The Calgary Flames finally snapped their seven-game losing streak with a win over the Winnipeg Jets who have been hot. But before thinking the Flames are instantaneously going to turn things around, it’s tougher and more complicated than just winning one game.
Though goaltending and defensive play hasn’t been at the level it was last season, scoring is the real problem that needs to be tended to. The team lost Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk in the offseason and many thought the production could be replaced by Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri to some extent. Both new additions at forward have surprised; Kadri for the better and Huberdeau for the worse.
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It’s difficult enough to replace two 100-point scorers in one offseason, but it’s another thing to hope chemistry with the new players can be formed. It just hasn’t been there with Huberdeau, and it hasn’t helped that Elias Lindholm hasn’t been himself either. Kadri is leading the charge regardless of how well he knows his new teammates yet. It is a work in progress and only a handful of games into the first of seven years with the two new stars. As the lines continue to be altered and players eventually start to find chemistry, the offence will get better.
Flames Need Scoring Help at Forward
“The Flames’ general manager Brad Treliving is someone who isn’t afraid to do things and the team has been looking for another forward,” Elliotte Friedman said on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. “I’m watching the Flames right now and wondering if there’s any way he shakes them up that way,” as in utilizing their wealth on the back-end to acquire a forward.
Other teams with high expectations have also gotten off to slow starts and they may not be able to turn things around this season. Then there are the obvious bottom feeders who are exactly where they were expected to be. Whether it is a good team, a bad team, or a good team that is struggling, the Flames have more than enough resources on defence to intrigue a number of them.
MacKenzie Weegar, Noah Hanifin, and Rasmus Andersson are not likely to be moved, so that leaves lots of options with other teams who have an interest in making their back end better. The top trade candidate on the Flames’ defence continues to be Oliver Kylington. He hasn’t played a game this season and had a strong breakout campaign in…
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