As the NHL’s offseason tolls on, fans are stuck daydreaming of what the upcoming 2024-25 season will have to offer them. The Calgary Flames have given their faithful “C of Red” plenty to fantasize about: the rebuilding franchise had an outstanding 2024 NHL Entry Draft where they made 10 picks, have affordably added talented players during this year’s free agency frenzy, and recently displayed plans for their new arena, Scotia Place. While the 2024-25 squad is surely set to once again be on the outside of the NHL playoff picture looking in, what lies ahead is seemingly getting brighter by the day. Today’s Flames are a competitive mix of veterans and youngsters who share a common goal focused on individual and team growth over immediate on-ice success.
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Keeping things on a positive note for the Flames, no new season buildup is complete without looking at what new accomplishments will be celebrated. We’re going to peruse the imminent Flames player milestones within reach during the 2024-25 season. This campaign will be a tad different; the team notably traded an abundance of veterans, thus fielding a younger roster this year (average age of 28.8, T-20th league-wide). Therefore, there are fewer big, snazzy number accomplishments on the horizon but a respectable handful nonetheless.
Games Played Achievements
We start our analysis with some looming games played achievements. As the oldest player on the roster and longest-tenured Flame, captain Mikael Backlund has lots on the horizon this season. None will be bigger than when he hits 1,000 games played, as “Backs” is only ten games shy of this feat. He will be just the second Flame in history to reach 1,000 games, after Jarome Iginla. The Flames’ 24th overall draft pick back in 2007 has climbed his way into the second-most games played in a Flames uniform, but is still a ways away from catching Iginla’s 1,219.
Forward Blake Coleman is just 58 games shy from 600 for his career. The Flames also have three players that should hit the 500 mark in 2024-25; Rasmus Andersson (45 games away), MacKenzie Weegar (31 away), and newly-acquired Flame Anthony Mantha (six away). Andersson, the next-longest serving Flame, could work his way into the top 20 and past legendary goalie Mike Vernon if he can suit up for 73 games this season.
Moving down the list, two…
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