Flames Training Camp Preview: Goalie situation unresolved, as is blue line

CALGARY — Craig Conroy is thrilled that after two years of relative turmoil, his club will enter training camp without excessive distractions.

The Flames will also enter camp without a proven starting goalie or a clear picture on how the defensive personnel in front of the net will shape up.

The retool in Calgary turned into a rebuild this summer when Conroy added Jacob Markstrom to the long list of cornerstone veterans swapped out for futures.

What’s left in town are a handful of experienced leaders who will insulate some of the up-and-comers as they find their way on a team that will be in tough to stay in a playoff race.

“It just feels like there's a lot of excitement about just getting started because when you have young guys in there and the veteran guys feel good, it’s like, ‘OK, this is what we're gonna do: We're gonna show people,’” said the Flames GM.

“We don't have one or two guys that are going to do it. We're going to have to be 20-strong every night, and in there together.

“Camp is going to be a challenge, but very exciting because you have all these questions about chemistry, who will play with who and the goalie battle. But the young guys are jacked and there’s real positive vibe with the veterans.”

Will Dan Vladar and/or Dustin Wolf be able to step up as effective NHL regulars?

Will the team be able to determine which of its wingers is capable of becoming a prominent NHL centre?

Which youngsters step up in camp to prove they are worthy of stealing jobs?

Who will play alongside Rasmus Andersson on the team’s top defensive pairing, and will the revamped blue line include Tyson Barrie, who is auditioning on a PTO?

How effectively the team comes together and fills holes will set the tone for an organization that will attempt to straddle the line between rebuilding while trying to remain competitive.

Salary cap space: $19.97 million
GM: Craig Conroy
Head coach: Ryan Huska
Assistant coaches: Cail Maclean, Brad Larsen, Dan Lambert
Unsigned players: Cole Schwindt, Nikita Okhotyuk
Key additions: Anthony Mantha, Kevin Bahl, Ryan Lomberg, Devin Cooley, Jarred Tinordi
Key subtractions: Andrew Mangiapane, Oliver Kylington, Jacob Markstrom 
PTOs: Tyson Barrie

CAMP BATTLES

Starting goalie: With Markstrom’s departure, the door is wide open for either Dustin Wolf or Dan Vladar to stake their claim as the starter in what will likely evolve into a 1A/1B scenario.

Vladar is pain-free for the first time in two years following hip surgery, but needs to prove to himself and others he’s fully healthy. 

The 27-year-old has 75 NHL games under his belt and will never get a better chance to prove he can carry the load for an organization that will otherwise trade the pending UFA at the deadline.

He’s shown in spurts he can do the job, but consistency is needed to earn more starts than Wolf.

Wolf is the goalie of the future, and at age 23 will be given every opportunity to prove he’s ready for regular NHL action.

The AHL hotshot played 17 games last season, winning his last four starts.

With just six NHL appearances, Devin Cooley is destined to start in the AHL this season.

The problem for all three is their auditions will come with a younger, revamped blue line corps in front of them than the team had last year.

Can Matt Coronato break through to become an everyday NHLer? A gifted offensive threat with a heavy shot, the Flames’ first rounder in 2021 was unable to stick with the big club after making the opening night roster.

In the minors he scored 15 goals and played at a point-a-game pace for 41 outings while working on his board battles and defensive proficiency.

Coach Ryan Huska said it is up to Coronato to steal a job, which means he’ll have to displace one of the team’s top three right wingers — a tough task only made possible if he has a stellar pre-season like the one he had last year.

Who is going to play with Rasmus Andersson on the top pairing, and will Tyson Barrie earn a contract? With the loss of Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov from last season, the Flames’ new-look blue line will be decidedly younger. 

Huska told Sportsnet he likes MacKenzie Weegar on the left side, playing with Daniil Miromanov.

That means it will be an open audition to see who will play on Andersson’s left side.

Kevin Bahl, who was acquired in the Markstrom trade, will likely be battling free-agent signing Jake Bean for the gig.

One of them will be relegated to third pairing duties with either Bayden Pachal or Barrie, the 33-year-old who will be in camp on a PTO.

ONE PRESSING QUESTION

Who will play up the middle?

Nazem Kadri, Mikael Backlund and Kevin Rooney are fixtures at centre for an organization woefully short on middle-men.

Who will round out the group?

Huska will move one of his top young wingers to centre, meaning camp will feature open auditions from his three top candidates: Martin Pospišil, Connor Zary and Yegor Sharangovich.

Huska made it clear to Sportsnet on the weekend the favourite is Pospišil, whose size, speed and tenacity could make for a perfect fit. The Slovakian revelation followed up his shocking NHL debut last season by starring at centre with the national team at the worlds. He then played in the middle while helping his country qualify for the Olympics.

He considers himself a natural centre, as does Zary.

Zary finished last season playing up the middle and could be a fit if he’s able to play his possession game at the most crucial position of all skaters.

Sharangovich filled in admirably up the middle after Elias Lindholm was traded, but flourished more as a winger.

PROJECTED LINEUP

Forwards
Zary – Backlund - Coleman
Kuzmenko – Kadri – Sharangovich 
Huberdeau – Pospisil – Mantha
Lomberg –– Rooney - Pelletier
Extras – Coronato, Hunt, Duehr

Defence
Weegar – Miromanov
Bahl – Andersson
Bean – Pachal/Barrie
Extras – Solovyov, Hanley, Tinordi

Goalie
Vladar
Wolf
Extra – Cooley