The Calgary Flames & other sports related stuff

[JustKelli]

If you think a girl can't know hockey guys, think again LOL. I love everything hockey and had a great teacher.

The first and last time the Flames won the Stanley Cup was in 1989 against the Montreal Canadiens although they did make the finals a few times only to come up short.

We are currently 2nd overall in the league behind the Tampa Bay Lightning with 28 regular season games before the playoffs start.

The division leading Flames are in Vancouver tonight to play the division rival Canucks who are currently in a wildcard spot if the playoffs were to start tomorrow ...

Here is what the standings look like to date, you will notice that the Central has one less team but that will be fixed in the next couple years as Seattle just got a team and one team will move into that division to make room for Seattle in the Pacific:

Eastern Conference
Atlantic



Metropolitan



Western Conference
Central



Pacific

[JustKelli]

My guys are on a 3 game slide and that allowed the Sharks to overtake us in the Pacific division the other day. We are in Florida tonight to play the Panthers.

The Blues are killing it right now with a 7 game win streak and they put it to the test tonight against the Coyotes that are on a 2 game win streak themselves. The Sharks are next with a 6 game streak btw.

The Preds are in Montreal tonight and it should be interesting for PK Subban who is sure to get a warm welcome, he was always a fan favorite when he was a Hab ...

[JustKelli]

Thank goodness, my Flames got the monkey off their backs today with a 5-4 win over the Penguins in PA and are back in 2nd overall and 1st in the Pacific pending the Sharks vs Canucks game tonight.

The St Louis Blues are killing it and are now at 9 straight wins after the 3-0 win today against the Avalanche. They were so far from a playoff spot before this streak and are now in the thick of it in a wildcard spot currently and looking for some insurance with 24 games left until the post season.

9 more games later.

[JustKelli]

I think we were at altitude for all of 15 minutes on our flight to Calgary this morning and spent most of the hour ascending and descending, not even enough time for a good stiff drink for breakfast LOL!

My Flames are finally back home after a disappointing road trip that included 2 losses in Florida but one was a SO loss so still got a point at least. Anyway the Coyotes are in town today and it being "Family Day" and a provincial holiday the game goes at 2pm mt. We are just getting primed in our sky box watching the teams do their pre-game skate.

I finally got to touch my mans face when we got here and he is so going to get his brain screwed out later today lol.

The Bruins are at the Sharks tonight so we will keep our eye on that game afterward as the Flames and Sharks trade places each day for 1st in the Pacific. Right now they each have 77 points (the Flames get the nod with 1 less loss in the standings) but the Flames have a game in hand.

Come on guys we need this win.

[JustKelli]

That's what I'm talking about, Flames 5 Coyotes 2

I need to get some solid food into me I have been on a liquid fuzzy navel diet all day lol.

[JustKelli]

The hockey discussion thread is so dead I saw buzzards circling it lol, so I will think aloud in this one where I can't be accused of flooding a thread since all I am doing here is "updating" it. It sucks that no one posts in some of these threads so if I do I end up having to wait days or weeks for someone else to post so I am not making a string of posts. I hope that the admin/mods realizes this and leaves me alone to do my thing here with no ill intent ...

The 2019 NHL Trade Deadline is on Monday Feb 25 and trades are not as pronounced this year as in previous years partly due to the tight standings for playoff positions where no one wants to change up their lines while readying for a playoff run, other teams that are basically written off this season are looking to shore up their 2020 rosters though by dropping a few players and opening up their salary cap fund ...

The Oilers traded goalie Cam Talbot to the Flyers last week which surprised me but I am a Flames fan and know he was good at stonewalling us LOL. If anyone wants to add trades from their teams they are free to do so here since I plan on posting daily and even more come playoff time in a few weeks.

Bruins kinda did the Flames a favor last night with an overtime 6-5 win but the Sharks still got 1 point and trail us by 1 now at least with us having a game in hand after the Flames 5-2 win yesterday over the Coyotes. Here is what Monday looked like and the Blues go for 11 straight tonight home to the Leafs, the Flames play Wednesday at home to the Islanders.

[JustKelli]

My Flames just finished off the Islanders 4-2 to widen their Pacific division lead over the Sharks ... for now.

Congrats to the Blues for a new franchise record 11 straight wins.

