A few notes on the Flames today.
The Andersson Interview
Rasmus Andersson met with Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman last week on
32 Thoughts: The Podcast for what was a fairly illuminating interview. You can find it linked
here. It’s well worth a full listen.
Before we get going — there is something that need to be addressed. The organization is playing this odd game where they interpose the phrase “you know” into their media availabilities as much as they can.
Rasmus is no slouch in this interview. Kadri did an interview around the time the Calgary Stampede was going that had to get into the four hundred range of
you know. Even general manager Craig Conroy went after it on a recent sit-down with Rob Kerr on the Only a Game podcast.
You can’t unread that. It’s a good thing that employees are having fun with their media availabilities. It can’t be enjoyable to have to walk yourself and the media through such a bitter 2022-2023 season over and over again.
Something to prove
Rasmus has this to say about the 2022-2023 season.
“I think the guys are just excited to head back because they know what happened last year and we want to prove everyone wrong. That we are a good team. We, you know, we lost 17 games in overtime. Like that hasn’t happened before and it’s, if we win five of those we’re in a playoff by three-four points, so it’s uh I think we all got that chip on our shoulder this year and we want to prove the doubters wrong”
He went on to point out that the February 28, 4-3 overtime loss to Boston stood out as a bit of a symbol or microcosm of the rest of the season. Calgary dominated Boston in every metric beyond the scoreboard that night and still lost in overtime.
Relaxing a bit
The 26 year old defender talked about their approach to closing out games during the 2022-2023 regular season.
“So how do we maybe get that extra point and win the game in regulation and not just get that extra point. We can’t be scared of losing a game, you know, we gotta go out and win it in the third and not just, oh, you know, we take one point here.”
He goes on to explain that they had it much easier in 2021–2022 when they had Gaudreau and Tkachuk to run away in scoring. They had to focus on winning as a collective last season and it was a challenge.
A couple more quick lines that relate that the team is taking a different approach this season.
“Embrace the chaos and let’s just play.”
“Let’s have fun along the way and not just on the business side of it.”
On the responsibilities of a Captain
The conversation got fairly illuminating as it carried on. Andersson summarized that Giordano took the reigns and made it clear that he was handling the duties of a captain while he was there. He had this to say about the role last season.
“You know Backs did it to a point last year, be even he said to me he’s like, I’m like “Backs you are the Cap-“ he was like “yep I know, I know-ish, but you know I don’t have the C, so I can’t do everything I want to. And it’s such a fine line with that because in our room we all saw Backs as the Captain, right? But for him it’s hard, right? We see him as the captain, but he’s not the captain and I feel like in a Canadian market you really do need one and if it’s me, if it’s Weegs, if it’s Backs, Jonny, whatever, whoever it is it’s gonna be the right call, it’s gonna be the right step for our franchise to take the next step.”
The players saw Backlund as their captain last season. You have to wonder if management and coaching staff pick him to wear the C come September.
Tanev also leaving if the team isn’t winning?
Get ready for a lot of
“you know”.
“You guys know it’s a business with all the contracts and, you know, when people have one year left on the deal, you know, I think it’s so different right with if you compare Lindholm to Backlund for example you know Backs has been in Calgary for what 15 years and uh and you know if you’re Mikael you’re what 34, 35 years old, you haven’t won and he said it himself he said in the media he’s like, you know, as of right now I’m not going to re-sign, but, you know, if the team is doing well and we got a chance to win, I’m going to re-sign but Im gonna wait and see how this year plays out. I want to win. Every player wants to win the Stanley Cup and he hasn’t done it, so.
And with Lindy it’s business that’s gotta work for both sides of it and with that, you know, you don’t pay too much attention to it because you hear from everyone else, you know, I hadn’t personally, I hadn’t been in the situation but you hear from everyone that, you know, when it’s business it’s business, you know, it’s gotta work for both sides of it and so with Lindy that part, you know, you’re staying out of it. With Backs you understand and, you know, I think Tanny is in the same situation, you know, if we’re good; they love the city they, you know, Backs has lived there for fifteen years. I know Chris loves the city too and so, you know, it’s two different worlds and uh it’s hard to compare and, uh, but you know, uh, you know, I think the guys are excited just to head back.”
It makes sense that Chris Tanev would be in the same boat as Mikael Backlund.
Tanev is 33. Backlund is 34. Neither have reached the third round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in their careers. It seems reasonable that they would want to find a team in a competitive window to play for while they still have a major on-ice impact on a roster.
That is, provided Calgary doesn’t go on a deep run next season. No pressure.
It certainly won’t be fun if they depart. Particularly when Calgary participates in the Battle of Alberta. Backlund led the Flames with three goals in three games against Edmonton last season.
Tanev proved his worth in the Battle of Alberta during the 2022 playoffs. The rugged defender led all Calgary players in even strength ice time (19:40 per game) despite suffering through a torn labrum, a separated shoulder, and a sprained neck.
He finished the series without a goal against at 5v5. 3-0 in goals for and against. Incredible.
Backlund was no slouch in that series either. Only one Calgary forward line maintained a positive even strength goal differential that series. Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman. Backlund ended up being on the ice for 44% of the penalty kill in the second round of 2022.
He held Edmonton’s infamous powerplay to only two goals over 14:57 of time at 5v4.
The Calgary Flames have a much better chance at a deep playoff run with these two players in the lineup. Both make a strong case for captaincy this season.
NHLPA Rookie Showcase
22 year old goaltender Dustin Wolf and 20 year old winger Matthew Coronato are off to Arlington, Virginia to attend the annual NHLPA Rookie Showcase. 33 other rookies and prospects from around the NHL will also be going.
First round picks Connor Zary and Jakob Pelletier were in attendance last year. Oddly, something that includes
“Showcase” in the title has so little footage or exposure. The event could be an opportunity for the newest wave of talent to show off trick plays, specialty dekes, and puck skills. Instead, they get everyone together for the card manufacturer Upper Deck to take photos and sign signatures.
How many Gregs does it take to make a Tomlette?
If you haven’t already, you owe it to yourself to catch the HBO series Succession. The show utilizes a style of cinematography that gives the viewer the feeling that they themselves are sitting in on an ultra-rich family’s struggle to gain power over each other. Just non-stop lying, manipulating and cheating — as well as the human consequences of growing up around that behaviour.
For those who have seen it,
has anyone seen Greg Hirsch and Calgary goaltending prospect Daniil Chechelev in the same room?
One person has even suggested that actor Nicolas Braun is method-acting as a 22 year old Russian goalie prospect playing last season for the Rapid City Rush of the ECHL. Throw an
E1 on that rumour.
Trevor Neufeld
@Trevor_Neufeld
Stats via capfriendly.com and nhl.com. Interview courtesy of Sportsnet.
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