Calgary Flames 2024/25 Season Chatter

[Brewin Flames]

Flames season preview: Huberdeau needs to bounce back

Wolf to be counted on in goal after departure of Markstrom

 

 

ByDerek Van Diest

@DerekVanDiest NHL.com Staff Writer

September 17, 2024

The 2024-25 NHL season starts Oct. 4. With training camps opening soon, NHL.com is taking a look at the three keys, the inside scoop on roster questions, and the projected lineup for each of the 32 teams. Today, the Calgary Flames.

 

Coach: Ryan Huska (second season)

 

Last season: 38-39-5; fifth place in Pacific Division, did not qualify for Stanley Cup Playoffs

3 KEYS

1. Hungry like the Wolf

 

The Flames traded goalie Jacob Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils on June 19, so they’ll be relying heavily on rookie Dustin Wolf this season. A two-time American Hockey League goalie of the year (2022, 2023) and the league MVP in 2023, Wolf played 17 games with the Flames last season and went 7-7-1 with a 3.16 goals-against average and .893 save percentage. Wolf will compete for playing time with Dan Vladar, who was the backup to Markstrom last season. To become the No. 1, Wolf will have to be better this season, but the Flames are confident in the 23-year-old.

 

 

 

2. Huberdeau must bounce back

 

Things have not worked out as expected for Jonathan Huberdeau in his first two seasons in Calgary, with the forward being unable to replicate the offensive success he had with the Florida Panthers. Acquired in a trade July 22, 2022, Huberdeau set an NHL record for the biggest point drop from one season to another, going from 115 (30 goals, 85 assists) in 80 games with the Panthers in 2021-22 to 55 points (15 goals, 40 assists) in 79 games in 2022-23 with the Flames. Last season, Huberdeau had 52 points (12 goals, 40 assists) in 81 games. With Huberdeau entering the second season of an eight-year contract, Calgary needs him to regain his form from his Florida days in order to challenge for a playoff spot this season.

 

3. Growing pains

 

General manager Craig Conroy said at the end of last season that the Flames were retooling and expects them to go through growing pains as they give opportunities to young players. Conroy took over a team with a number of key players eligible for unrestricted free agency this past July 1. Conroy dealt with the situation as best he could, acquiring assets for those players he was unable to re-sign, and now can focus on the future with the goal of making Calgary a contender in the Pacific.

ROSTER RUNDOWN

Making the cut

 

Forward Matt Coronato had nine points (three goals, six assists) in 34 games with the Flames last season, and the 21-year-old is expected to spend the entire season with them after having alternated between the NHL and AHL. Selected by the Flames in the first round (No. 13) of the 2021 NHL Draft, Coronato had 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists) in 41 games with Calgary of the AHL last season before getting called up. The right wing has the potential to earn a spot on one of the Flames’ top two lines and likely will get the opportunity to play on the second power-play unit.

 

Most intriguing addition

 

Forward Anthony Mantha had 34 points (20 goals, 14 assists) in 56 games with the Washington Capitals last season before being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, with whom he had 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 18 regular-season games and no points in three playoff games. The 29-year-old signed a one-year contract with Calgary on July 1 as an unrestricted free agent. The Flames are hoping he can provide secondary offense and support for Huberdeau this season.

 

Biggest potential surprise

 

Connor Zary had a strong rookie season with 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 63 games and is expected to continue his development this season. The 22-year-old forward, who was selected in the first round (No. 24) of the 2020 NHL Draft, should play a top-six role. Zary has the potential to have a breakout season if he is able to make the most of the expected increase in ice time (15:16 per game last season).

 

 

Ready to contribute

 

Defenseman Jeremie Poirier sustained a skate laceration on his arm last season, derailing a strong start with Calgary of the AHL. He was able to return and finished with 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 23 games, then had four points (one goal, three assists) in six playoff games. The 22-year-old could be ready to take the next step after playing the past two seasons in the AHL and is considered one of the Flames’ top prospects. He has an opportunity to make the team as the seventh defenseman.

 

Fantasy sleeper

 

Wolf, G (average draft position: 169.7) -- One of three goalies in NHL.com's top 15 rookie rankings (Yaroslav Askarov, San Jose Sharks; Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota Wild), Wolf could earn the most playing time among rookie goalies with Markstrom having been traded. Wolf has eight wins and an .896 save percentage in 18 NHL games the past two seasons for the Flames, who were 13th in the NHL in shots on goal per game last season (31.4). -- Pete Jensen

PROJECTED LINEUP

Jonathan Huberdeau -- Mikael Backlund -- Blake Coleman

Connor Zary -- Yegor Sharangovich -- Anthony Mantha

Martin Pospisil -- Nazem Kadri -- Andrei Kuzmenko

Ryan Lomberg -- Kevin Rooney -- Matt Coronato

 

MacKenzie Weegar -- Daniil Miromanov

Kevin Bahl -- Rasmus Andersson

Jake Bean -- Brayden Pachal

 

Dustin Wolf

Dan Vladar

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 1

 

Flames 6 Nucks 5 OT

 

Zary scores in OT to lift Flames to 6-5 win over Canucks

 

 

Brock Boeser tallies goal vs. Flames

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ByAP

Oct 10, 2024, 01:49 am

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- — Connor Zary scored 1:33 into overtime and the Calgary Flames opened their season with a 6-5 comeback win over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night.

