It’s late July and we’re getting ready for the start of the NHL Playoffs. Actually, before we get there we have to have a qualifying round where the Flames will play the Jets, and the winners make the playoffs. On this episode we catch up on what’s happened since we talked last, the ongoing Flames training camp and looking ahead to if the Flames can beat the Jets…and how far they could go in this year’s playoffs.
COVID-19 has caused the NHL to “pause” their season. Dan and Matt discuss our prediction of if/when the NHL will resume playing this year, and if the league will go right to the playoffs or not. We also discuss the passing of Ken King, and the Flames decision not to pay hourly workers (which has since been reversed). On the hockey front, the guys discuss if Geoff Ward should be back as head coach next season, and look at some of the Flames prospects and how their season is looking.
The Flames had an important week of games, and once again showed that they can’t start on time and it again cost them much needed points. The guys recap the week of games and talk about if the Flames are still guaranteed a playoff spot or not.
Plus, we look ahead to the summer and play armchair GM as we decide which Unrestricted Free Agents the Flames should bring back, at what costs, and how that will impact the roster and the salary cap.
The guys recap the 3-1-1 road trip and their thoughts about where the Flames sit in the standings and what they need to do in the last 15 games of the season to stay in the playoff race. Dan and Matt predict how they think the Pacific Division will look at the end of the season and where the Flames will finish and if there is a chance they’ll fall out of playoff contention.
The 2020 trade deadline is in the books and the Flames bring in Erik Gustafsson and Derek Forbort. Dan and Matt break down these deals and their thoughts about the Trade Deadline as a whole, and what the D pairings likely look like now.
The guys also look at the Flames record since the All-Star Break last year, and what the Flames record tells us – are they a good team that is having a bad season this year, or are they a mediocre team that had a good season last year?
The Flames scored 25 goals in 5 games this week, but at the same time let in 19 goals against. What does a week like that say about the Flames? The guys also discuss if Andrew Mangiapane is a legit top 6 forward on a playoff team and if David Rittich or Cam Talbot should be the Flames starter going forward.
With the Trade Deadline a week away, what do the guys think the Flames should or shouldn’t do? What would be the wrong thing to do? The guys answer these questions ahead of what could be the most interesting Trade Deadline for the Flames in a long time.
The guys look at the season so far broken into seven-game series, and the Flames have faired so far while wondering if the Flames can ride their big win over the Canucks into the California road trip. With Hamonic and Giordano out, how does the Flames strategy change coming up to the Trade Deadline, and do they need to make a big move to bring in a blueliner?
The Flames are back in action after their bye week and had two big games over the Oilers, and discuss how the Flames went from good to terrible against the Oilers in a 72-hour stretch. Why the inconsistency this season, and can it be remedied, or is the issues the players in the room?
The guys discuss if it’s time to look at Tkachuk and Lindholm as their top two instead of Monahan and Gaudreau – and if so, does it make it easier to trade Monahan or Gaudreau? Of course we need to talk trades prior to the Trade Deadline, and is it time to move on from TJ Brodie to fill the gaps on the forward ranks? How about Mikael Backlund?
With the Flames on a bye week this week, we have no new content to chat about. We’ll be back on February 4 with a new episode. This week we’re presenting a recap of our New Years episode, a recap of the Stockton Heat with “Stockton’s Finest” Jeff Gregory.
Jeff Gregory will be in Calgary on February 6. He’ll be at Bottlescrew Bill’s before and after the game (starting at 5pm) and would love to meet all our passionate Fireside Chat fans.
With the Flames still locked in a bitter battle for a playoff spot in the Pacific Division, should the team stand pat at the Trade Deadline, or move all of their expiring contracts, and hope for the best in the post-season? The guys answer this question and discuss if keeping Brodie, Hamonic and Cam Talbot for a (likely) protracted playoff run is really worth missing out on the trade value.
For The C of Red By The C of Red