Calgary Flames to struggle in 2010-11
The Calgary Flames failed to make the play-offs last season, missing out on eighth spot by five points. However, it was not without trying, as General Manager Darryl Sutter acquired a slew of under-performing Toronto Maple Leafs talent at the deadline, who failed to gel with the rest of club. This off-season Sutter’s moves have continued to look peculiar, and one can bet that if the Flames fail to qualify for the post-season this year, Sutter’s time in Calgary will be up.
The Flames are a team on the decline. As the Western Conference improves around them, they remain idle, making 2010-11 a difficult season for the Alberta Boys.
Roster changes
The Flames parted ways with forwards Eric Nystrom, Nigel Dawes, Chris Higgins and Jamal Mayers, and saw fit to replace them with Alex Tanguay, Olli Jokinen, and Raitis Ivanans.
Forward
Upfront the Flames are a thin squad, who will be relying on career years from several players, while at the same time hoping that former all-star talents can bounce back from miserable 2009-10 campaigns.
The first line is expected to change several times throughout the season, nevertheless it will feature Matt Stajan, with Jarome Iginla and Jokinen. The second line will be made up of Daymond Langkow, Rene Bourque, and Alex Kotalik. The third line will house Craig Conroy at centre flanked by Niklas Hagman and Tanguay on the wings. The fourth line will have David Moss, Curtis Glencross and Ivanans.
Defence
The Flames' strength lies in their blue line, which will be helmed by the starting pair of Jay Bouwmeester, and Robyn Regehr. The second unit is expected to feature Cory Sarich and recently re-signed Ian White, while the third and final group is filled by Mark Giordano and Steve Staios.
Goalie
In net Miikka Kiprusoff is expected to play upwards of 70 games again next season. Kiprusoff had his best statistical season since 2005-06 last year, and will look to build on it come October.
Kiprusoff will be backed up by untested Henrik Karlsson who will be playing his first season in the National Hockey League.
Can the Flames make the play-offs?
Up front the Flames are thin. Jokinen and Tanguay are coming off of embarrassing seasons, and have signed discounted contracts in order to try and show the rest of the league that they are still capable of putting up big numbers.
Unfortunately for Flames fans, they will have to deal with them if they continue to regress. In addition, Matt Stajan has not proven himself as a number one centre, and although he posted 57 points last season, he will need more if he is to be a true first-line talent. The Flames' biggest problem at forward is that they do not possess a legitimate goal scorer outside of Iginla. Last year Iginla topped the team with 32 goals and 69 points, and regrettably the line-up does not look much different.
On the back-end, the Flames have some depth, however they will need a better season from $6.7 million defenseman Bouwmeester who was held to 29 points last year, the lowest since his second season in the league.
In net Kiprusoff should continue to remain solid, however the Flames are likely to still have trouble getting wins from their back-up goalie, as Karlsson is without any experience.
The Flames are simply in need of a re-build. Sutter has fashioned a team out of spare parts and now expects them to challenge for the Western Conference. The West is simply too good for the Flames to stay afloat, and having to play improved divisional rivals such as the Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche will take a toll.
Expect the Flames to fall even further next season, finishing in 13th in the West. This is bound to be Sutter’s last year at the helm.
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