 

Anthony Mantha had a goal and an assist to lead Calgary. Rasmus Andersson, Martin Pospisil, MacKenzie Weegar and Jonathan Huberdeau also scored for the Flames, who trailed 3-0 midway through the first period.

 

Brock Boeser had two goals and J.T. Miller, Daniel Sprong and Conor Garland also scored for the Canucks. Arturs Silovs stopped 20 shots for Vancouver.

 

Takeaways

 

Canucks: Squandered a 4-1 lead after the first period by giving up four unanswered goals to fall behind. Miller then tied it with 1:37 left in the third period.

 

Flames: Dan Vladar gave up four goals on 15 shots in the first period, but allowed only one more goal and finished with 20 saves for the win.

 

Key moment

 

Huberdeau, under pressure this season to produce more and live up to his $10.5-million salary, scored Calgary’s fifth goal at 10:40 of the third period to give the Flames a 5-4 lead. Stationed in the blue paint, he batted in a rebound off a shot by Brayden Pachal.

[thegx.ca]

We won

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 2

 

Flames 6 Flyers 3

 

Huberdeau has 2 goals and 2 assists as Flames beat Flyers 6-3

 

 

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ByAP

Oct 13, 2024, 01:29 am

CALGARY, Alberta -- — Jonathan Huberdeau had two goals and two assists and the Calgary Flames beat the Philadelphia Flyers 6-3 to win their home-opener on Saturday night.

 

Nazem Kadri scored twice, including an empty-netter, and MacKenzie Weegar and Mikael Backlund also scored to hlep Calgary improve to 2-0-0. Dustin Wolf stopped 37 shots in his season debut.

 

Travis Konecny had two goals and Joel Farabee also scored for Philadelphia. Ivan Fedotov made 27 saves in his first start of the season.

 

The Flyers played their second road game in two nights to start their season after a 3-2 shootout win over the Canucks in Vancouver.

 

The Flames overcame a three-goal deficit to beat the Canucks 6-5 in overtime to start their season Wednesday.

 

Takeaways

 

Flyers: After beating Vancouver in shootout on Friday night, the Flyers got off to a slow start but scored twice in the second period and trailed by a goal heading into the third.

 

Flames: Wolf was the difference early stopping all 18 shots he faced in the first period. Calgary’s first goal that deflected off Huberdeau’s shoulder was lucky, but the forward set up Weegar perfectly for a one-timer and a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.

 

Key moment

 

The Flames converted a 5-on-3 in the second period into Kadri’s power-play goal and a two-goal lead. Wolf reached back into his crease during a scramble to clear the puck and deny Konecny a potential tying goal midway through the third period.

 

Key stat

 

Philadelphia’s power play, which was the worst in the NHL last season, was 1 for 4 on Saturday and 2 for 8 after two games. Calgary went 2 for 5 and is 4 for 9 after two games.

[thegx.ca]

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 3

 

Flames 4 EDM 1

 

Andersson has goal and 2 assists as unbeaten Flames beat winless Oilers 4-1

 

 

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ByAP

Oct 13, 2024, 11:34 pm

EDMONTON, Alberta -- — Rasmus Andersson had a goal and two assists, and the Calgary Flames beat the winless Edmonton Oilers 4-1 Sunday night to remain undefeated.

 

Anthony Mantha, Justin Kirkland and Connor Zary also scored for the Flames, who improved to 3-0-0. Dan Vladar stopped 24 shots.

 

Jeff Skinner scored for the Oilers, who are 0-3-0 after beginning last season at 2-9-1 before rebounding to make it all the way to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Edmonton has been outscored 15-3 in their first three games, all at home.

Stuart Skinner had 25 saves for Edmonton.

 

Takeaways

 

Flames: Mantha’s 300th point of his NHL career put the Flames up 2-1 at 7:06 of the third period. Mantha was able to corral a rebound in tight and lifted it up high over Skinner for his second of the season.

 

Oilers: Captain Connor McDavid assisted on Skinner’s goal in the first period, marking the 15th time he has assisted in a player’s first goal. That tied Ryan Smyth for second best in franchise history in the category, behind only Wayne Gretzky’s 21 first-goal assists.

 

Key moment

 

The Oilers appeared to have taken a 2-0 lead with less than two minutes to play in the first period when Corey Perry tipped Troy Stecher's through traffic past Vladar. However, Calgary challenged for goaltender interference and the goal was called off. Edmonton had a second goal called back 5:40 into the second period after it looked like Derek Ryan had scored, but Viktor Arvidsson was clearly offside on the play.

 

Key stat

 

The Oilers gave up five power-play goals without making a save over the first two games, but held Calgary to 0 for 3. Last season, the Oilers allowed only four power-play goals in 25 playoff games last spring.

[thegx.ca]