Flames Unsung Hero Pospisil, 3 Players Worth Pursuing, and Maple Leafs’ Interest in Hanifin
Plus, Jacob Markstrom receives high praise from Hall-of-Fame goalie, and more
Welcome to the THW Calgary Flames Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Flames writers.
Today’s edition takes an in-depth look at new unsung hero Martin Pospisil and the team’s balanced attack. It also dives into three players worth pursuing at the trade deadline, the Maple Leafs’ interest in Noah Hanifin, and the high praise Jacob Markstrom received from Martin Brodeur.
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Now, on to the good stuff…
Flames Have a New Unsung Hero in Martin Pospisil
February 25, 2024 by Gary Pearson
After just 42 games in the NHL, Martin Pospíšil has quickly and quietly become one of the Calgary Flames’ most important players. Despite scoring two goals in his last two games, including his sixth of the season in the 6-3 win over the Oilers on Saturday, he doesn’t accumulate many points or log loads of minutes. What Pospíšil lacks in point production and ice time, he makes up for in physicality, desire, and a coveted ability to get under the opposition’s skin. He must have picked up some pointers from Nazem Kadri in the five-plus months they’ve worked together.
Flames’ Markstrom Receives Big Praise From Hall-of-Fame Goalie
February 24, 2024 by Rupert McDonald
After an ugly 2022-23 season, Jacob Markstrom has returned to form for the Calgary Flames in 2023-24. Through 36 appearances, he owns a 2.58 goals against average (GAA) paired with a .914 save percentage (SV%). Even more impressive is his goals saved above expected (GSAx) of 32.59, which leads all NHL goaltenders.
3 Potential Trade Destinations for Maple Leafs’ Nick Robertson
February 24, 2024 by Jesse Courville-Lynch
The Toronto Maple Leafs are considered a favourite to win the Stanley Cup this season and have been playing solid hockey as of late. With the 2024 Trade Deadline rapidly approaching, the Maple Leafs will have to decide on who they will be targeting to help upgrade their lineup for a deep playoff run. One player that the Maple Leafs could look to move in a trade package to help upgrade their roster or move him so that he can get a fresh start is forward Nick Robertson. Robertson has been playing well this season, but the fit with the Maple Leafs hasn’t been great since he was drafted by the team, and he could find himself on the outside looking in heading into the playoffs.
Balanced Attack Keeping Flames in Playoff Race
Calgary is tied with Carolina for second most players with 30+ points
February 23, 2024 by Gary Pearson (Premium THW Substack Content)
What the Flames lack in highly productive individual offensive output, they make up for with balanced scoring. Calgary has eight players with 30 or more points (Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, Yegor Sharangovich, Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Andrew Mangiapane, Noah Hanifin, Rasmus Andersson), which is tied with Carolina for second most.
3 Players Worth Pursuing at the Trade Deadline
February 23, 2024 by Derek Olsen
We are more than halfway through the 2023-24 season, and there are still plenty of questions left to be answered. For Calgary Flames fans, the team is seemingly at a crossroads whether to embrace a retool and begin selling off assets. As the team alternates wins and losses, unrestricted free agent (UFA) defencemen Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev are currently dominating headlines in anticipation of being traded.
Flames: Prospects They Have a Shot at Landing in 2024 NHL Draft
February 23, 2024 by Rupert McDonald
The Calgary Flames are in a nice spot heading into the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, as they currently have two first-round picks and could have four by the trade deadline. The additional first they currently have came from the Vancouver Canucks, which they got as part of the Elias Lindholm deal.
Insider Confirms Bold Trade Bid by Maple Leafs for Noah Hanifin
February 22, 2024 by Jim Parsons
As per Elliotte Friedman, the Toronto Maple Leafs did make a trade pitch to the Calgary Flames recently in an attempt to acquire defenceman Noah Hanifin. With reports surfacing that Hanifin has informed the Flames he’ll be testing the market and with speculation that the teams he might be interested in joining in free agency are south of the border, the confirmation from the NHL insider is a bit surprising.