Since moving Olli Jokinen, the Calgary Flames have arguably fallen further down the depth charts for centermen. Jokinen, who posted 61 points in 82 games for the Flames last season, was their strongest centerman. Since his departure, the Flames have signed a potentially promising center in Roman Cervenka, who has yet to play an NHL game.

Calgary has fallen just shy of the playoffs for the past three years, and the one constant weakness displayed throughout the years has been down the middle. The Flames have strength on their wings, and a few prospective centers, but over the last few seasons they have lacked depth in that position. Below I will list the current centers for the Flames, in order of strength and potential.

Mikael Backlund
The 23 year old center is entering his forth season in the NHL, so far tallying 46 points in 136 games. Backlund has been struggling to prove himself at the NHL level, and as previous blogs have emphasized, this is his make or break year. Backlund will likely be given top six minutes, with chances to play alongside Iginla. With a new coach, it may be a perfect chance for Mikael to try playing with new line mates. While I expect Backlund to work hard and prove himself, I do not see 1st line potential in his future.

Roman Cervenka
As mentioned, the 26 year old will be entering his first NHL season and has caught the attention of many. To date, Cervenka has played 105 games in the KHL while registering 100 points. Many argue that his totals may be slightly inflated as Cervenka played alongside Jaromir Jagr, however they should not be overlooked. Roman is not a very big centerman, but he will likely be paired with former teammate and recent acquisition, Juri Hudler with whom he has shown chemistry. Cervenka caught the attention of many NHL scouts, but decided to give the Flames a chance as there was less competition for him on their roster. His acquisition was a low risk and possibly high reward move for the Flames, and has many fans crossing their fingers.

Matt Stajan
Where to begin with Matt Stajan…This is a certerman who showed promise early in his career playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, then was traded to Calgary and hasn’t seemed the same since. Since arriving in Calgary, Stajan has played 164 games and registered 65points(0.39ppg). Prior to the trade, Stajan played 375 games with Toronto and registered 195 points(0.52ppg). There is a clear drop in production for Stajan since the trade, and many have argued it was due to him no longer playing alongside Mats Sundin. This, for me, is not a legitimate argument for Stajan as Calgary has had several strong wingers for him to play with since the trade, most notably having the chance to play with Iginla. Stajan is at a point in his career where he needs to turn things around and start producing for the team, as he may find himself watching more games than playing in them. Having a few new faces on the roster, and a new coach, Stajan may get the opportunity to prove himself.

Blair Jones
The 25 year old centerman was brought over from the Tampa Bay Lightning last season to help out with the penalty killing in addition to serving as a 4th line player who was responsible defensively. To date, Jones has only played 21 games with Calgary, but has shown some promise as a shutdown guy. Although I don’t expect much more out of him than what he has shown to date, he is certainly a serviceable centerman who contributes defensively.

Kris Kolanos
Although the oldest centerman in the Flames roster, Kolanos has certainly shown his competitiveness this past season while playing with the Abbotsford Heat. Kris registered a very respectable 61 points in 47 games in the AHL and also managed to record 10 points in 7 games during the playoffs. At 30 years of age, Kris has played 149 NHL games and registered 42 points. While these numbers are not spectacular, Kolanos is a big bodied centerman who has proven he has the ability to dominate at the AHL level and may be ready for another chance in the NHL. Kris likely won’t be given minutes unless there are injuries, however given last years results, he should certainly be given the opportunity.

As the above mentioned displays, the Flames Achilles heel is certainly their strength(or lack there of) down the middle. With or without Jokinen, the lack of center depth for this team may have ultimately been a large reason for missed playoff opportunities over the last few years, and will certainly continue to hold them back if not improved upon.

For this team to improve on the last few seasons, they will need strong performances from their centers, especially newly acquired Cervenka and returning Matt Stajan. With the discussion of possible trades to be expected, most fans hope that the outcome to any moves made by Feaster will be upgrades down the middle. With a Rick Nash deal reportedly being done, it may open the flood gates for other deals.

Thanks for reading!

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