THW Calgary Flames Substack - Oct. 2, 2023
Welcome to the THW Calgary Flames Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Flames writers.
Today’s edition discusses Mikael Backlund’s extension and promotion to captain, preseason takeaways, and news and rumors!
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’ Andersson Handling Captaincy Debacle with Pure Class
September 29, 2023, by Rupert McDonald
It’s gotta hurt a little, right? After an offseason where plenty speculated Rasmus Andersson would get the ‘C’, he instead watched his longtime teammate Mikael Backlund get the honour. For plenty of time, after Mark Giordano’s tenure ended, it seemed as though Backlund was the easy choice to be the team’s next captain. However, Darryl Sutter chose to go without one for each of the past two seasons, and with Backlund’s contract status uncertain all summer, it seemed his time may have passed.
As for Andersson, he was one of few Flames who continued to speak highly of the Flames organization when many others on the team expressed hesitancy to return. When asked himself about the possibility of being the Flames’ next captain, Andersson admitted it would mean a lot.
Top 4 Non-Playoff Teams That Can Win the Cup This Season
September 29, 2023, by Mike Fink
With the 2023-24 season only a few days away, it’s that time of year to make predictions for what will happen in the NHL in the coming months. The Hockey Writers (THW) published their season predictions a few weeks ago which featured some surprises but nothing extraordinary. The Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche are expected to repeat as division champions while the Final prediction featured two teams that are odds-on favorites to win the Cup.
Flames Need to Consider Claiming Penguins’ Ty Smith Off Waivers
September 29, 2023, by Rupert McDonald
The Calgary Flames don’t need any defencemen at this time. Even with the uncertainty regarding Oliver Kylington, they have six capable NHLers on the back end in MacKenzie Weegar, Noah Hanifin, Rasmus Andersson, Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov, and Jordan Oesterle. Dennis Gilbert also remains under contract but will likely only be called upon in the case of injury.
Flames Smart to Extend & Name Backlund Captain
September 28, 2023, by Derek Olsen
That’s right Calgary Flames fans, rejoice. Mikael Backlund isn’t going anywhere, and he’s officially the team’s leader. It was announced on Wednesday that Backlund has re-signed with the club for two years and was concurrently named the 21st captain in franchise history. As a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) and aging veteran player, it worried many fans and local media that he may elect to pursue better opportunities to win with another team. This was made especially prominent after the Flames’ disappointing 2022-23 season, in which they missed the playoffs one year after finishing first in the Pacific Division.
Flames’ Huberdeau Appears to Be in Store for MVP-Like Season
September 28, 2023, by Rupert McDonald
Perhaps being an afterthought is a good thing. The Calgary Flames are certainly that this season, as they are generating next to zero buzz regarding the upcoming season despite the fact that on paper, their roster is extremely talented. The reason for that, of course, is due to their struggles a season ago, though as Flames fans know, plenty of those were due to the locker room’s displeasure with former head coach Darryl Sutter.
Another afterthought when it comes to the Flames is Jonathan Huberdeau. After signing an eight-year, $84 million deal, the 30-year-old had the biggest points regression in NHL history. Considered one of the game’s elite offensive producers a year ago, he is now being mocked by some as having one of the worst contracts in the league. Those who believe that could be in store for a major surprise this season.
Calgary Flames Top 10 Prospects for 2023-24
September 28, 2023, by Nathanial Duffett
There are mixed reviews on the Calgary Flames prospect pool, but the top half of the ranking stacks up with anyone else in the league. According to Logan Horn’s farm system ranking, the Flames have the 13th-best group in the NHL. For this ranking, the Flames have four players (Matthew Coronato, Connor Zary, Dustin Wolf, and Jakob Pelletier) who can impact the team this season. Coronato and Pelletier may start the season with the team and be full-time members of the Flames roster. Zary and Wolf will have to wait a little longer in the American Hockey League but will be among the first call-ups if things go south.
3 Takeaways From Flames’ Preseason Win Against the Jets
September 28, 2023, by Nathanial Duffett
The Calgary Flames played Wednesday night on the road against the Winnipeg Jets. Neither team had their top players playing but featured plenty of young talent and role players on each side. The game ended in a 3-2 win in a shootout for the Flames.
Flames News & Rumors: Backlund, Pelletier & Wolf
September 27, 2023, by Michael DeRosa
In this latest edition of Calgary Flames News & Rumors, the Flames have signed Mikael Backlund to a contract extension and named him captain. Meanwhile, the Flames have provided an injury update for winger Jakob Pelletier, and it is far from good news. In other news, Dustin Wolf has been listed as one of the top goalie breakout candidates for the 2023-24 season. Let’s discuss all of this in today’s (Sep. 27) Flames News & Rumors column.