Here is some trade news as well as the Bruins acquiring Coyle from the Wild today.



Buyers, sellers leading up to NHL Trade Deadline
Wild could deal core players; Islanders looking for additional scoring help

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With the clock ticking to the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline on Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. ET, teams must decide what approach to take for the rest of the season.

Tight races for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each conference have left some teams in limbo about whether to be buyers or sellers, or to stand pat. Others have been trying to figure out whether to keep or trade players who can become unrestricted free agents July 1.

Here's a look at 10 teams that might make the biggest impact before the trade deadline:

Nashville Predators
Status: Buyers

The Predators have flown under the radar a bit with the Jets, Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks battling it out for first in the Western Conference and the Tampa Bay Lightning running away in the race for the Presidents' Trophy. However, Nashville, which advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017 and won the Presidents' Trophy last season, remains one of the top contenders for the Stanley Cup, and GM David Poile has always been aggressive in the trade market.

The Predators, who already acquired bottom-six forwards Brian Boyle and Cody McLeod in recent weeks, have been linked to Panarin, Zuccarello, Duchene and Stone. After refusing to trade coveted forward prospect Eeli Tolvanen last season, will Poile move the 19-year-old or 22-year-old forward Kevin Fiala this season?



Ottawa Senators
Status: Sellers

The Senators have been at or near the bottom of the NHL standings all season and will be seeking assets to assist in their rebuild.

According to multiple reports (Sportsnet, TSN, Ottawa Sun), Ottawa has decided to trade Matt Duchene, a potential unrestricted free agent, and has begun talking to potential suitors (Winnipeg Jets, Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets) about the 28-year-old center, who would provide an offensive boost to a contending team.

Forward Ryan Dzingel, another potential UFA, also is likely to be traded. The 26-year-old forward has already surpassed his NHL career high of 41 points, set last season, and would seem to be an attractive trade target for many teams.

The picture, however, is less clear for potential UFA forward Mark Stone, who has led the Senators in scoring much of the season. Sportsnet reported Saturday that Ottawa recently revived contract talks with the 26-year-old and is making another push to see if they can get him to agree to a new contract.



New York Rangers
Status: Sellers

Despite playing surprisingly well this season, the Rangers are in the bottom five of the Eastern Conference and appear committed to a rebuild that began late last season. The question remains whether center Kevin Hayes and forward Mats Zuccarello, who each can become a UFA, will be part of that rebuild.

All indications were that the Rangers would trade Hayes and Zuccarello before the deadline, seeking packages of draft picks and prospects in return. However, the New York Post reported Saturday that the Rangers commenced contract discussions with each, though The Athletic reported New York was simply doing its due diligence in talking contract with Hayes and Zuccarello.

Defenseman Adam McQuaid is another potential UFA who would have value to a team looking to add a veteran who's won the Stanley Cup.



Columbus Blue Jackets
Status: It's complicated

The Blue Jackets could be buyers and sellers depending on what they decide to do with goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and forward Artemi Panarin, who each can become a UFA and isn't interested in contract discussions during the season. That leaves general manager Jarmo Kekalainen in a difficult position where he needs to figure out what he could potentially get back in a trade (if Bobrovsky agrees to waive the no-movement clause in his contract) and whether he could use those assets to add other players.

Columbus is in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race, and Bobrovsky, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner as the best goaltender in the NHL (2012-13, 2016-17), might represent the Blue Jackets' best chance to win a postseason series for the first time in their 18-season history. Panarin is Columbus' most-skilled forward and leads the Blue Jackets in scoring.

Regardless of whether the Blue Jackets decide to keep each player, they'd still like to upgrade at center.



Winnipeg Jets
Status: Buyers

The Jets went all-in at the trade deadline last season by acquiring center Paul Stastny, who had an expiring contract, from the St. Louis Blues for a conditional first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft and forward prospect Erik Foley. Winnipeg is in a similar position this season, battling the Predators for first place in the Central Division, looking for more scoring up front and well stocked with prospects.

The Jets have been mentioned as possible destinations for Hayes, Duchene and Stone, and the Winnipeg Free Press reported that Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and Senators GM Pierre Dorion met in Cheveldayoff's suite during the second intermission of an American Hockey League game between Milwaukee and Manitoba, the Jets' top farm team, in Winnipeg on Sunday.


