Posted on February 12, 2024

It’s been a few weeks since our last episode, and lots has happened for the Calgary Flames! This week Dan and Matt discuss the newest Flames with the Andrei Kuzmenko trade and Brayden Pachal waiver pickup and how those players have impacted the Flames’ undefeated streak since the All-Star game. Our hosts follow up on their previous discussion about the All-Star game being irrelevant and how the NHL’s return to the Olympics and the new World Cup impact their thoughts.

Posted on February 5, 2024

We don’t have a new episode this week due to the Flames bye week, but since there is a big trade to announce, we’re releasing a discussion from last week where Dan joined Sean from the Shifts and Pucks Podcast to break down the trade sending Elias Lindholm to the Canucks for Andrei Kuzmenko, Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo, a first-round pick and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.  We’ll be back on February 12 with a new episode.

Posted on January 22, 2024

On this week’s episode Dan and Matt answer some listener feedback and questions that were submitted via social media as well as discuss all the Calgary Flames’ lineup moves made this week which includes an assessment of Dan Vladar’s viability as a starting goaltender, Matthew Coronato’s play, Adam Kalpka’s debut and who should fill Dillon Dube’s roster spot.

Posted on January 8, 2024

It’s been a few weeks since we’ve talked about the Calgary Flames, so there is lots to discuss this week. Both of our hosts are confused about what criteria were used to determine that Elias Lindholm was the Calgary Flames All-Star for this year. We also discuss Oliver Kylington’s conditioning stint with the Calgary Wranglers – what it means and why fans need to be cautiously optimistic. Since we’re at the mid-point in the season, the guys look back at the season predictions they made back in October to see just how badly they’re doing.

Posted on December 18, 2023

The Calgary Flames played four top teams this week and managed to get four points in the hardest way possible. After another less-than-stellar week, the guys discuss what we’ve learned about Dan Vladar and Dustin Wolf over the last week and how the Flames could use their goalies going forward. With 2023 coming to an end the guys predict the next few Flames game results and if they can go .500 until the near year. Plus, each of our hosts gives their wish for what the Flames need to change for 2024.

We’re going to be taking a holiday break so there won’t be a new episode until January 7, 2024! We hope you’ll join is then.

Posted on November 20, 2023

Trade rumours have been surrounding the Calgary Flames this week. Nikita Zadorov has asked for a trade and Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev are rumoured to be on the trade block as well. Dan is back this week and the guys discuss these trades if their thoughts on Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri have changed and their thoughts on the new Calgary Wranglers’ “Outlaw” third jersey featuring Blasty.

Posted on October 30, 2023

With the Calgary Flames now 2-7 to start the season, the guys try to figure out what the team’s issue is now and if it is finally time for fans to panic. Then, our hosts take a good hard look at whether it is time for the Calgary Flames to seriously and, if so, what that would realistically look like to achieve and if the Calgary fanbase would accept a rebuild to get the Flames back into Stanley Cup contention.

Posted on October 9, 2023

As we get ready to kick off the 2023-2024 NHL season, the guys preview who they expect to make the opening day roster and if the Flames are going into this season as an underdog – and if so, does that help the players manage expectations? To end the show, the hosts play their annual prediction game as they try to look ahead to what might be this year for the Calgary Flames.

Posted on September 25, 2023

On the opening night of the Calgary Flames pre-season, Dan and Matt are back to discuss the Young Stars Classic and give a preview of the Flames training camp and pre-season. The guys discuss who should be the next captain if they’re worried about Oliver Kylington not reporting to training camp and what young players might be making a push for an NHL roster spot.

Posted on June 21, 2023

Ryan Huska was named the Calgary Flames Head Coach on June 12 and shortly after Jarome Iginla was named as Special Advisor to the General Manager to round out the Flames Hockey Operations team. The guys discuss these moves and look ahead to the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, previewing possible Flames draft picks in the first round and beyond.

Posted on June 2, 2023

Who thought the Calgary Flames would have so much going on after the season ended? Both General Manager Brad Treliving and Head Coach Darryl Sutter have left the organization. After an exhaustive search Craig Conroy was named as the new General Manager and now he has to hire a Head Coach. The guys break down all these moves and discuss the impacts on the future of the Flames, and if the team can still be in “win now” mode next season.

Posted on April 17, 2023

The Calgary Flames missed the playoffs this season by only 3 points. There is no doubt this year has been a disappointment for the Flames and the C of Red with lots to discuss as Dan and Matt dissect what went wrong this season and what we can expect to see come next season.

With the Flames out, we’ll be taking a break from new episodes until closer to the NHL Entry Draft in late June, or if significant news breaks before then. Check back at FiresideChat.ca or our social media platforms for info on when we’ll be recording next.

