{"id":132110,"date":"2022-09-13T09:15:54","date_gmt":"2022-09-13T13:15:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=132110"},"modified":"2022-09-12T21:14:26","modified_gmt":"2022-09-13T01:14:26","slug":"puck-drop-preview-2022-23-calgary-flames","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2022\/09\/13\/puck-drop-preview-2022-23-calgary-flames\/","title":{"rendered":"Puck Drop Preview: 2022-23 Calgary Flames"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last Word on Hockey\u2019s Puck Drop Previews are back for the 2022-23 season! As the regular season approaches, Last Word will preview each team\u2019s current outlook and stories to watch for the upcoming year. We\u2019ll also do our best to project how things will go for each team over the course of the campaign. Today, we\u2019re previewing the 2022-23 Calgary Flames<\/a><\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

2022-23 Calgary Flames<\/strong><\/h2>\n

2021-22 Season<\/h3>\n

A full year of Daryl Sutter behind the bench turned into one of the best seasons in Calgary Flames history.\u00a0 The 2021-22 Jack Adams winner led Calgary to a 50-21-11 record.\u00a0 Calgary took the Pacific Division crown and qualified for the playoffs after missing the previous season.\u00a0 An early and disappointing second-round exit in what only can be described as a \u201cwild\u201d series against the Edmonton Oilers<\/a> appears to be the only blemish on the season. Calgary also saw 11 players have career years, specifically in their under-28-year-old group, proving to its fan base that they are legitimate contenders for years to come.<\/p>\n

Offence<\/h4>\n

High flying and supported by defencemen joining the play, the Calgary Flames took a major leap forward.\u00a0 They went from bottom third to the sixth-best offence in 2021-22, scoring 3.55 goals per game.\u00a0 Aside from the two names that will not be mentioned\u2026yet\u2026the emergence of Elias Lindholm<\/a> should have the rest of the league on notice.\u00a0 Co-leading the Flames with 42 goals last season, as a player who had never scored 30 in a single campaign, Lindholm added reliability and threat to both sides of special teams as well.\u00a0 Likewise, Noah Hanifin<\/a> put up career-high numbers on the top pairing with Rasmus Andersson<\/a>.\u00a0 Hanifin paced all Calgary blue liners with 10 goals while adding 13 power play points as the point man on the second unit.<\/p>\n

Defence<\/h4>\n

Speaking of Hanifin, he continued to impress on his defensive ability that was gained the previous year next to Christopher Tanev on the second pairing.\u00a0 His move to the top pairing with Andersson set the standard for the team\u2019s commitment to responsible play in their own end.\u00a0 Calgary was the third stingiest team in the league, allowing 2.51 goals per game – a full goal less than their offensive output.\u00a0 Hard to score against a team that controls the puck and Calgary was, for lack of a better term, a pest.\u00a0 They ranked third in the league at Corsi for % at even strength.\u00a0 The penalty kill was nearly as impressive, ranking sixth in the league.\u00a0 But your best penalty killer is always the goalie, and Calgary has a stud.<\/p>\n

Goaltending<\/h4>\n

Jacob Markstrom<\/a> was an off-the-chart workhorse in 2021-22 with a 37-15-9 record.\u00a0 He was one of only five goalies to start 60+ games.\u00a0 He led all of them in save percentage and GAA.\u00a0 Overall, Markstrom was third in the league in both of those categories while leading the league with a career-high nine shutouts.\u00a0 A sparkling first-round playoff series<\/a> versus the Dallas Stars<\/a> was overshadowed by a subpar showing in the second round<\/a> against Edmonton.\u00a0 Expect a very hungry and motivated Markstrom for the upcoming season.<\/p>\n

2022 Offseason<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Well\u2026if you can think of a team that had a more tumultuous offseason, you\u2019re lying to yourself.\u00a0 The Flames lost their leading scorer of 2021-22<\/a>, Johnny Gaudreau<\/a>, in free agency to the Columbus Blue Jackets.\u00a0 A short time later they were informed by their number two scorer Matthew Tkachuk<\/a> that he was not interested in signing an extension.\u00a0 What looked like a disastrous scenario was saved by general manager Brad Treliving.\u00a0 Calgary traded Tkachuk<\/a> and a 2025 fourth-round pick to the Florida Panthers in exchange for left wing Jonathan Huberdeau<\/a>, defenseman MacKenzie Weegar<\/a>, a prospect and a 2025 conditional first-round pick.\u00a0 Within days, Huberdeau was extended for eight years<\/a>.\u00a0 Following this, Calgary was able to lure the big fish left on the free agency market<\/a>, signing Nazem Kadri<\/a> to a seven-year, $49 million contract.<\/p>\n

