Flame for Thought
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Calgary Flames Roundtable: Post trade deadline, playoff hopes

By Ramina Shlah

DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 27: Dallas Stars center Devin Shore (17) scores a goal against Calgary Flames goaltender Jon Gillies (32) during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Calgary Flames on February 27, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 27: Dallas Stars center Devin Shore (17) scores a goal against Calgary Flames goaltender Jon Gillies (32) during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Calgary Flames on February 27, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 28 d018: (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 28 d018: (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

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.

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