An All-Star Break Check-In with the Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames have quite a different identity this season. Losing some key players over the summer and acquiring others has shifted the type of hockey this team plays.

What’s working? What isn’t working? Here’s a look at what’s going on with the Flames as they enter the All-Star break.

Scoring

Last season, the Flames had two players with 100-point years: Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk. Jonathan Huberdeau also achieved this mark in the 2021-22 season but is nowhere near that mark this season.

Nazem Kadri had an 87-point season last year and is on pace for the low 60’s this season.

How are the Flames looking going into the All-Star break?

If the Flames are to be successful in the second half of this season, their scoring has got to come from somewhere else.

So far, Elias Lindholm leads the team scoring with 45 points in 49 games. Next is Tyler Toffoli with 42 points in 50 games. Third in Flames scoring is Calgary’s All-Star representative, Nazem Kadri with 38 points in 50 games.

There are players down the lineup that have the ability to heat up and help on the scoring front, but they haven’t been overly consistent this season. It’s hard to predict on a night-to-night basis who is going to light the lamp for the Flames, if they even do.

Goaltending

Goaltending has been a sore spot for the Flames this season. Jacob Markstrom has been having some mental blocks this season that have prevented him from performing at his best.

The Flames have let in numerous goals in the opening minutes of the game that prevent them from really settling into games.

Back in December, Markstrom commented on his play saying, “I just suck at hockey right now.”

Since then, he’s shown a bit of life but has since faced some challenges in the new year. He has lost his last three games.

Markstrom, typically in the top chunk of NHL goaltending stats, has a 13-13-5 record, an .893 save percentage, and a 2.86 GAA. Thankfully, his backup, Dan Vladar, has been at the top of his game this season.

Vladar’s up to a winning record of 11-4-4 on the season, a .906 save percentage, and a 2.77 GAA. He has also yet to have a loss in 10 straight games.

Injuries

There have been a few bumps and bruises as the season has gone on, but the most disruptive ones have been against two defensemen: Chris Tanev and Oliver Kylington.

Kylington has missed all Flames-related activity this season so far including training camp, preseason, and regular season play.

The team has been protecting his privacy, citing his absence due to personal reasons, and recently announced he is in the player assistance program. Kylington’s absence has allowed some AHL players to slot into the lineup, but they have big shoes to fill.

If the team has insight into how long he will be away from the group, they might have to look into other options at the trade deadline.

Tanev played through a laundry list of injuries in the Flames’ playoff run last year and has been facing some challenges this year as well. He is currently on the injured reserve dealing with an upper-body injury.

It’s very likely he will return back to the lineup again this season, but it is unknown at what percentage his overall health will be.

League standings

The Flames sit fifth in the Pacific Division after playing 50 games so far this season. They have 57 points and a 24-17-9 record. Not exactly the best-in-the-Pacific type of play they had last year.

They do not currently have a playoff spot and have quite a bit of work to do down the stretch to clinch a playoff berth.

It might be down to the wire if the Flames are to make the playoffs this year. It’s not all bad but consistency and cohesive play are some of the hardest things for the Flames to find this season.

It’s up to the team’s management to see if there are some moves to make before the trade deadline to help this team be more of a competitor down the stretch.