|
Potential Aquisitions on Display as Flames Face Ducks |
|
|
|
|
|
The Flames face off against the Anaheim Ducks tonight in their first game at the Saddledome in the 21-22 regular season. The Ducks are coming off a loss where they lost a board battle in the dying seconds of the third against the Wild and gave up a goal with eight seconds left. Expect both teams to show up hungry tonight. Here is the lineup.
Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk
Dube-Monahan-Mangiapane
Lucic-Backlund-Coleman
Ritchie-Gawdin-Lewis
Hanifin-Andersson
Zadorov-Tanev
Valimaki-Gudbranson
Markstrom
The return of Geoff Ward
Former Flames Head Coach, Geoff Ward will be back in the building running the offence and powerplay for the Ducks. While he had middling results with the Flames and the team seemed to check out — here’s hoping the guy gets at least a standing ovation. Listening to him speak on player development is usually very thought provoking and he seems like one of the biggest hearts in hockey.
Avoiding penalties
Given the results from the Ducks’ first couple games, it’s safe to say they heavily rely on the powerplay for their offence. Three of their five goals in two games have been with the extra man on the ice. The Flames will have the task of shutting down Jakob Silfverberg, who has three points in two games. Glenn Gawdin needs to stop taking early game penalties or momentum may be going the Ducks way leaving the first period.
Kylington is the final cut
It’s painful to see him out of the lineup after the preseason he had. Last game he played his final shift in the second after two heads-down plays where he carried the puck well, but seemingly had no intention of dishing the puck after earning space with his skating. Here’s hoping he either finds his way back into the lineup or gets claimed on waivers by a team that will let him develop with ice time. Montreal would be a great fit.
Ducks for rent
Keep an eye on who plays well on the Ducks defence. With the rebuild in full swing and some of their defensemen entering their prime — there is a chance one of these guys is a Flames by the end of the season. Especially if Zadorov can’t shore up his coverage. Josh Manson wouldn’t have the same high price as Hampus Lindholm. Manson and Lindholm are both UFAs at the end of the season and carry 4.1 and 5.2 million dollar cap hits respectively. Treliving and long-standing Ducks GM Bob Murray had been negotiating a Sam Bennett trade for years, so its fair to say they keep the door open for future talks.
The last trade offer the two were rumoured to have discussed was:
Sam Bennett
2021 2nd round pick
for
Rickard Rakell
Treliving is reported to have walked away from that one per Elliotte Friedman. Bennett owes Treliving a steak dinner for not pulling the trigger and instead sending him to the high octane Florida Panthers.
Rakell himself is a UFA at the end of the season and could be a rental option, although his production has declined in recent years. At the age of 28, the former 30th overall pick has one goal in two games this year. He carries a 3.789 million dollar cap hit.
The Ducks currently have 13.25 million in cap space. Given that salary retention (and sometimes double salary retention) has become popular among successful teams, the Flames can afford to acquire larger cap hits if they’re willing to give extra picks. Last year the market value for double retention on a 4 million salary was adding a fourth round pick to the extra team. Treliving has a 1st, two 2nds, a 5th and a 7th round pick this year to negotiate with.
Enjoy the game,
Trevor Neufeld
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»