The Calgary Flames have wrapped up their first 10 video games of the 2024-25 season, and it’s been fairly the rollercoaster journey so far. Regardless of having zero expectations of being a competitor, they got here flying out of the gates with a 4-0-0 begin. It took them till their seventh sport to lose in regulation. It’s gotten fairly ugly since, nevertheless.
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The Flames nice begin by means of six video games is shortly evaporating, as they’ve now misplaced 4 straight. They’ve given up 19 targets over that span, and have simply six of their very own. That mentioned, this text is supposed to provide takeaways that sum up all 10 video games. It’s undeniably tough to do given the loopy ups and downs, however listed here are the 5 greatest issues value mentioning for this workforce to this point.
Andersson In Line for Profession 12 months
Whereas many people on this Flames workforce might want to step it up any more in the event that they hope to combat for a playoff spot, Rasmus Andersson shouldn’t be one in all them. It was well-known that he and MacKenzie Weegar have been actually going to need to step up on what’s in any other case a really inexperienced blue line, and he’s greater than lived as much as his finish of the discount to this point.
Andersson’s 10 factors lead all Flames, whereas his 4 targets are tied with Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri for the workforce lead. It’s been an outstanding begin after a considerably underwhelming 2023-24 season, and, if he retains it going, he may very effectively surpass his career-high 50 factors set in 2021-22.
Kirkland a Phenomenal Story
Most Flames followers wouldn’t have recognized who Justin Kirkland was when coaching camp started. The 28-year-old agreed to come back to Calgary just a few days into free company on a one-year, two-way deal, although it was anticipated by basically everybody, even perhaps himself, that he would spend it within the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Calgary Wranglers.
Kirkland did begin the season out with the Wranglers, however was recalled earlier than enjoying even a single sport, and it doesn’t appear like he’s going to be heading down anytime quickly. It’s apparent simply how a lot enjoyable he’s having each day, and that constructive perspective has resonated effectively with the fan base. Having 5 factors by means of the 9 video games he’s performed hasn’t harm, both.
Goaltending Holding Up
Giving up 19 targets in 4 video games suggests some reasonably horrendous goaltending, however that isn’t precisely the case. In actual fact, Dustin Wolf and Dan Vladar have been each wonderful to begin the season out, and although their numbers have taken successful recently, the targets in opposition to are rather more of a mirrored image on the workforce in entrance of them.
Other than a tough begin from Wolf on Wednesday night time in opposition to the Utah Hockey Membership, each have given their workforce an opportunity to win each night time, and have saved a few of these more moderen video games from being even uglier. By way of the primary 10 video games, they’ve proven that with ample defence, they’re a succesful tandem.
Pospisil Experiment Working
Heading into the season, the Flames didn’t have a ton of choices down the center of the ice, and elected to provide Martin Pospisil a glance. Shedding his velocity on the forecheck has resulted in head coach Ryan Huska shifting him again to the wing as of late, however the 25-year-old proved himself able to having the ability to play the centre place.
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That is huge information for the Flames shifting ahead, as they don’t have a lot prospect depth down the center. Having a younger participant in Pospisil they now know can fill the function if want be will probably be very useful to normal supervisor Craig Conroy as he makes an attempt to construct his workforce within the years to come back.
Flames Go as Huberdeau Goes
As talked about, the Flames have been slumping as of late, and so is Huberdeau. The 31-year-old had gotten off to a improbable begin this season with six factors by means of his first 4 video games, however has cooled off immensely with only one level over his final six.
The Flames have a 3-1-0 document on the season in video games the place Huberdeau has recorded some extent. Within the six the place he’s been held off the scoresheet, they’re 1-3-1. Although many in Calgary have soured on him given his poor play by means of 2-plus seasons since his arrival, this serves as a reminder as to how vital he’s to this workforce.
Huge Stretch Coming Up
Due to the Flames’ nice begin to the season, they’re nonetheless sitting in an okay place even with this present hunch. It’s on them to get issues again on monitor over these subsequent 10 video games, and so they’ll have a possibility to do exactly that beginning tonight in a sport on the Saddledome versus Jacob Markstrom and the New Jersey Devils.
