NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 8-Sept. 8. Today, three important questions facing the Calgary Flames.
[Flames 32 in 32: Season preview | Top prospects | Fantasy breakdown]
1. Do the Flames have enough scoring after two key departures?
Calgary, which finished sixth in the NHL with 291 goals, lost its top two scorers last season: Johnny Gaudreauwho paced the Flames and tied for second in NHL scoring with 115 points (40 goals, 75 assists), signed a seven-year, $68.25 million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 13; Matthew Tkachuk who was second with 104 points (42 goals, 62 assists), was traded to the Florida Panthers on July 22.
Gaudreau and Tkachuk were responsible for 28 percent of Calgary’s goals.
“When two big names at forward both leave, there’s room for players to step up, and that includes me,” forward Andrew Mangiapane told the Flames website. “That includes some other players as well. There’s room there, there’s opportunity, and now it’s up to us to fill their spot and continue our own growth too.”
The Flames acquired forward Jonathan Huberdeau In the trade that sent Tkachuk to the Panthers. He tied Gaudreau for second in league scoring and set an NHL record for assists by a left wing (85).
Video: Jonathan Huberdeau signs an 8-year contract with Flames
2. Can others replicate their career years from last season?
Playing with Tkachuk and Gaudreau, center Elias Lindholm enjoyed his best NHL season to date, a 42-goal, 82-point performance that earned the 27-year-old a nomination for the Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the League. Mangiapane, who signed a three-year contract with the Flames on Aug. 2, scored an NHL career-high 35 goals.
Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar are each coming off their most productive seasons with the Panthers, and the pairing of Rasmus Andersson (four goals, 46 assists) and Noah Hanifin (10 goals, 38 assists), along with duo of Oliver Kylington (nine goals, 22 assists) and Christopher Tanev (six goals, 22 assists) all set new highs in points too.
Even Jacob Markstroma Vezina Trophy finalist as the NHL’s best goalie, turned in his most efficient season to date, setting personal bests for wins (37), goals-against average (2.22) and save percentage (.922).
3. Will they name a captain?
Mark Giordano‘s departure from Calgary to the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft left the Flames without a captain. Giordano, who played 15 seasons in Calgary after signing him as an undrafted free agent in 2004, had served as captain since the start of the 2013-14 season.
A replacement wasn’t named before last season. The Flames instead opted to roll a cast of alternate captains, including Tanev, Sean Monahan, Mikael Backlund and the recently-departed Tkachuk. Gaudreau was also an alternate during Tanev’s absence in the Stanley Cup Playoffs due to an injury.
Backlund could be the strongest candidate. The 33-year-old is the longest-tenured active member of the Flames (14 seasons) and is tied for third on their all-time games played list (826).
Huberdeau, who signed an eight-year, $84 million contract extension, on Aug. 4, could develop into another candidate despite having not yet played a game with Calgary. He was an alternate captain in Florida.
“Obviously I’ve been there for a lot of years,” Huberdeau said. “I haven’t met the guys yet, but just getting [into] September, I’m going to skate with the guys, get more comfortable. I want to be a leader on and off the ice and to the community, give back a lot. That’s the kind of person I am and that’s what I want to do.”
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