn’t going to be a complete teardown, not with a bunch of 30-somethings — Jonathan Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri and MacKenzie Weegar — signed to long-term offers. So whereas Conroy, who has lengthy been concerned in scouting a number of the Flames’ prime targets for the draft, will probably be trying so as to add to his stash of picks, I believe the precedence is to search out some NHL-ready contributors. That might imply younger gamers solid in depth roles elsewhere, or prospects who’re prepared for primetime. In the event you’re buying and selling each Hanifin and Tanev, for instance, it’s good to discover a potential top-four substitute in your blue-line. And that dude can’t be 32 years outdated. With three coveted trade-chips and a capability/willingness to retain wage, Conroy has a possibility to actually kick-start this re-tool.

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Past the potential roster strikes, what’s one storyline that you simply’ll be monitoring after the Flames are again in motion?

Danny Austin: I’m actually trying ahead to seeing how Oliver Kylington matches again into an on a regular basis position on the blue-line. After lacking 20 months whereas he attended to his psychological well being, it was a tremendous story when the 26-year-old defenceman returned to motion this previous week. Flames followers rightfully made him really feel proper at house on the Saddledome and he’ll be given time to ramp up his sport. If he can get wherever close to to being the participant he was in 2021-22, that makes the Flames a greater crew.

Wes Gilbertson: Kylington’s return is, certainly, the perfect story of the season across the Saddledome, and it’s not going to be beat. I get goosebumps simply fascinated about the way in which the C of Crimson will react to his first snipe on house ice. Talking of objectives, this will probably be a enjoyable quest to cowl … With a dozen lamp-lightings this season, MacKenzie Weegar is at the moment tied for second amongst NHL defencemen. He’s only one again of Quinn Hughes and has the identical variety of notches as Cale Makar. Can Weegar cling round with that elite firm? Can he develop into simply the third Flames rearguard within the 2000s to pot 20?

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Connor Zary and Martin Pospisil have made large impacts since being known as up from the AHL’s Wranglers within the fall. Is there one other younger participant you’re looking ahead to seeing extra of down the stretch?

Danny Austin: The simple reply right here is Jakob Pelletier. Flames head coach Ryan Huska raved about his performances in coaching camp and he was undoubtedly going to be on the opening-night roster earlier than a shoulder damage that required surgical procedure. We’re most likely not anticipating Pelletier, who returned to motion with the Wranglers this previous weekend, to place up Zary-like numbers when he rejoins the Flames, however he proved he may be an impactful vitality man within the again half of final season.

Wes Gilbertson: For me, the simple reply is Dustin Wolf. Yeah, that man — the AHL’s two-time goalie-of-the-year and nonetheless essentially the most fascinating prospect within the pipeline. Wolf has made 4 begins for the Flames thus far this season and whereas his stat line won’t present it, the 22-year-old has seemed to me like a man who belongs within the NHL. How for much longer are you able to ask him to bide his time within the minors? The Flames have 33 regular-season video games remaining and, particularly in the event that they slip out of the wildcard race, I believe Wolf ought to be tapped to start out at the least 10 of these. Not simply because it will likely be invaluable expertise, however as a result of he’s earned the chance.

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