Hockeywiztalks Hockey Blog

The Calgary Flames just missed out on the playoffs again in the 2023-24 season, and finished the season with a total of 81 points, a 38-39-5 record; they like a few other teams in the Pacific Division seem like they are going through a rebuild and it might take a few seasons of losing before they are back in the playoffs. The first order of business is moving Jacob Markstrom, who has become disgruntled with the trade rumors, and they have to do everything in their power to get the most in return for their number 1 goalie. GM Craig Conroy will be a very busy man from now and the draft as they try to work out a deal for the Swedish netminder. If the Calgary Flames play their cards right this offseason, they will be building a very good team for the future. Before the 2024 NHL Draft, the Calgary Flames make two trades Calgary Flames trade Jacob Markstrom, Matthew Coronato, 1st Round pick '24 (from VAN) to the New Jersey Devils for Alexander Holtz, Jonas Siegenthaler, Akira Schmid, 1st...

The Western Conference Playoffs picture has changed since my podcast was earlier released on Friday. Here are the updated Western Conference Matchups: Colorado Avalanche vs Nashville Predators Key Players: COL: N.MacKinnon, M.Rantanen, G.Landeskog, N.Kadri, A.Burakovsky, A.Lehkonen, V.Nichushkin, C.Makar, D.Toews, S.Girard, J.Manson NSH: F.Forsberg, M.Duchene, R.Johansen, M.Granlund, L.Kunin, C.Sissons, T.Trenin, R.Josi, M.Ekholm, D.Fabbro, A.Carrier X-Factors: COL-A.Newhook, NSH-P.Tomasino Goalie Matchup: D.Kuemper vs D.Rittich The Colorado Avalanche faced the Nashville Predators 4 times in the regular season, but they only managed to win 1 game against the Predators. It's a good thing that Colorado has home-ice advantage because the Avs have allowed an average of 5 goals against on the road in the season series with Nashville. Colorado faced Nashville 6 times in the playoffs, but they have lost 4 times to them in the postseason. Even though Colorado is going to be heavily fav...

The Calgary Flames have gotten off to a terrific start to the season, but have cooled off since getting off to a red hot start. In order for Calgary to have a legitimate shot at winning the Stanley Cup this year, they need to add some pieces to the team. This is how the Calgary Flames could improve their chances to win the Stanley Cup this year. Needs for the Calgary Flames: 1. Top 4 LD 2. Top 6 Winger 3. Goal Scoring Depth The biggest weakness of the Calgary Flames is the left side of their defense. Noah Hanifin, Oliver Kylington, and Nikita Zadorov may be good enough for the regular season, but if the Flames are to make a deep playoff run, they need to really improve the left side of their defense and their defense in general.  Although the Flames have enough goal-scoring from their top 6, it is always a good idea to add a proven veteran player with playoff experience to their top 6. In addition, Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan have not had great performances in past playoff ser...

 The Calgary Flames are a team that is stuck in mediocracy right now because they aren't quite good enough to make the playoffs,  yet they also aren't bad enough to be to completely tank the season, as their team is one of the better ones in their weak division.  So what the Calgary Flames should do is rebuild the team, and try to turn the team into a contender that way.  This is how I would rebuild the Calgary Flames. At the 2022 trade deadline, two trades are made: Calgary Flames trade Johnny Gaudreau to the Philadelphia Flyers for Travis Konecny, Morgan Frost, 2022 1st round pick.  This is a win-win trade for both teams because the Flyers get an elite top 6 forward in Johnny Gaudreau,  while the Flames get Travis Konecny, who has been misused at times by the Flyers, Morgan Frost, one of their top prospects and a 1st round pick. The Flames also trade Nikita Zadorov, Andrew Mangiapane to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Ilya Mikheyev, 2023 2nd rd pick.   C...

The Calgary Flames are a solid team in the regular season but can't seem to make it far in the playoffs. If the Flames want to make a deep run, they will need to retool the team to build a team more suitable for the playoffs. At the trade deadline, the Calgary Flames make one major trade: Calgary Flames trade Josh Leivo, Dominik Simon, and a 2021 2nd round pick to the Detroit Red Wings for Vladislav Namestnikov, Robby Fabbri. The Flames add Namestnikov and Fabrri to bolster the roster for the playoffs. The Calgary Flames make the playoffs in the 2020-21 season but get eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. The Calgary Flames buyout Milan Lucic ; the buyout will cost them 583k annually until 2025. The Calgary Flames lose Andrew Mangiapane to the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft. Before the 2021 draft, two major trades are made: Calgary Flames trade Johnny Gaudreau to the Buffalo Sabres for Taylor Hall. This is a one-for-one swap of Hall for Gaudreau; both need a chan...

 The Calgary Flames are a borderline playoff team right now but if they don't make any changes to their core they won't be making it far in the playoffs. Two core players that have been brought up the most in trade talks are Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. Trading Gaudreau and Monahan would allow the Calgary Flames to begin a new chapter and hopefully have more playoffs success in the long run. Calgary Flames trade Johnny Gaudreau to the New Jersey Devils for Nikita Gusev, Michael McLeod, Jesper Bratt, Jesper Boqvist, 1st round pick '22. The New Jersey Devils get Johnny Gaudreau, a dynamic playmaking winger, who will be a tremendous fit on a line with Hischier and Palmieri. Calgary Flames also get a top 6 forward in Nikita Gusev and a top 9 forward in Jesper Bratt, as well as two very good prospects in McLeod and Boqvist. The Flames will also the the Devils first round pick in 2022. Calgary Flames also trade Sean Monahan to the Ottawa Senators for Josh Norris, Drake Bathe...