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With just two games left in the season, the Calgary Flames will take to the ice tonight against the Winnipeg Jets.
Currently on a strong four game winning streak, and an even more impressive 7-3-0 record over their last ten games played, the Flames appear have been looking quite good! While other teams around them prepare for the playoffs, some even fighting for position, Calgary has been able to fight with the best of them.
Conversely, the Winnipeg Jets who sit three spots ahead of the Flames in the standings have only been able to muster up four regulation wins in their last ten games. Tonight, however, the Jets will come into the Saddledome with a recent win behind them against the Boston Bruins.
As neither team are focusing on playoffs, expect to see a fair number of rookies and youth in their lineups tonight. For Calgary fans, this is nothing new given the number of inexperienced and young players who have laced them up so far this season. That said, there has been a lot of discussion of late around Calgary prospect Johnny Gaudreau and his decision to join the Flames or return for another year in college.
"I've gotta figure it out in the next day or tonight," Gaudreau said. "Thankfully, I'm here with my family ... I'll be able to talk with my family members about that and see what is best for me and what's best for my career.
"We'll probably figure that out pretty soon."
Call me crazy, but I don’t think there’s much to debate here. Gaudreau is being welcomed with open arms by just about everyone in the Flames organization, especially its fans. That said, I’m sure Johnny has already made up his mind and knows that if he’s serious about starting a true hockey career, that signing with the Flames is his best…and really…only choice.
Expect an announcement very, very soon. I have been hearing some rumblings that Gaudreau is already in discussion with upper management and that a decision has been reached. While my source on this information isn’t great, he’s been good for information like this.
Moving back to tonight’s game.
As I mentioned, the team has been playing some fantastic hockey and have kept fans very excited throughout the year, despite being amongst a rebuild. Many of my previous blogs have made several mentions of the type of “hockey environment… which Burke and Hartley are trying to instill. What a lot of people seem to have a problem with is the notion that rebuilding teams can, and should, still compete.
Hartley is an NHL coach, with a group of NHL players. Ok , yes I suppose they ice a few extra inexperienced or AHL players than your typical NHL team, but here’s the thing – they’re winning games and competing. What this means to me? The coaching at the NHL and AHL level are on the same page, and getting things done!
"We're very optimistic," coach Bob Hartley said. "I'm unbelievably proud of my group but at the same time come next September, we're going to still be a team that missed the playoffs in the past year and we'll have to find a way to be better and more consistent."
I couldn’t have summarized this any better. This is what we want to hear from an NHL coach at any level or status of said organization. We are what we are, we are working toward one goal, and as we rebuild our prospective cupboards and core, we will compete. Outside of the obvious improvements among certain players, I feel that the biggest surprise, if you will, has been toward Karri Ramo.
Most felt that Ramo would be an okay, stop gap type goalie, who would weather the storm while the Flames developed their future starter. Well here’s the thing folks, Ramo is playing like a starter and a hell of a good one, at that. I personally didn’t have high expectations for Karri myself, but I did feel as though people had written him off much too early in his career.
The scouting reports which I had read from his days overseas while playing in the KHL looked quite good to me. There were certain aspects of his game which required improvement and the same issues were very much prevalent during his first few games with the Flames. That said, it appears that Ramo has really settled down his game, gained some confidence, and proving again to the NHL world that he’s capable of being a starter in the NHL.
It will be interesting to see how he progresses in his career with the Flames, though I can say that his development thus far with Calgary has been on a steady incline.
"In the past weeks, he's been our best player and when your goalie is the best player, I think it's an easy thing to figure out," Hartley said. "He's going to give your team lots of confidence."
Tonight happens to be the last at home game of the season for Calgary, and as such, is dedicated as Fan Appreciation Night. There are no expected changes in the lineup tonight, and if anything comes up during the afternoon, I will update the blog.
Thanks for reading!