Heading into the 2024-2025 NHL season, the Calgary Flames weren’t expecting to be competitive. They were supposed to be destined for the draft lottery. Calgary’s focus was to maximize assets, develop young players, and continue the rebuild to build a competitive team for the future. However, this current roster has surprised many and created a competitive and exciting season.
The Season So Far
The Calgary Flames got off to an incredible start to the season. Calgary won 5 of their first six games and found themselves in a position no one expected. Despite some losses after this, Calgary managed to continue to win at a decent rate, keeping them right in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race. Calgary has benefited from great goaltending this season. Coming into the year, Calgary was starting an unproven tandem with Dustin Wolf and Daniel Vladar. The tandem has posted the 13th best Goals Against Average and 11th best Save Percentage in the league this season. Their solid play and better-than-expected team defense have led to Calgary allowing the 9th fewest goals against this season. Calgary has some definite flaws, mainly a poor penalty kill and an inability to score goals. Despite this, their defense and goaltending keep them in games, and they’ve found ways to win.
This Flames roster has given fans many exciting games this season. Fans should have plenty of exciting hockey ahead, with a playoff race the rest of the way. In addition to the playoff race, a primary goal for this Flames team was developing some of their young players.
Starring Youngsters
Goaltending
Last offseason, the Flames traded away franchise goaltender Jacob Markstrom. They cleared the way for top prospect Dustin Wolf to get a chance at the NHL level. In his rookie season, Wolf has been impressive. Wolf has put together a 17-7-2 record with two shutouts. He’s sitting 12th in the league in goals-against average and 5th in save percentage. Wolf has earned the starting job in Calgary and put himself firmly in the conversation for the Calder trophy this season. In addition to Wolf, many other Flames youngsters have continued to develop and play key roles.
Forwards
Forwards Connor Zary and Matthew Coronato have become key pieces in the Flame’s top nine and are both top-five on the team in points. During his NHL rookie season, Zary played most of his time on the wing. Early this season, he moved to the center and didn’t look out of place. Zary has proven he can be a line driver on his own this year. He’s flourished in the middle of the ice and can be a top-nine center. Coronato has finally figured out the NHL game. He’s improved his skating and play away from the puck and is now living up to the hype he had coming out of Harvard. The development of these two young players is a massive boost for the Flames. They have two young players to build around moving forward.
Defence
On the backend, Kevin Bahl has blossomed alongside veteran Rasmus Andersson. The big defensive defenceman was acquired as part of the trade that sent Markstrom to New Jersey. The acquisition underwhelmed many fans, as Bahl didn’t have the cache of other Devils prospects. However, Bahl has played top-four minutes in every game this season. He’s been steady and helped this Flames d-core overachieve expectations. The 24-year-old looks like another piece the Flames can build around. With some high-end offensive defencemen on the horizon, having a player with this skillset is a perfect fit.
The Calgary Flames and general manager Craig Conroy told fans they were committed to allowing young players to play. When injuries have happened this season, the Flames have done just that. The Flames recalled former first-round pick Jacob Pelletier in early December. After a disappointing finish to last season and a brutal training camp, the Flames could have given up on Pelletier. Instead, they gave him another opportunity, and he ran with it. Pelletier has been killing penalties and has scored 6 points in his last five games. The youth movement in Calgary is in full effect and gives fans another reason to watch the rest of the way.
Lots To Cheer For The Rest of The Way
Some Flames fans will be upset that Calgary isn’t in the draft lottery this season and continues to sell off assets. However, Calgary is giving fans the best of both worlds. They have put together a competitive product that sits in a playoff spot, and they are doing it thanks to the development of their young players. This team has given Flames fans plenty of reasons to watch and much to cheer for the rest of the way.
Sitting in the final Wild Card spot in the West, fans get to watch every game, knowing it has a massive impact on the standings. At the same time, fans can continue to cheer on rookie Dustin Wolf as he pushes for a Calder Trophy while proving he’s a starting NHL goaltender. Whether it’s Coronato, Zary, Pelletier, or another youngster, each night is a chance to see the Flames building towards a strong future.
Whether the Flames make the playoffs or fall out and get a slightly better draft pick, the way this team has come together and the strides the young players have made make this season a large success.
Main Photo: Sergei Belski- Imagn Images
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