Boston Bruins
Status: Buyers

Bruins GM Don Sweeney said David Pastrnak's left thumb injury won't impact his approach at the trade deadline. Perhaps that's because Boston was looking to add scoring depth at forward even before Pastrnak was injured at a team function Feb. 10.

Pastrnak will be re-evaluated in one week, which happens to coincide with the trade deadline.

The Bruins are jockeying for second place in the Atlantic Division with the Toronto Maple Leafs in arguably the most important battle for home-ice advantage in a potential Eastern Conference First Round series.

It's no secret the Bruins were top-heavy offensively with the line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Pastrnak. That was why coach Bruce Cassidy moved Danton Heinen up to the first line and Pastrnak shifted to the second line with David Krejci before the injury.

Boston has been linked to Panarin, Hayes, Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds and Carolina Hurricanes forward Micheal Ferland.



Dallas Stars
Status: Buyers

The Stars are in position to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2015-16.

With goalie Ben Bishop mentioned as a possible Vezina Trophy candidate this season, Dallas is one of the best teams defensively in the NHL. But the Stars have struggled to score goals all season. So there's an obvious need for scoring depth, and GM Jim Nill said in a Q&A with NHL.com staff writer Mike Zeisberger on Friday that he plans to be active on the trade market, including potentially for players on expiring contracts.



New York Islanders
Status: Buyers

The Islanders have been one of the biggest surprises in the NHL this season, leading the Metropolitan Division one season after missing the playoffs and losing captain John Tavares to the Maple Leafs in free agency in the offseason. GM Lou Lamoriello won't abandon his plan to build the Islanders for long-term success, but the three-time Stanley Cup winner with the New Jersey Devils (1995, 2000 and 2003) also understands the importance of taking advantage of opportunities.

Under coach Barry Trotz, the Islanders have fixed their defensive structure and have received outstanding goaltending from Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss. However, New York is in the bottom third in the NHL in goal-scoring.

Look for the Islanders to keep forwards Anders Lee, Jordan Eberle and Brock Nelson, who each can become a UFA on July 1, and try to add scoring depth instead before the deadline.



Washington Capitals
Status: Buyers

The Capitals were able to keep most of their roster intact after winning the Stanley Cup last season with the hope that their chemistry would help them repeat. They are in a decent position in the Eastern Conference standings but continue to search for consistency.

In a meeting with the media Feb. 4, Washington GM Brian MacLellan said he'd like to shake up the chemistry among his bottom-six forwards. Andre Burakovsky, who can become a UFA, remains a candidate to be traded for another top-nine forward or for assets that can be used to acquire one.



Minnesota Wild
Status: Sellers?

The Wild are in a desperate battle to earn their way into the playoffs, but a recent spate of losses and poor play has undermined their chances. Normally, that would make Minnesota a candidate to add players or at least keep potential UFA forward Eric Staal for the home stretch.

But The Athletic reported Thursday that GM Paul Fenton has received permission from ownership to do whatever is necessary to improve Minnesota now and in the future, including trading its core players.

Staal, who can become an unrestricted free agent July 1, reportedly has a 10-team no-trade clause.

[JustKelli]

Quack Quack ... the Ducks are in town to play my Flames tomorrow.


Flames dominant against usually-stingy Islanders

There was a lot of talk heading into Wednesday about how the Calgary Flames were in-tough against the New York Islanders and their NHL-best defence.

Maybe some of that chatter should have focused on what the Flames could do defensively, because as it turns out, they’re capable of being pretty impressive on that end themselves.

On Wednesday, the Flames (37-16-7) put in as good an effort containing an opponent as they have all season, limiting the Islanders (35-18-6) to only 19 shots en route to a well-deserved 4-2 win in front of a delirious Saddledome crowd.

“That’s probably as good as we’ve played on the defensive side,” said Flames blueliner Travis Hamonic. “It’s a good team over there, they’ve got a lot of good players over there, they’re playing extremely well, top in the (Metropolitan Division), but we believe in our team, too.

“We’re good defensively and we’ve got good players and I think we’re confident. When you’re playing good teams like that, you’ve got to show up and we did, right from the start.”

