Calgary Flames Roundtable: Post trade deadline, playoff hopes

Question 1: How do you think the Calgary Flames fared on trade deadline?

Jonathan Boulanger

Not well at all. I understand their hands were tied in terms of picks and assets that they were able to give up but I believe it was a disappointment. There was an opportunity, at the least, to get a goalie upgrade as insurance before Mike Smith returns. Now, the team is hanging on by a thread without solid goaltending or an addition of a much needed top six forward (especially now that Micheal Ferland is hurt).

Ian Gustafson

Management did about as much on the deadline as I expected them too. I knew Treliving wasn’t going to sacrifice picks for a rental player so that eliminates a lot of possibilities. I think they added a lot of size, toughness, and grit acquiring Stewart and Shore at the deadline. Although the problem is that they aren’t franchise-altering players that are going to transform the Flames into a playoff team.

Tom Oppolzer

I was disappointed. It was good that they didn’t spend any assets on a rental that would be leaving in the summer but I think it would’ve been wise to try and bring in a player (like a Mike Hoffman or Tomas Tatar) who has term and could help the team now.

Benjamin Prokopy

Really badly. In a vacuum, the additions of Chris Stewart and Nick Shore do very little to make the Flames better. I’d call them depth players if I truly thought they added any.

Something may come of Shore. Perhaps Brad Treliving sees him a possible piece of the Matt Stajan succession plan. Stewart, on the other hand, appears to be the latest in a series of Flames reclamation projects that has included names like Setoguchi, Grossman, Lazar and even Jagr.

Put in the context of the playoff race, the outlook does not get brighter. Competing teams made moves to better themselves. San Jose acquired Evander Kane. The Kings got Dion Phaneuf who, in his first 4 games with the team, decided he wanted to start scoring goals again.

The Flames were likely never interested in either of these players. But they both represent marked improvements to the teams that acquired them. Thus, it feels like teams in the race for a Western Conference playoff spot got better, and the Flames stayed the same.

Given the generally inflated prices on trade deadline day, along with no early-round 2018 draft picks to deal, Treliving was effectively going to Bloomingdales with an empty wallet. As such, no fan could expect miracles. We were never coming out of deadline day with Rick Nash or Erik Karlsson

Still, one hopes for improvement. And I’m afraid I just don’t see any.

Dan Raicevich

I think the Flames did alright. They didn’t overpay for a veteran goaltender, but they also didn’t add some scoring. So it’s not like they lit the world on fire with their moves. I wished they added a player like Mark Stone, Mike Hoffman or Max Pacioretty.

Ramina Shlah

I didn’t expect the Calgary Flames to make a big splash since Treliving hinted they wouldn’t be, but I was still underwhelmed. It’s that whole “I expect nothing and I’m still let down.”

I agree with getting Mike Hoffman, I was somewhat expecting it and was hoping for it. And while his contract isn’t so expensive for what he contributes, I’m not sure the Flames would have been able to afford him right now with Troy Brouwer’s contract and Matt Stajan. If they were to acquire him in the off-season, I wouldn’t be totally opposed.

I don’t think the Flames did that well but at least they didn’t give up a lot. I like the Nick Shore trade. Like Ben said, I think they’re looking for a Matt Stajan replacement and Shore is cheaper, younger, and better than Stajan at this point for that role. Sure he may not put up a lot of points, but he’s great at faceoffs, he’s decently fast, he’s good at battling for the puck, and he’s great at penalty-killing. That’s all you can really hope for from a fourth-line centre. As for Stewart… I’ll get to that in the next question.

Question 2: How do you like Chris Stewart’s game so far since he’s made it into the lineup in every game since being picked up?

Jonathan Boulanger

I don’t like it. Complete opposite of what they needed. The Flames are cluttered with average/below average bottom six forwards and in need of a top six one. The solution? Add another below average bottom sixer. Makes no sense to me and I believe their playoff hopes are suffering because of it.

Ian Gustafson

I think Stewart has been solid for the Flames. Obviously the Flames can’t expect him to do too much offensively for the team but he has showed a lot of toughness. He grinds in the corners, goes into the tough areas like in front of the net, but most importantly he stands up for his teammates.

