Flame for Thought
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Flame for Thought roundtable: trade targets and MVP candidates

By Benjamin J. Prokopy

Nov 16, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Calgary Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington (58) celebrates his goal with defenseman Christopher Tanev (8) and left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Calgary Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington (58) celebrates his goal with defenseman Christopher Tanev (8) and left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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Question 1:  Name the Calgary Flames MVP at the midpoint of the season.  Easy, right?   Here’s the catch: you CANNOT name anyone on the top line.  Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm are off limits.

Gary Pearson: Chris Tanev – Incredibly important to the team, particularly on the PK. Blocks shots like a boss. His ability to move the puck up ice seamlessly is underrated. He’s a gamer, a team player and puts his body on the line every game for the Calgary Flames.

Greg Admunsen:   It’s fairly obvious that Johnny Gaudreau has been the Flames best player this season and I took a look at the astronomical numbers he’s put up through the first half in a recent post.  If we look outside the top line, though, Oliver Kylington stands out as a key piece in the Flames success.  The Flames defense looked a bit rocky through the first few games this season until an injury to Noah Hanifin allowed Oliver Kylington to get an opportunity in the lineup and he hasn’t looked back.  He’s solidified the top four, which I think is one of the major factors in the Flames first half success.

Kylinton is leading the Flames defense in 5v5 G/60, 5v5 A/60 and 5v5 P/60, with all three sitting in the top quartile among NHL defensemen.  His defensive impact has been just as strong, with an on-ice xGA/60 that is second only to Chris Tanev among the Flames defensemen and sits at the 25th percentile league wide.

Matthew Wilson:  Without the top line, there’s only one clear answer to this year’s MVP and that’s Jacob Markstrom. Sporting 17 wins and a .923 save percentage (a career best), he was undeniably one of the reasons why the Flames won so many games at the beginning of the year. Let’s not forget that he currently leads the league in shutouts with 7, and is 3 up on the number 2 spot (Jack Campbell). He currently has 11.39 Goals Saved Above Average (GSAA) which is insane in its own right. Although there are some concerns that he’s being overplayed, he’s put up career best numbers this year that have undoubtedly helped the Flames.

Benjamin J. Prokopy:  I’m going off the board on this one.  Darryl Sutter.  That’s not to say I disagree with any of my colleagues.  Tanev, Kylington and Markstrom all deserve their place on an MVP list.  However, I don’t think any of that happens without Sutter and the system that he has them all buying into.  First, and this is a big thing with me, they’re scoring first.  They have already scored first 26 times in 42 games this season.  That is one time fewer than they did in last year’s entire (albeit shortened) 56-game season.  And with 90 shots in their 2 games before the All-Star break, they are offensively trending in the right direction.

If he’s not in the conversation to be nominated for the Jack Adams award, something is very wrong.

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