Calgary Flames 22/23 Season Preview
New additions the story of the season for the local hockey club
Photo credit: Sergei Belski - USA Today sports
Last Season
The Calgary Flames had a season for the ages in 21/22, recording one of their most successful seasons in franchise history (50-21-11, 111 points), and winning the Pacific division. They advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by defeating the Dallas Stars in seven games in the opening round. However, they fell to their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Oilers, in five games in the second round. Some may consider this progress for a somewhat inexperienced group, but there’s no doubt the players are disappointed with that result and are hungry for redemption coming into this season.
Subtractions:
Johnny Gaudreau
Matthew Tkachuk
Sean Monahan
Erik Gudbranson
To say the Flames subtractions were a gut punch to the team and the fanbase would be a colossal understatement.
The news of Gaudreau’s decision to depart Calgary came as a crushing blow to many, including the organization itself. They believed until the very end that they would be able to extend the superstar forward, who was the backbone of the team for the last eight seasons. Unfortunately, that did not happen and Gaudreau found himself signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets on the opening day of free agency.
Tkachuk’s departure on other hand was met with a better reaction as the Flames were able to get a very good return for him from the Florida Panthers. Once thought of as the future captain of this team, the Flames must now hope to fill the void he leaves in the lineup by committee.
While Monahan isn’t what he used to be, he was once a very important piece of the roster and loved by most everybody. The first major piece of the post-Iginla era of the Flames, Monahan ushered in a new generation, one that brought a new hope for a fanbase and a franchise in bad need of a reboot.
Gudbranson had the best season of his career in Calgary, and while he wasn’t a top player, he turned out to be fairly serviceable on a pairing with Zadorov.
Additions:
Jonathan Huberdeau
Mackenzie Weegar
Nazem Kadri
Huberdeau comes to Calgary after having a career best 115 point season, the exact same point total as the departing Gaudreau. With a brand new eight year extension in hand, Huberdeau looks to put his stamp on the newest iteration of the Flames, along with the other new additions.
The other part of the Panthers trade, Mackenzie Weegar, is also coming to Calgary after a career high season. The blue liner put up 44 points in 80 games. The Flames and Weegar are hoping to get an extension done with him as soon as possible.
Coming off of a Stanley Cup championship win, Nazem Kadri looks to bring that experience to a Flames team ready to contend now. Kadri played a big part in Colorado’s win, scoring 15 points in 16 playoff games (he missed some games due to injury). His style should fit in very well with Darryl Sutter’s system, and the Battle of Alberta, which will need new “pests” so to speak to keep the spark alive after the departures of Tkachuk and Kassian.
Looking Forward
The new era of the Calgary Flames is ready to begin, with training camp mere days away. While multiple teams in the division have added pieces, the Flames look to prove they’re still the best the Pacific has to offer. The biggest hurdle will be the Oilers, who added a new starting goaltender and brought back key contributors to last season’s squad. The Kings are a young, dangerous team as well, and it would be unwise to take them lightly this season. The Golden Knights are still a threat, provided they can remain healthy, and the Canucks are knocking on the door of a top 3 spot in the division.
With the key departures, it will be on some younger players to elevate their games to new levels. None moreso than Andrew Mangiapane. The holes left in the roster will arguably benefit Mangiapane the most, as he’s sure to get a significant increase in ice time and a larger role on the powerplay. He will be looking to build on last season, where he recorded a career high 35 goals and 55 points.
2022/23 Prediction
It will take time for chemistry to build with all the new players coming in, and certainly there will be some challenges and adversity along the way. That said, I strongly believe the Flames will still contend for the division crown.
My standings prediction for the Flames: Second place, just behind the Oilers.
As for playoffs, I do think the Flames will take another step, advancing to the Western conference finals for the first time since 2004.