Tom Oppolzer

I’m not a fan. There’s isn’t anything that Stewart does all that well at the NHL level. Him getting time on the top line his first game when there’s players on the farm who haven’t even gotten a sniff at the top 6 yet was a really questionable decision from Glen Gulutzan. There’s a reason he was a regular healthy scratch for the Wild and that resulted in him getting waived. A player from the farm like Andrew Mangiapane would provide more in the situation as him in my opinion.

Related Story: Flames should have never picked up Chris Stewart

Benjamin Prokopy

I don’t. And, given his rapid demotion to the fourth line and subsequent scratch, Gulutzan agrees with me.

In his 2 starts and a little over 20 minutes on the ice, he’s offered Flames fans 1 shot on goal and an abysmal CF% of -17%. This is not the time of year for numbers like that.

If Chris Stewart sees nothing but the inside of the press box for the rest of the season, I’ll be fine with that.

Dan Raicevich

He doesn’t have a point, and he just brings a veteran presence. Low-risk move, which I like.

Ramina Shlah

Horribly, to put it bluntly. I wrote a piece a couple days ago on just how bad Stewart’s been and I’m still confused on why the Calgary Flames even thought he would be a good addition to the team. Sure, he may be good at the shootout, but that’s not exactly who you should be basing your acquisitions on.

Sure, they need right-shooting RW, but Stewart isn’t the answer. Like Ben said, he’s horrible at puck-possession. He’s quite slow and he doesn’t even seem like he tries battling for the puck. He’s basically Troy Brouwer, but slower and worse. I really wanted to like him when the Flames first picked him up, but he’s making it hard.

At least the Flames didn’t give up any assets for him.

Question 3: Why do you think the Calgary Flames have recalled Tanner Glass over someone else who may be faster and has more offensive talent?

Jonathan Boulanger

“Toughness” and “intimidation”. Once again, complete opposite of what they need and I believe players like Glass, Stewart, Brouwer are hurting the team and taking up roster spots than would be better served with guys like Klimchuk and Mangiapane. It baffles me that Klimchuk has only gotten one game whereas Glass and Stewart have gotten multiple.

Ian Gustafson

I think they recalled Glass because Gulutzan and management are looking for a spark from someone. He is currently not getting much from his players and they are looking for Glass, Shore, and Stewart to get the team excited with a hit or a fight. They are desperate for something even though the Flames have played well lately. They’ve just run into hot goaltenders such as Bishop and Lundqvist.

Calgary Flames

Tom Oppolzer

I really have no idea. I want to believe that it’s because he can just sit in the pressbox but considering he’s played in both games since his call-up that’s probably not correct. I’m sure if you asked management or the coaching staff they’d say it’s because he brings a “physical edge”.

Benjamin Prokopy

I’m at a loss on this one. Truly confounded.

If it’s energy Gulutzan wants, why not stay with Ryan Lomberg?  He’s faster, at the very least. Mangiapane can score. Klimchuk has been very good in Stockton.

With options like these, the Tanner Glass decision is one that doesn’t make sense at all. That is unless Glen Gulutzan has been struck with a sudden and overwhelming desire to get fired.

Dan Raicevich

The Flames brought Tanner Glass up due to a void of size and energy that Michael Ferland had left due to his injury, and with Ferland likely to return as early as today, expect Glass to return to Stockton.

Ramina Shlah

I really don’t know. Like everyone else said, because of “toughness” but they don’t need that right now. Instead of bringing up a high-scoring player like Andrew Mangiapane to try and contribute on the third or fourth line, they’re trying this failed Tanner Glass experiment again. Like Tomas said, I was also hoping he would just sit in the pressbox and maybe that’s why they didn’t want to bring up someone like Mangiapane to just stick him there, but that hasn’t been the case.

So at this point, Glass has already proven to not be good at the NHL level, so I’m really not sure what the Calgary Flames are doing.

Question 4: I know the Calgary Flames’ playoff hopes are starting to slip away from them, do you legitimately think they will make it or not?

Jonathan Boulanger

I do not. It deeply saddens me to say it because playoff time is the best time of year in Calgary for Flames fans but the team just doesn’t have the wheels and the tools to make it there. Johnny Gaudreau is getting cold, Mike Smith is injured, the bottom six is horrendous… It just doesn’t seem to be in the cards. Now if you would have asked me a week or two ago, I would have said they were a lock for postseason hockey. Not anymore.

