Flames' Next 2 Games Are Make-or-Break & a Disgruntled Wolf
Who have been the Flames' best players to this point in the season?
Welcome to the THW Calgary Flames Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Flames writers.
In today’s edition, we have an article on why the team’s next two games can make or break the season, who the team’s best players have been, and how the team is getting by in spite of its third defense pair. Plus, by not playing Dustin Wolf consistently, how much future damage is the team doing?
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Now, on to the good stuff…
Flames’ Next 2 Games Will Decide Rest of Season
January 25, 2024 by Rupert McDonald
The next two games will be the biggest games of the season for the Calgary Flames. Both are games they should be able to win, as they come against inferior opponents in the Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks. If we have learned anything from this team in the past, however, it is that this Flames team is a hard group to predict.
Just one week ago, things were going quite swimmingly for the Flames, who were tied points-wise for a playoff position after winning their fourth-straight game versus the Arizona Coyotes. All of a sudden, a team that everyone expected to be major sellers at the trade deadline looked like they may have postseason aspirations. Since then, they have gone on to lose three straight, and talks of selling have jumpstarted once again.
Calgary Flames’ 3 Best Players of 2023-24 at the Halfway Point
January 24, 2024 by Gary Pearson
The Calgary Flames, despite their current three-game losing streak, are still within reach of a Western Conference Wild-Card spot thanks to the solid play of about five players, three of whom receive plaudits as the most influential through 47 games. Jacob Markström is the undeniable MVP and has been one of the NHL’s elite goalies, particularly since returning from a finger injury at the start of December. The other two, Blake Coleman and Connor Zary, are at either end of their respective careers but have one thing in common: they’re both overachieving like an MLB pitcher who can hit.
Markstrom’s name is being mentioned in the Vezina Trophy conversation, Coleman was recently named the NHL’s second star of the week, and Zary has a puncher’s chance of winning the Calder Trophy.
Flames Getting By Despite Ugly Third Defensive Pairing
January 23, 2024 by Rupert McDonald
If you ask Calgary Flames fans what needs improving on this current team, you’ll get several answers. Many would suggest they need more talent up front, as they struggle to produce both at even strength and even more so on the power play. Heading into the season, some would have also said goaltending, though that answer has likely changed given Jacob Markstrom’s performance to date.
One area that does need to get improved, but doesn’t seem to be talked about, is this team’s third pairing on the blue line. Heading into the season, the back end was looked at as a strength for the Flames, thanks to the likes of MacKenzie Weegar, Rasmus Andersson, Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, and Nikita Zadorov. It was a fair assumption to make as all five are solid blueliners. In fact, all have been good this season. That said, since the Zadorov trade, it has become abundantly clear that they lack depth in that position.
Flames Not Playing Dustin Wolf is a Risky Move
January 22, 2024 by Rupert McDonald
After it was announced that Jacob Markstrom was able to dress in Saturday night’s (Jan. 20) game versus the Edmonton Oilers, I felt like it was only a matter of time before Dustin Wolf was re-assigned to the American Hockey League (AHL). That turned out to be the case, as the Calgary Flames announced the transaction on Sunday morning.
Wolf’s time with the Flames on this latest call-up was brief, as Markstrom was only forced to sit out for two games after suffering an undisclosed injury. On the season, the 22-year-old phenom has suited up for a career-high five performances with the Flames. While it is an improvement on years past, it is not nearly enough.