Breaking down the Calgary Flames ahead of NHL Trade Deadline Day.
Deadline approach
The Calgary Flames will be: Sellers
Pending free agents
Unrestricted: 10 | Restricted: 12 | See full list
[teamleaders league=”nhl” team=”cgy” season”2014″]
Flames overview
The Flames overachieved at the start of the season, but they’ve fallen back down to earth since. Coming out of the Olympic break, they find themselves near the bottom of the league standings — closer to securing a top-five pick in this summer’s NHL Draft than they are to squeaking into the playoffs.
They’ve won just 10 post-season games since their Stanley Cup final appearance in 2003-04 and the team will undoubtedly miss the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. The sad part for Flames fans is the team doesn’t look promising heading into next season unless some major changes come in the next few months.
Brian Burke, the team’s president and acting general manager, is certainly not one to shy away from making bold moves and that’s just what the Flames need right now. With few top-end prospects in their system and a shortage of offensive weapons, the Flames are in upheaval mode, which could mean a busy trade deadline.
Former GM Jay Feaster, who was fired in December, had previously said certain players were untouchable, but Brian Burke won’t adhere to that whatsoever. Burke has said in the past that the trade deadline is a time when many teams make huge mistakes by overpaying for assets, but that shouldn’t deter him from shopping a few pieces.
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| Click player positions to see depth chart | ||
Areas to address
The Flames need a bit of everything. Players like captain Mark Giordano, plus veterans Matt Stajan and Jiri Hudler, possess character and veteran leadership, while youngsters Mikael Backlund, Sean Monahan and Joe Colborne have shown potential for a bright future — that’s something to build off. But others like Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak are pieces Burke can move.
In net, Karri Ramo and Reto Berra have been serviceable at times, but the Flames could use an upgrade there. Pulling off a deal similar to the one the Tampa Bay Lightning made at last year’s deadline with the Ottawa Senators to acquire Ben Bishop would be ideal. Landing a new goalie might be the quickest way for the Flames to turn things around. On defence, a little foot speed and some more youth couldn’t hurt either, and as Burke has said in the past, he likes to build from the net out.
Possible trade chips
Lee Stempniak
Mike Cammalleri
Sven Baertschi
