Lindholm & Markstrom Trade Rumors, Sharangovich's Strong Play
Plus, why haven't the Flames shown any improvement with Ryan Huska at the helm?
Welcome to the THW Calgary Flames Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Flames writers.
In today’s edition, we have articles looking at the trade interest surrounding Elias Lindholm and Jacob Markstrom. Plus, how good has Yegor Sharangovich been this season after being included in the return for Tyler Toffoli? Finally, has Ryan Huska turned things around since taking over for Darryl Sutter?
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Now, on to the good stuff…
Flames Should Be Gauging Trade Interest for Markstrom
December 21, 2023 by Rupert McDonald
Calgary Flames management would never come out and say it, but they are well aware that this current roster is not good enough to compete for a Stanley Cup. Frankly, it isn’t even close. With underperforming players such as Jonathan Huberdeau, paired with a lack of true top-end talent, you get exactly what they have been for the past season and a half: a middling team that, at best, sneaks into the playoffs but likely falls just short.
The reason behind that is, despite their lack of star talent, they have plenty of very good players. Some of those players are expected to be shipped out this season in Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, and Chris Tanev, which will help turn things around in the long run. That said, they still have a goalie capable of stealing games in Jacob Markstrom, which isn’t what they need right now.
Markstrom’s season totals of a 2.81 goals against average (GAA) and a .901 save percentage (SV%) don’t appear very impressive, but they don’t tell the full story. Those who have watched the Flames closely this season would tell you that he has done an excellent job of giving his team a chance to win in nearly all of his 17 appearances this season, but he has instead been let down by a lack of goal-scoring and defensive breakdowns.
Flames and Avalanche Are Perfect Trading Partners for Lindholm
December 20, 2023 by Rupert McDonald
The Colorado Avalanche made a significant move on Dec. 16, sending forward Tomas Tatar to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round pick. On the surface, this might look like nothing more than the Avalanche moving on from a struggling Tatar, as the 33-year-old had just one goal and nine assists through 27 games after inking a one-year, $1.5 million deal this summer. However, it seems as though Joe Sakic might have more planned than just moving out a struggling winger.
This move helped free up cap space for a team looking to go on another deep playoff run with a very talented roster. By moving Tatar, they now have $4.825 million to work with, which could fill a few holes ahead of the trade deadline. That is where the Calgary Flames come into the picture.
Flames’ Sharangovich Proving Doubters Wrong With Hot Streak
December 19, 2023 by Derek Olsen
The Calgary Flames followed up their dismal 2022-23 season with a somewhat confusing offseason. This past summer, the team was slated to have six prominent players on expiring contracts: forwards Tyler Toffoli, Elias Lindholm, and Mikael Backlund as well as defensemen Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, and Nikita Zadorov. Fast forward to mid-December of the current 2023-24 season, and only three of those same players remain a potential issue for the organization. Before the season started, however, Toffoli was dealt to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for 25-year-old Belarusian forward Yegor Sharangovich and a third-round draft choice in the last NHL Entry Draft.
At the time, the aforementioned Toffoli trade was viewed as a huge loss. After all, the then-30-year-old had just come off of a 34-goal, 73-point season, leading the Flames in both categories. He was on the books for one more year at an affordable $4.25 million cap hit to boot. The Flames and rookie general manager Craig Conroy held all of the cards in their hands and then let down many with such a seemingly measly return. Conroy also signed Sharangovich to a two-year, $6.2 million deal before he stepped on the ice. However, after a slow start in his first season as a Flame, Sharangovich has recently turned up the heat (pun intended) and is beginning to prove his doubters wrong.
Flames Have Shown Zero Signs of Improvement Under Huska
December 18, 2023 by Rupert McDonald
When the Calgary Flames made the inevitable decision to fire Darryl Sutter this past offseason, many believed the team was poised for a bounce-back 2023-24. After all, it was no secret that many players in the dressing room had soured on Sutter to the point that it was reported players may request trades if he remained in charge.
Given that it is far easier to replace a head coach than an entire roster, the Flames made the decision to fire Sutter and eventually promoted then assistant coach Ryan Huska. Though the decision to give Huska the job felt like an underwhelming choice to some, most still believed that the toxicity being removed from the locker room would help the Flames get things back on track. Based on their 12-14-5 record through the first 31 games of the season, however, that hasn’t been the case.