Last night the Flames posted a victory over the Phoenix Coyotes at the Dome 3-1 and looked fairly good doing it. As the team gets ready for the season what have you noticed that that has you excited or discouraged?
Jarome Iginla's speed should be near the top of everyone's list. He looks as fast as he ever has in a Calgary Flames uniform and was consistently beating players using his speed last night. It looks as though he's turned back the clock 10 years and looks like he could be one of the fastest players on the team at this point. That should have everyone excited as he looks to rebound from his sub-par season last year.
Speaking of rebounds, did anyone else notice the decided lack of rebounds served up by new back-up Henrik Karlsson? One of the biggest issues the Flames have had with their back-ups has been their inability to control their rebounds and as a result giving up bad goals. Curtis McElhinney was a prime example as he would usually make the first stop but his lack of rebound control would often put him out of position for subsequent shots. Having a puck-stopper that can control their rebounds might finally give the Flames a back-up they can trust to get them wins on nights where Miikka is rested.
How about that T.J. Brodie? He sure sees the ice well and his vision and hockey sense are something you just can't teach. Yes it's true that in any non-preseason game that goal wouldn't have counted but he consistently makes smart plays with the puck and is very comfortable with it in his possession which is very impressive for a player his age. Does he have a chance to stick with the big club? With the glut of 1 way contracts it would be hard to believe that he could bump anyone but if he can parlay his preseason play into regular season play he may force the organization to keep him on the big club for their own good.
Faceoffs are still an issue. Last season Calgary was an abysmal 28th in the league in faceoff percentage at just 48%. No moves made in the off-season addressed this issue specifically, but isn't this something that can be worked on? It's not like Jokinen doesn't have great hand-eye coordination and quickness but he can't seem to win a draw (he was 0-4 early in the second period last night). This team struggled to score last season and one thing that could help them score is puck possession. I may not be an expert but I'm fairly sure it's easier to score if you have the puck!
Alex Tanguay and Niklas Hagman are looking poised for rebound seasons. Both look much more comfortable than they did at any point last season when they clearly lost their confidence. Hopefully they can stay positive.
How about Mike Peca's comments about Jay Bouwmeester? It one thing to say that a player is over-rated but to come right out and say that he was easy to play against? I know for a fact it wasn't what Flames fans wanted to hear and hopefully Jay can respond by elevating his game to the level expected when he signed his contract but it's sure unsettling to hear those comments from a former competitor.
Anything you've noticed?
Have a great day!
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