Posted on January 3, 2023

As the calendar turns to 2023 the Calgary Flames are back in a playoff spot – only down 3 points from where they were this time last year. It feels like the team is finally getting going, and the lines have been settled. The guys recap the 2022 half of the season and look ahead to the 2023 half of the season and what the Flames need to do to stay in a playoff spot.

Posted on November 7, 2022

The Calgary Flames are now on a four-game losing streak as they head out on their first road trip of the season. The guys break down their thoughts on what went wrong this week, and how the Flames can rebound on their trip to the East Coast.  With Michael Stone on the IR, Nick DeSimone and Dennis Gilbert have been recalled. The Flames’ blueline looks like it could be in trouble during this road trip. Dan and Matt discuss if Mackey’s poor play against New Jersey opens a spot on the blueline, and how badly they want Oliver Kylington back right now.

Posted on May 18, 2021

The Calgary Flames are down to the last three games of their season, and Dan and Matt spend this discussing what they think the team needs to do in the off-season including looking at if the #1 and #2 Right Wingers the team needs can be filled internally, what UFA candidates exist this summer, or if we’ll need to trade for that position – and how each of those would impact the roster. The guys also discuss if it is time for the Flames to change their leadership as part of a culture shift, and why Milan Lucic is the right guy to be the next Captain.

Posted on May 4, 2021

This week the guys discuss some big questions including if Elias Lindholm is the Flames best trade chip, and if they’ll be able to fix their issues via free agency, or trade roster players for what is needed – and is it time to really rebuild this team for next year or not? As well we look at each of the Flames unsigned prospects and where we expect each one to be next season.

Posted on April 5, 2021

As the Flames season continues to slowly slip away from them, we look at what went wrong this year and what the best moves are going forward, which brings more questions than answers. Should Milan Lucic be our next captain? Is Sean Monahan a viable #1 or #2 Centre moving forward? Where will the scoring come from next year if Gaudreau is traded? And is it time to re-tool or re-build?

And of course, we preview the Trade Deadline and the Flames in a very different position than usual being sellers come April 12. What players have value? What can we get? How can we start the re-tooling at this deadline? The guys answer all these questions.

Posted on March 1, 2021

After a embarassing 6-1 loss against the Senators the Flames shuffle their lines up and go with the top 3 forward lines that they had last year, which leads to a 6-3 win over the Senators. This week we discuss if the Elias Lindholm is better for the Flames as a Right Winger, or a Centre this season and which version of the lineup we think will hide some of the team’s weaknesses and give them the best chance of success for the next week of games.

Posted on February 4, 2020

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?

Posted on October 30, 2019

After a really good week for the Flames last week, we saw the exact opposite this week. Dan and Matt discuss the Flames shaking up their forward lines and what impact that may have on the slumping group, if the Tobias Rieder waiver move and Alan Quine being recalled will have any effect on the team, and what (if any) kind of the trade the Flames could make to shake things up this early in the season.

Posted on November 20, 2018

The most important news item this week, is the Flames beat the Oilers. David Rittich looks like he’s going to be leaned on as the starting goaltender for a while. The guys debate if that’s a good idea, and what the Flames need to do to give Rittich the right chance as a starter. Plus some Stockton Heat news.

Posted on November 6, 2018

One month into the season the Flames are riding high in a four game win streak. The Calgary Flames finally seems to be coming into their own, but how long can the team win games in the last 20 minutes? and how much is their goaltending to blame for their bad starts?

We can’t avoid the goaltending discussion again – who should get starting minutes? Do the Flames need to acquire a goalie, and if so at what cost? Can the team promote from within to solve their goaltending issues? Outside the net the Flames have a lot of players doing things right. Sean Monahan was the first star of the week, and Monahan, Gaudreau and Tkachuk are in the top 10 in league scoring with Lindholm not far behind at number 13. Plus, we debate if Dillon Dube should be in the NHL or AHL right now, who his replacement might be, and answer a question for a Flames fan in the UK.

Posted on September 25, 2018

The Flames are back from China deep into their training camp, prepping for the 2018-2019 NHL season. In this episode we look at all of the off-season moves since the Rookie Development Camp, including the signings of Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm and Mark Jankowski.

Looking at the Flames training camp we talk about who’s looking good, who isn’t and who needs to impress to get an NHL job. Plus Dan has a wacky idea as to why the Flames should consider Kari Lehtonen or Steve Mason as a backup goalie this season.

Join us as we get back to talking Flames hockey, and get ready for the regular season starting next week.

Posted on June 26, 2018

There has been a lot of Flames news since the season ended – Bill Peters is the new Head Coach (and has a new coaching staff), The Flames made a big trade with the Carolina Hurricanes, and the GM says they aren’t done making changes yet.

We’ll recap all the happenings since the season ended, and look ahead to July 1 when Free Agency opens. Who do we expect the Flames to sign? Who are we sad to see go? What will it cost to sign the players the Flames need? These questions and more are answered here.