Calgary Flames: Five New Years resolutions for 2018

4. No more injuries

This one isn’t exactly one you can control, but we’ve all got to cross our fingers that 2018 is the year with no more big injuries. Around a month ago, the Calgary Flames lost a big asset in their secondary scoring when Kris Versteeg got injured and required hip surgery – with an estimate of not being back in the lineup for almost the rest of the season. They lost a smart player with lots of experience and a strong powerplay player (we’ll get to the powerplay later, don’t worry).

I mean, it’s a good thing that Sam Bennett started to find his game and the third line has been succeeding without Versteeg, but they lost a lot. Same when Travis Hamonic was out for a game, right after he and TJ Brodie were finally starting to find their chemistry and play like a solid unit. Albeit, he wasn’t out longterm – but something like that can bring some negative vibes to the team as a whole.

Related Story: Flames Daily - Sam Bennett finally starting to impress

Let’s also hope that Jaromir Jagr can remain healthy for the rest of the season. Not only does he have the chance to break the record for most games played – but he provides so much leadership to the team. Every morning in practice, you seem him talking with Johnny Gaudreau or Sam Bennett or any other of the younger players, giving them pointers and showing them what to do. On the bench after a shift, you see him talking to the players, again, giving them pointers on what to do differently.

It’s no secret that Gaudreau loves to deke. But if you’ve been watching this team for over a year, you know that that can be dangerous because he gets the puck taken away a lot when he does it. But when Jagr was in the lineup, I’m not sure if this was super noticeable, but Gaudreau rarely had the puck taken away from him. Jagr’s one of, if not the best, puck handler in the game right now. Every game, I’m amazed at how well he handles the puck and how no player can take it from him. He knows everything that’s happening on the ice and knows exactly where to go and where to put the puck at all times. His hockey IQ is out of this world. Even though he’s not putting in a lot of minutes anymore, just him being in the lineup helps the team.

Let’s hope that nagging lower-body injury won’t nag him anymore in the New Year.