Flames Not Missing Phillips & Hanifin Extension Possibility
Plus, 3 AHL call-ups have fueled the team's strong play and how could the Flames overcharge the Maple Leafs?
Welcome to the THW Calgary Flames Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Flames writers.
In today’s edition, we have a piece on the Flames not missing current Washington Capital Matthew Phillips, why the team should consider a Noah Hanifin extension, and which three AHL call-ups are driving the team’s success.
Finally, why might the Flames front office charge the Toronto Maple Leafs a “Brad Treliving tax?”
It would be great if you’d share the THW Flames Substack with your friends and family so they can subscribe and enjoy all the latest.
Now, on to the good stuff…
Flames Losing Matthew Phillips Not Costly Like Many Had Feared
December 5, 2023 by Rupert McDonald
For several seasons, many Calgary Flames fans were upset about the lack of opportunity given to Matthew Phillips, and rightfully so. The undersized winger played a total of three NHL games, despite putting up fantastic numbers in the American Hockey League (AHL) season after season.
Many were optimistic that when Craig Conroy was hired as general manager during the offseason, Phillips would finally get an opportunity to prove that he belonged in the NHL. That never came to fruition, however, as despite receiving an extension offer, the 25-year-old forward chose to sign a deal with the Washington Capitals.
The decision made plenty of sense for Phillips, as he felt he would get a better chance to prove himself elsewhere. It was frustrating for Flames fans, however, who felt that their team mishandled a player who might turn into a star. Some even compared Phillips to Martin St. Louis, another player the Flames mishandled many years ago. However, based on the season so far, that may not be the case.
Flames May Be Best Off to Extend Noah Hanifin
December 4, 2023 by Rupert McDonald
The Calgary Flames have officially begun selling off assets, as they shipped defenceman Nikita Zadorov to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday in exchange for two draft picks. The Flames now have three highly sought-after pending unrestricted free agents remaining: Elias Lindholm, Chris Tanev, and Noah Hanifin.
While trading both Tanev and Lindholm may very well be the best plan for the Flames, the jury is still out on Hanifin. There were talks about him signing an extension, though the two sides haven’t been able to work out a deal. That said, it may be in general manager Craig Conroy’s best interest to see if there is still interest from Hanifin’s party to get something done.
3 Calgary Flames’ AHLers Who Could Be Called Up Next
December 3, 2023 by Derek Olsen
The Calgary Flames have had an up-and-down 2023-24 season, to say the least. From the start of November to the time of this writing the team has gone on a 8-4-2 stretch. This has turned many heads and is most definitely in relation to three successful call-ups from the Flames’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers. Forwards Connor Zary and Martin Pospisil as well as defenceman Nick DeSimone were inserted into the lineup and have thrived at the NHL level. The team has also recently called up Wranglers’ defenceman Ilya Solovyov after trading NHLer Nikita Zadorov.
Flames Likely to “Tax” Treliving, Maple Leafs In Any Tanev Trade
December 2, 2023 by Jim Parsons
In the aftermath of the Nikita Zadorov trade to the Vancouver Canucks, the Calgary Flames find themselves in the midst of potential further changes. Among the pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) on the Flames roster, the spotlight is now on Chris Tanev, and rumors suggest that the Toronto Maple Leafs are keenly interested in acquiring the seasoned defenseman.
Maple Leafs’ General Manager, Brad Treliving, expressed his team’s need for defensive reinforcements earlier this week, acknowledging the strain on certain players. As Luke Fox of Sportsnet points out when he quoted the GM, “You have people probably playing higher and more minutes you want, and they’re hanging in there, but it’s certainly an area we’d like to look at and see if there’s a way to help ourselves.” Treliving hinted at exploring options to strengthen the blue line, and Tanev appears to be a perfect match for the Leafs’ requirements.