#10-Calgary Flames
#10-Calgary Flames
Vegas Odds 30–1
2017 Record 45–33–4
Key additions- Travis Hamonic, Mike Smith, Eddie Lack
Key losses- Brian Elliot, Chad Johnson, Lance Bouma, Deryk Engelland
Projected Depth Chart
Forward
Johnny Gaudreau-Sean Monahan- Michael Ferland
Matthew Tkachuk- Mikael Backlund- Michael Frolik
Kris Versteeg- Sam Bennett- Troy Brouwer
Curtis Lazar-Matt Stajan- Mark Jankowski
Freddie Hamilton-Garnet Hathaway
Defense
Dougie Hamilton-Mark Giordano
TJ Brodie-Travis Hamonic
Michael Stone-Brett Kulak
Matt Bartkowski
Goalie
Mike Smith
Eddie Lack
In the first article about Beer League Insiders top ten cup contenders are the Calgary Flames. We’ve ranked them our number ten favourite for the cup this year because lets be honest they are a long shot. HOWEVER if a certain things go there way this year they could defiantly be contenders. If they can depend on their goaltending night in night out and a few players who we focus on in this article can have big seasons they may just be there.
The Flames are a team on the rise who in our opinion are one of most improved teams in the league after this busy off season.We’ll start by looking at their back end; Calgary bolsters an elite blue line with a top five that trumps most in the league. Their captain Mark Giordano and Dougie Hamilton highlight their blue line as the teams number one pairing and both guys finished in the top eight for Norris Trophy votes last season. I think its safe to say Travis Hamonic and TJ Brodie both had off years last season, however if they can both find their game and bring it to the level they’ve both demonstrated they can play at then we think the Flames may have one of the best number two pairings in the league. That leaves Michael Stone for a number five who the Flames wrapped up for another three years this summer. Stone was brought in at the tail end of last season and before being hurt had an immediate impact with the team. With Stone as a number five the Flames will likely fill a roster spot with veteran Matt Bartkowski as a number six/seven. This still leaves a spot open for one of their up and coming defence man to step up and earn a spot. Likely someone like Rasmus Anderson or Brett Kulak (although Kulak is still an RFA).
Up front the flames have a young core group of forwards that will only get better with time. Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan highlight their forward group but they still haven’t found a permanent fixture on the right side. Michael Ferland has proven himself to be a fit on the top line for now, but it will be interesting to see if that sticks. Many people in the Flames brass seem to think this is the year Sam Bennett will find his game and if he does it’ll be huge for the teams offence. Bennett has been a stud at every level he’s played at and should that continue he could be a major weapon for the Flames this season. Now factor the the re signing of Kris Versteeg and the Backlund, Frolik, Tkachuk line into the equation and the flames offence looks as good as it has in years.
In net we see yet again a new tandem in Calgary, Mike Smith and Eddie Lack. This is the biggest question mark the Flames have this season. If they can have their goaltending be above average and maybe steal a few games for them this season they can be contenders but if not it’ll be another early golf season.
