VANCOUVER — A rebuild is afoot, expectations are low, and the onus is on a handful of veterans to show youngsters the only path to success is through hard work and self-belief.
Sound familiar, Flames fans?
“I’ve been here before when we were underdogs and a young team,” begins Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund before breaking into a smile, “and that year we made the second round. So that’s my goal.”
It was a full decade ago a young Backlund suited up for a Flames team pegged by many to finish at the bottom of the division and amongst the league’s worst.
Despite the intrigue of a few young prospects like Sean Monahan and rookies Johnny Gaudreau and Sam Bennett, few had much faith that the 2014-15 Flames could make any noise.
Well, they did, clinching third in the Pacific with a late-season win to knock the defending champion Kings out of a playoff spot, before beating the Canucks in Round 1.
You can understand why Backlund has repeatedly cited the shocking success of that upstart team as a motivator when asked about being counted out this year by so many.
“That year, we had a really tough road trip to start, but we went in head-first and decided that even though we played some really good teams, we wanted to make it hard on them,” said Backlund.
“That’s our mindset again.
“We got off to a great start, and then it just kind of kept rolling. We kept pushing each other in practice and games and we never gave up.”
Proof of that came via a club record for third-period comeback wins, as the young group built confidence from their early success.
“Internally, you always believe, but externally, no one was giving us a chance,” said Matt Stajan, one of the veterans on that Cinderella squad.
“We got off to a good start and the belief grew.”
Mason Raymond remembers the team embracing the underdog mentality and riding a wave powered by endless comeback heroics from Gaudreau, Monahan and linemate Jiri Hudler.
“I still believe what separates good from great in life is the power of the mind,” said Raymond, whose team finished with 97 points.
“We rode the momentum and proved to ourselves we were good enough.”
The over/under for this year’s Flames club is pegged at 81.5 points, due largely to the growing number of youngsters in the lineup and the inexperience of goalies Dan Vladar and Dustin Wolf.
The goal is for a handful of solid veterans to lead, while insulating several youngsters along the way.
Stajan said it started much the same way in 2014 with Bob Hartley at the helm.
“What’s similar is you don’t have any superstars,” said Stajan, now a skills coach with the Flames.
“You have good quality pieces and guys who have proven they can be key contributors.”
Monahan and Gaudreau emerged as stars that year, giving the team the offence it had been missing since Jarome Iginla left. From there, everybody found a role, and embraced it.
“Everybody felt a part of it,” said Stajan.
“It’s early and everyone’s role still has to be identified, but that’s how special teams happen — guys embrace their role on the team and be the best at it.”
Will Connor Zary or Martin Pospisil be able to take the sort of step Monahan took in his second year? Will rookie Sam Honzek be an impact player right away?
Can Blake Coleman and Yegor Sharangovich score 30 again? Can Nazem Kadri continue to help youngsters around him thrive? Can Jonathan Huberdeau get back on track?
Are any of those enough to prevent the club from missing the playoffs a third year in a row?
Throughout the Flames’ impressive 5-2-1 pre-season slate, they’ve cited the “us against the world” mentality they plan to embrace.
“What happens outside our room doesn’t matter,” said Huska of the lowly predictions for the team.
“What truly only matters is the belief inside the room, and so far, I like the way the guys have approached it.
“I think they have a lot of belief in themselves, as well as the guys that are sitting beside them.”
Unlike the past few seasons, there are no distractions around this team, which Backlund said is freeing.
“No one really expects much so just enjoy playing in the NHL,” said Backlund, whose club opens the season Wednesday in Vancouver.
“There are six of us who have been here the last couple of years, and if this team is going to have any success, it starts with us showing the right way.
“We have a chance to do something special by pulling this team in the right direction. They’re really motivated to get back to the playoffs.
“It’s going to be a special year, and we’re going to be remembered for that.”