Losing two top 10 scorers in the league last year was met with adding two top 20 scorers from last year, with Huberdeau matching Gaudreau at second with 115 points.\u00a0 Kadri brings the same intensity and tenacity that Calgary lost in Tkachuk.\u00a0 While Kadri may not have the same upside or scoring threat, he is coming off a recent run with the Colorado Avalanche, winning a little something called the Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n

Lineup Projections<\/h3>\n

Forwards<\/h4>\n

Jonathan Huberdeau \/ Elias Lindholm \/ Andrew Mangiapane<\/a><\/p>\n

Blame Coleman \/ Nazem Kadri \/ Tyler Toffoli<\/a><\/p>\n

Milan Lucic<\/a> \/ Mikael Backlund<\/a> \/ Dillon Dube<\/a><\/p>\n

Kevin Rooney<\/a> \/ Adam Ruzicka<\/a> \/ Trevor Lewis<\/a><\/p>\n

Top Six\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There is a level of uncertainty as to how quickly Huberdeau and Kadri find chemistry with their new linemates.\u00a0 Replacing one of the most dynamic top lines of Gaudreau, Tkachuk and Lindholm is no easy task either.\u00a0 However, Mangiapane plays an aggressive game and drives to the hard areas in front of the net like Tkachuk.\u00a0 He should see at least a chance on the top line.\u00a0 That leaves a second line anchored by Kadri that should be as formidable as any other in the league.<\/p>\n

Bottom Six<\/h4>\n

As for the bottom six, there are question marks. \u00a0Lucic will most likely be moving up to the third line and will frankly just have to be better. Ruzika showed promise in a small sample size last year.\u00a0 However, he found it hard to crack the lineup on a consistent basis with the forward depth.\u00a0 With the shuffling of forwards, he should get a shot to center the fourth line and see if he can grow his game.\u00a0 He is currently unsigned but is an RFA with no real bartering chips other than sitting out a full season.\u00a0 Expect him to be signed before camp.<\/p>\n

Defence<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Noah Hanifin \/ Rasmus Andersson<\/p>\n

Oliver Kylington<\/a> \/ MacKenzie Weegar<\/p>\n

Nikita Zadorov<\/a> \/ Christopher Tanev<\/p>\n

There are many different ways Sutter could position the blue line with the addition of Weegar.\u00a0 One benefit he has with this group is the ability to go left\/right with every pairing.\u00a0 Hanifin and Andersson are a very tough top pairing and should continue to frustrate opposing forwards.\u00a0 Sliding Kylington up with Weegar could benefit the younger defenseman and keep him on his strong side.\u00a0 That slides Tanev down to the third pairing but keeps him on his strong side as well.\u00a0 The benefit is that Tanev is a legit second-line defender and can slide up anytime he is needed to.\u00a0 It is just ideal to have three pairs of left\/right pairings.\u00a0 So, expect Sutter to at least look at this in camp.\u00a0 If they find chemistry this should be your opening pairings.<\/p>\n

Goaltending<\/h4>\n

Jacob Markstrom<\/p>\n

Daniel Vladar<\/a><\/p>\n

With a D core that is stronger this coming season, there is no reason to think Markstrom can’t repeat last season. Calgary fans should also be pleased with their depth here. Daniel Vladar was a very serviceable backup last season. He posted a 13-6-2 record and a respectable 2.75 GAA. It would do Markstrom some good to scale back the number of starts to still be fresh for a deep run. Vladar affords them this option if he keeps the same dependability.<\/p>\n

Players To Watch<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jonathan Huberdeau<\/h4>\n

The success of the Flames this year is going to have much to do with the replacements for Gaudreau and Tkachuk. Can Huberdeau match his production last season?\u00a0 One thing is for sure: he has a chip on his shoulder.\u00a0 He did not expect to be traded out of Florida and is looking for the opportunity to make them regret the decision.<\/p>\n

Andrew Mangiapane<\/h4>\n

A potential move to the top line could be the start of a breakout year for Mangiapane.\u00a0 The 2021-22 season was his first playing in all 82 games.\u00a0 His 35 goals, eight on the power play, shattered career highs.\u00a0 Playing to the side of Lindholm and opposite Huberdeau could make Mangiapane a point-per-game player.\u00a0 Look for a big season upcoming.<\/p>\n

Prediction for 2022-23 Calgary Flames<\/h3>\n

Expect another tough grind in the Pacific with Edmonton, but there is no reason to believe this team cannot repeat as division winners.\u00a0 50 wins may be hard to match, but another stellar year from Markstrom in net should give Calgary fans plenty of optimism.\u00a0 Calgary should also benefit from more comfortability with Sutter\u2019s system.\u00a0 If they can get better team play in the postseason, a deep run could be in the cards.<\/p>\n

The Calgary Flames win the Pacific Division and reach the Western Conference Final.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>