The crystal ball is at the ready with a third wave of prognostications
Welcome to part three of our predictions for the upcoming Calgary Flames season.
With two sets of prognostications for the campaign already on the record (Click on Part 1 and Part 2), we have another batch to keep in mind with young guns readying to report before the tournament in Penticton, B.C., kicks off Sept. 15.
Added power in the play
For all of the consternation about Calgary’s power play last season, it was not that bad. It wasn’t great either, but the numbers were far from disastrous. The Flames scored 50 power-play goals, at a 19.8 percent clip that placed them 19th overall. They scored 54 in the 2021-22 campaign, at a 22.9 percent rate, which was 10th overall.
The most glaring aspect last season was the success at home (17.9%) compared to on the road (21.2%).
The addition of assistant coach Marc Savard will help improve the club in that regard, even with Tyler Toffoli having been traded to the New Jersey Devils. Toffoli netted 10 power-play goals, tied for second most behind Nazem Kadri with 11. Expect to see a bigger variety of plans with the man advantage.
More offense from the defense
The return of Oliver Kylington after missing all of last season will have a bigger impact than most casual hockey followers realize. Kylington’s skating and puck-moving ability was sorely missed during the disappointing campaign, and having him back will provide another defenseman capable of adding to the attack.
Along with Rasmus Andersson, MacKenzie Weegar, Noah Hanifin (at least for now depending on what transpires for the pending unrestricted free agent), the Flames have four blueliners capable of 35 or more points, which is nothing to scoff at in a league that has evolved considerably over the past couple of seasons. Add in Nikita Zadorov’s ability to shoot the puck, he scored 14 goals last season, and the Flames have the ability to slightly offset what they lack on offensive firepower up front.
Extra time won’t be a horror show
This falls under the category of it couldn’t be any worse. The Flames were simply brutal last season in games decided in overtime and the shootout, and that was a huge reason they missed the playoffs. Calgary sported a miserable 5-12 overtime record and 2-5 shootout mark, capped by the loss to the Nashville Predators that officially eliminated any playoff hopes.
For some reason, the Flames under now-departed head coach Darryl Sutter were well down the pack in overtime/shootout success. Even being a middle-of-the-pack squad in that regard could be the difference between making the playoffs and hitting the golf courses earlier than desired.
