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A few changes and accountability are two things currently on the mind of Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley.
With Mikael Backlund and Ladislav Smid out of the lineup for a little while now, the Flames may have at least one returning to the lineup shortly which means that some line changes will need to be made, and players scratched or sent down.
“With lots of healthy bodies, you’ll have to fight to be in the lineup,… Hartley said. “This league has changed so much. I’ve never seen a sport or a league change in a matter of three months like the NHL changed since the start of October."
“You look at the speed. Maybe it’s just me, but the style of this game has changed. If you don’t skate, if you don’t compete in every game, you don’t have a chance.…
The above is exactly what has made this club successful over their last two seasons. Young guys wanting to work their tails off and prove their value to their NHL club, but also to the league as a whole. The nice part about playing for a team like Calgary is that a few extra guys will get opportunities to earn ice time which may not otherwise be available had they been part of a more established roster.
The Flames happen to have many young players and right now is their time to shine. With two veterans out, they will need to keep pushing for their spot in the lineup as Hartley will need to decide who the odd man out is once Mikael is ready to go.
That said, Backlund is apparently nearing his return after suffering an abdominal injury while working out during the summer. The 25 year old centre was doing quite well of late and his production and play has been missed over the course of this young season. The timeframe of his return is not yet known, however having already missed two months of play, the young man is certainly itching to get back into the lineup and work his way onto the first line.
All things considered, I don’t expect much to change with respect to this club as the season winds down. I do, however, feel that at the very least one bigger name will be moved in the upcoming weeks. First name on eveyrone’s mind has been Curtis Glencross, and it appears that Hartley may be giving the forward some added responsbilty on the first line. Some feel his play has been getting better and that he’s deserved it, while others feel that he’s merely being showcased. Personally, I favour the latter opinion as I haven’t been a big fan of what this guy has provided so far this year.
As I previously mentioned, when the Flames have been successful, much of it was due to how well the younger players were playing. When guys like Gaudreau, Monahan, Brodie & company were on top of their games, this team was looking like a legitimate threat. It was during said times where guys like Glencross picked up his game. But when the aforementioned players start to struggle a little, I haven’t seen Curtis help pull them back out of their slump.
Maybe you feel differently about him, but I think the team could stand to shed this particular veteran for youth and or draft picks.
Thanks for reading!