Calgary Flames Hot Start to the Morning Vol 59

So many Calgary Flames prospects would love to score a goal tonight versus the Winnipeg Jets to strengthen their chance to stay with the NHL club. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

It’s game day!  Good morning Calgary Flames fans!

Our Calgary Flames take on the Winnipeg Jets tonight at the Saddledome in the second last preseason game of 2014.  With the roster down to the final 10 cuts to go, this could also be the second last time we see a few Flames hopefuls.

If Laddy Smid can recover fully from his dental surgery in time for the season opener, then the 7th and final roster spot for a defenseman comes down to Pat Sieloff or Raphael Diaz.  For clarity sake, the first six defensive spots go to Captain Giordano, TJ Brodie, Dennis Wideman, Kris Russell, Deryk Engelland and Mr. Smid.  While I’m all for young forwards being baptized by fire, you need an experienced defense put out the fires.  I suggest signing Diaz to a contract and sending Sieloff to the AHL to start the season.

Pencilling together the starting 12 forwards and 2 reserves is much more difficult.

I liked what I heard from Tuesday night’s win over Colorado from the line of Gaudreau-Colborne-Glencross.  If the veteran Glencross can switch to right wing and keep up the effectiveness we as fans have come to expect from him, it definitely makes our Flames better.  If Backlund is healthy, then I figure slide Colborne back to the right wing along with Monahan and Baertschi/Ferland.

I liked it when earlier in the preseason the Calgary Flames put Jiri Hudler on the right wing with 1st round draft pick Sam Bennett.  A speedy veteran like Mason Raymond would look good with that pair but “May Ray” is still amongst the walking wounded.

I like the chemistry Brandon Bollig and Lance Bouma are developing with each other in limited playing time together.  At the age of 24, can Josh Jooris make this club playing 4th line minutes without stunting his development?  Jooris has shown some penalty killing prowess during the preseason to help earn him some extra minutes.

Every day the picture will get clearer but going into tonight here are the Flames being listed on the roster sheet via the Twitter account of the Calgary Sun’s Randy Sportak.  Of note, no Michael Ferland or Raphael Diaz but both Sam Bennett and Johnny Gaudreau are in the lineup.

Have a great day Flames fans!