Flames Head Coaching Mistake & 2024 WJC Prospects
Plus, Nazem Kadri's turnaround and a lookback at the team's most recent first-round picks.
Welcome to the THW Calgary Flames Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Flames writers.
In today’s edition, we revisit the team’s decision to hire Ryan Huska as head coach, look at the four prospects participating in the 2024 World Junior Championship, and discuss Nazem Kadri’s recent turnaround.
Plus, how have the team’s five most recent first-round picks performed?
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 Made a Big Mistake by Hiring Ryan Huska
January 2, 2024 by Rupert McDonald
From a roster standpoint, the Calgary Flames didn’t make a ton of changes this offseason. The biggest move saw Tyler Toffoli traded to the New Jersey Devils, but other than that, they saw nothing other than some depth pieces moved in and out. The same cannot be said for their staff, however.
The first change came to the front office, as Brad Treliving departed as the Flames’ general manager and was replaced shortly thereafter by Craig Conroy. Meanwhile, Darryl Sutter was relieved of his head coaching duties, and Conroy chose to replace him from within the organization, promoting Ryan Huska from his prior assistant coaching role. Many fans were skeptical of the hire at the time, and through 34 games, it seems that skepticism was warranted.
Flames Fans Need to Watch These 4 Players at the World Juniors
December 29, 2023 by Rupert McDonald
It is now late December, and that means that families all over the world are glued to their televisions watching the IIHF World Junior Championship. This year’s event is hosted in Gothenburg, Sweden and has produced plenty of great hockey even before the medal rounds have started. Many players utilize the tournament as a means of showcasing their skills in an effort to be drafted, signed, or gain more opportunities. The Calgary Flames are in the midst of a middling season in the NHL and could potentially be in the market for some draft picks, given their multiple highly-coveted unrestricted free agents. Should the team slip farther in the standings and one or more of Elias Lindholm, Chris Tanev, and Noah Hanifin get moved, they’ll likely be looking for talent available via the draft, assuming picks are traded in return.
Therefore, the World Juniors offer a great chance to watch certain players in preparation for the June draft. It is also convenient for watching your own team’s prospects or taking notes on other teams’ prospects in anticipation of trades. Flames’ in-house products at this year’s competition are scarce. Most fans will likely be cheering on defending champions Team Canada, but countless individuals should have their attention this year. The round-robin games are officially done, and the all-important medal round is about to begin. This is where the fun begins. Without further ado, here are four players the Flames and their fans should keep watch over at the 2024 World Junior Championship.
Flames Last 5 First-Round Picks – Decent History of Solid Choices
December 31, 2023 by Derek Olsen
It’s mid-June and almost time for the 2023 edition of the NHL Entry Draft. The Calgary Flames and new general manager Craig Conroy have been tasked with righting the proverbial ship after a disappointing 2022-23 season. It was recently announced that Conroy will have the assistance of former teammate and legendary Flame Jarome Iginla, who will accompany him in a special advisory role. The two men will likely be looking to make a splash for their first big event at the helm and spend their 16th overall selection, among others, wisely.
The Flames have five picks in the upcoming draft: their own first, second, fourth, sixth, and seventh-round draft picks. Their third-rounder is property of the Seattle Kraken as part of the Calle Jarnkrok trade last year, and they forfeited their fifth-round choice when they brought scoring leader Tyler Toffoli on board via the Montreal Canadiens. All eyes will be on the 16th pick, however. A first-round pick always has the microscope and pressure focused on them, and scouting departments/management teams always get the most flack for their first picks in a draft. The Flames have done relatively well drafting in the recent past. Instead of looking forward, let’s look back at the last five Flames first-round draft picks and how each has panned out as a professional hockey player.
Kadri’s Upswing Good for Flames with Lindholm’s Uncertain Future
December 30, 2023 by Abigail Hubbard
Nazem Kadri has been on a roll for the Flames over the past few weeks after getting off to a slow start at the beginning of the 2023-24 season. He only scored one goal in October in the Flames’ loss to the Edmonton Oilers on the 29th. He picked up speed in November, though, scoring four goals and getting nine assists. Although the 33-year-old only notched four goals and six assists in December, he’s showing a vast amount of improvement on the ice.
Kadri’s development couldn’t have come at a better time. With star forward Elias Lindholm’s future with the organization up in the air, the Flames need all the stability they can get. Having another reliable veteran up front to support the likes of Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman will provide a sense of relief for the team should Lindholm be traded.