One reason each NHL team should be excited for the 2018 season

Calgary Flames – They’re Going For It

The Calgary Flames were one of the most disappointing teams in the NHL last season. Had it not been for the Edmonton Oilers, they likely would have been the biggest underachievers in the Western Conference. The Flames entered the 2017-18 season with a lot of hope and still didn’t make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It remains to be seen if the Flames did enough to upgrade despite giving up their best defenseman in Hamilton. But it’s clear Calgary isn’t rebuilding yet.

General Manager Brad Treliving could have blown up his roster, but he kept it mostly intact (excluding Michel Ferland and Dougie Hamilton). He fired head coach Glen Gulutzman, whose message got tired in the locker room and was never much of a strategy guy. The Flames hired former Carolina Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters to replace him.

Peters will have a talented roster to work with. The Flames went out of their way this offseason to address a major concern – their lack of right wing depth. Signing James Neal (who has experience as a right-wing) and Elias Lindholm should help significantly. The former should help them with their lack of finishing as well, as Neal has always been a good goal scorer.

Mike Smith did a better job last season than he got credit for. It remains to be seen if the Flames did enough to upgrade despite giving up their best defenseman in Hamilton. But it’s clear Calgary isn’t rebuilding yet.