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Three reasons to be optimistic about the Calgary Flames in 2018-19

September 6, 2018, 12:27 PM ET [19 Comments]
Todd Cordell
Calgary Flames Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
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I recently touched on three question marks surrounding the Calgary Flames heading into the 2018-19 season.

It was a somewhat pessimistic perspective on things so today I'm going to provide a few reasons to be optimistic about the team.

1. A new-look offense

Last season Calgary's offense was not good, to put it nicely. They didn't have much trouble generating chances on a nightly basis. Scoring was a whole different story. Only Buffalo, Montreal, Arizona, and Vancouver found the back of the net fewer times at 5v5 while the former three and Detroit were the lone four to score less often overall.

Not only was the offense bad, but there was no versatility whatsoever.

All of the team's eight leading scorers up front were left-handed. The lone exception (Troy Brouwer) put up 22 points in the least efficient way possible.

In acquiring James Neal, Elias Lindholm, Derek Ryan, and Austin Czarnik, the Flames added much-needed firepower while addressing the need for some skilled right-handed shots.

Neal is not right-handed but he can, and will, play the right side. Lindholm, Ryan, and Czarnik are all right-handed shots who can play center or wing, giving Bill Peters significantly more options than Glen Gulutzan had at his disposal a year ago.

Calgary's offense isn't going to be Tampa Bay/Winnipeg/Toronto caliber, but it should be drastically better.

2. An improved power play

Perhaps nothing was more painful last season than watching Calgary's power play in action. It was god awful for almost the entirety of the year.

Despite having the likes of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, Matthew Tkachuk, Dougie Hamilton, Mark Giordano, etc., the Flames ranked 28th in power play goals per 60 minutes played.

On many nights they struggled to set up shop in the offensive zone, let alone create chances or put the puck in the net.

This year things should be much different. On top of adding more talented and versatile personnel, the Flames also changed power play coaches. Geoff Ward, formerly of New Jersey, is now running the operation.

While Ward's power plays didn't fare overly well in terms of shot volume, they were good at getting results. In three years with the Devils, Ward ran two top-11 power plays in terms of goals per 60 minutes. He didn't have as many toys to play with in New Jersey as he will in Calgary, either.

3. The Pacific Division sucks

No, seriously.

Last year's winners, Vegas, are almost certainly going to take a step back. Though they added Paul Stastny, they lost two top-6 wingers in Neal and David Perron. Their ice time leader on defense, Nate Schmidt, is suspended for 20 games. Marc-Andre Fleury and William Karlsson, like most of the players on the team, are going to have a hell of a time trying to match last year's superhuman performances.

Many of Anaheim's top players are getting a little long in the tooth and they don't have much depth. They'll likely be a playoff team, but they aren't one to fear.

Three of San Jose's four leaders in points per game are 33 or older and the team as a whole is pretty old.

Los Angeles is *extremely* top heavy and they aren't exactly spring chickens, either.

Edmonton didn't do much of anything to improve a poor supporting cast around the league's best player.

Vancouver is almost certainly going to be irrelevant for another year or two.

While Arizona should be better, they need to jump ~35 points to seriously contend for a playoff spot.

There are no powerhouses like in the Atlantic (Tampa Bay, Toronto, etc.) or Central (Winnipeg, Nashville, etc.). The Pacific doesn't feature three of the last four Stanley Cup winners like the Metro (Washington and Pittsburgh).

There is no excuse for not making the playoffs in this division.

Recent posts:

Three Flames question marks heading into 2018-19

Flames sign Noah Hanifin to long-term extension

One model cautiously optimistic about the Flames in 2018-19

Three players who will benefit from Brouwer's departure

There were positives in Sam Bennett's disappointing campaign

Flames sign Elias Lindholm to a six-year extension

A closer look at the Derek Ryan and Austin Czarnik signings

James Neal a necessary signing for the Flames
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