Despite trades, Flames players are focused on competing for NHL post-season spot
The Calgary Flames are in the middle of a mid-season youth movement after dealing away several veterans — out of necessity — before the NHL trade deadline.
Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov are all joining Tyler Toffoli as important pieces of a late-season stretch and for their new teams.
But the veterans that remain in Calgary after the mayhem are just as important as the kids learning the ropes as pros at the world’s highest level of hockey. Captain Mikael Backlund still has a strong leadership group around him with Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson all wearing letters in rotation this season.
Tasked with keeping a positive and competitive atmosphere despite the odds against the team making the NHL playoffs over the final weeks of the season, these vets have been doing a stellar job of leading by example on most nights.
“We know what we have to do, we’re never going to give up. I think that’s just who we are, and I think in these kind of situations, the older guys are huge, we have to come in and be ready to play every game, and that’s what we’ll do right to the end,” Huberdeau told reporters after Monday’s morning skate. “The young guys, they’re going to follow us and be ready to go. There’s not much margin for error, we need to win mostly every game.”
Winning out is all but impossible, but even claiming victory in three out of every four likely doesn’t put their post-season fate in their own hands. Even a small losing skid could put the Calgary Flames out of the race entirely in a tough Western Conference.
Consistency hasn’t been a strong suit as the team in turmoil has gone on long winning streaks and following up with brutal skids. But with the trade deadline in the past and stability finally setting in, we’ll see what the Flames are made of.
The youth is important. Perhaps none more so than goaltender Dustin Wolf, who’s getting an extended run as the Calgary Flames starter right now with Jacob Markstrom injured. He gets his third straight start and fourth consecutive appearance between the pipes against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.
And while the young players are looking to prove they belong and can thrive in the NHL, the vets are hoping to do more than that, and beat the odds by getting a taste of the playoffs.
"Guys in here aren’t really quitting on each other,” said winger Andrew Mangiapane. “Everyone kind of knows the situation we’re in, but we still have the belief.
“I feel like we’re still playing loose, still playing with energy and still competing every game. We want to win. I guess that’s kind of our mindset right now.”