Ian Gustafson

In order for the Flames to really have a chance to make the playoffs they have to go on a streak. The western conference playoff race is super close right now so they can’t afford to lose many more games. If they can do that then they will make it. With Smith is out for much longer I’m thinking they won’t make it. I hope they surprise me.

Tom Oppolzer

At this point, I’m really not sure. They’re still close but the decisions Gulutzan and co. keep making with regards to the bottom of the lineup don’t give me a lot of hope. If Ferland, Versteeg, and Smith can come back soon and they can go on a run I think they’ll make it. If not though, finishing 9^th or 10^th in the conference is probably what we’ll be stuck with.

Related Story: Feeling the effects without injured players

Benjamin Prokopy

I do not. In the last roundtable, I was very optimistic about their chances. I can no longer say that.

The Flames have been plagued by consistency problems all season. And, irrespective of how well Gillies and Rittich are playing, the loss of Mike Smith has seemingly exacerbated those problems.

Every time I watch this team, I’m not sure who is going to show up. Is it the team that takes too many penalties and blows a lead, as in Colorado?  Or is going to be the group who put 51 shots on the board against the Rangers?

The return of Smith and Kris Versteeg will help, I’m sure. But, with less than 20 games to go, it may be too late.

Dan Raicevich

I’m indifferent about this. I personally think that this roster is too good to miss the playoffs, but then again their coaching staff isn’t elite enough to help lead this team through the most critical point of the season.

Ramina Shlah

I’m really not sure. And to be fair Ben, I think everyone at the last roundtable thought the Calgary Flames would be making it. But everything that could go wrong has been going wrong. The Flames play a majority of their last few weeks against Pacific Division teams so those will really be a true test for the team.

As of right now, I’m going to say no. And we can expect some big changes in the off-season.

Question 5: What is the main thing the Calgary Flames need to change moving forward?

Jonathan Boulanger

Adding more skill and speed! Enough with Brian Burke’s “Big, Truculent” players. The game has evolved, and if the Flames don’t evolve too, they will be left in the dust. Just look up the road in Edmonton: Milan Lucic hasn’t scored since December. I wonder why. Connor McDavid on the other hand (one of the fastest and most skillful players in the NHL), is 3rd in NHL scoring.

Ian Gustafson

I read an article the other day about the Flames 2004 Stanley Cup run and the writer said that the difference between that team and this years team is that team had passion for the game and for each other. Every player skated hard when they were on the ice, they sacrificed their bodies to make a big hit, they passed well, they loved playing together. I don’t see that in this team; I don’t believe this team would die for one another. Whether it is leadership, coaching, or the whole team something needs to change.

Tom Oppolzer

They need to completely shake up the bottom of their team. Teams just don’t win when you have 5+ players in the bottom of your lineup that shouldn’t be playing in the NHL getting regular ice time.  The most obvious fix is handing the reigns over to kids like Mangiapane, Morgan Klimchuk, Marek Hrivik, and Rasmus Andersson.

Benjamin Prokopy

The power play. No team can expect to have success in the NHL going 0/14 with the man advantage in 3 games.

Dan Raicevich

Other than the coaching staff, the lack of elite scoring on the wings. It is very evident that if the likes of Gaudreau, Monahan and Tkachuk do not score on a nightly basis, the team doesn’t score.

The coaching staff needs to be heavily evaluated at the end of the season. I feel like there have been many coaching mistakes in terms of some of the systems that are run by this team. If a guy like Alain Vigneault of Joel Quenneville becomes available this summer, the Calgary Flames should throw the dollar signs their way.

Ramina Shlah

I agree with Tomas about the bottom-six. The Calgary Flames need to get some secondary scoring, but lately, they haven’t been getting a lot from their top line either. Hopefully, with Micheal Ferland returning tonight and rejoining that top line, they can find their spark again. Then maybe Sam Bennett, Mark Jankowski, and Garnet Hathaway can find their game again. But it’s hard to continuously hope for them to “find their game”. They need to get rid of the dead-weight as harsh as that sounds. Lazar, Stewart, Glass, and even Hathaway, all don’t quite fit well with this team right now.

Next: Is Matthew Tkachuk the next Flames captain?

Well, this was somewhat of a depressing roundtable but I guess those are the cold realities. If the Calgary Flames don’t make the playoffs, there are going to be major changes in the lineup. And maybe the bench too.