It’s easy to forget it was only eight days ago when the Flames were coming off a tough 6-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning and had allowed 14 goals in three games.

There seemed to be legitimate concerns about what was going on defensively, but the team has cleaned up their play on that side of the puck, limiting the Arizona Coyotes to only two goals Monday and then making the Islanders’ offensive weapons largely irrelevant for long stretches on Wednesday evening.

The Isles had only six shots through two periods, and in the second frame in particular there were times when they were stuck in their own zone for minutes at a time.

“That’s a good spot,” said Flames head coach Bill Peters. “If you’re 200 feet away from your net, you’re playing defence in the offensive zone. What I liked was the maturity of our group tonight. We didn’t open ourselves up and leave ourselves vulnerable in transition.

“When we were done in the offensive zone we ended up with a faceoff or we ended up with a line change, we left the next group something good to work with, so that was a good sign.”

From the opening whistle, the Flames took the ice with an extra bounce in their step, and the new-look second line of Michael Frolik, Elias Lindholm and Mikael Backlund were especially strong.

The line opened the scoring early, when Backlund buried neatly after a pretty odd-man-rush pass from Frolik at the five-minute mark of the first period.

The Flames were flying, and while Thomas Greiss was sharp in net for the Islanders, Flames d-man Travis Hamonic put the Flames up 2-0 at 15:59 of the opening frame.

Again, it was the second line on the ice for the goal, with Backlund and Lindholm collecting the assists.

The early returns on Peters’ decision to switch Lindholm from the first-line to the second and replace him with Matthew Tkachuk have been uniformly positive for the group, although it should be noted the team’s new top trio was on the ice for both Islanders goals.

The first of those came midway through the second and completely against the run-of-play when Casey Cizikas found a little space and slid the puck through Flames shot-stopper Mike Smith, who was starting his third consecutive game and saved 17-of-19 shots and did little to suggest he’ll be relinquishing the starter’s job back to David Rittich.

It would be exaggerating a bit to say the goal was the only thing the Islanders did offensively in the opening 40 minutes, but not that much.

To their credit, the Islanders came out stronger in the third and silenced the Saddledome crowd 1:18 into the frame when Anders Lee fired into the back of the Flames’ net. Suddenly, the game was tied 2-2, as improbable as that might have seemed.

That would only last five minutes, and it was the Flames who would strike – and strike hard.

First, Austin Czarnik was credited with the Flames’ third at 6:10 after a puck banked off Leo Komarov and in past Greiss. It wasn’t the prettiest goal, but Czarnik has now scored three goals in three games and has found his role on the Flames’ third-line.

Exactly 29 seconds later, the Flames put the game to bed, and the goal came from a guy fans will be thrilled to see back scoring.

With the Flames on the powerplay, Johnny Gaudreau took a pass from Mark Giordano and blasted it top-corner. It was his first goal in 10 games, and he chose an awfully pretty way to end his little slump.

“I had a pretty good lane there,” Gaudreau said. “It was a good play up top there across the zone and I had a lot of time, a lot of space, and just wired it there.”

There was nothing to suggest the Islanders were going to be able to get back in the game and to put it simply, they didn’t manage to muster much of a fight — although a late hit from Cal Clutterbuck sent Rasmus Andersson to the locker room and will make him a public enemy in Calgary.

Ultimately, the Flames did more than enough to secure the win and have now won three straight games. The mini-slump they found themselves in after the all-star break feels like it’s way in the rearview mirror, and with the Anaheim Ducks coming through Calgary on Friday and a game against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, the Flames have two winnable games ahead.

“We’re going to have to be that airtight going forward,” Peters said. “We’re capable of it and we’re capable of still being dangerous offensively at the same time as being sound defensively.”

[JustKelli]

1-1 here in Calgary against Anaheim after 2 periods.

The score in our sky box is 3 drinks for me and 1 1/2 for my lady friend.

On paper the Flames should be kicking the Ducks asses having 13 more wins under our belt.

Grant has the marker for the Ducks and Brodie for my Flames.

Shots are 20-18 for the Ducks.

Update: Flames score late in the 3rd to take it 2-1

[JustKelli]

My Flames beat the Sens 2-1 last night and keep rolling along in 2nd place overall in the league. If they can keep up this pace for the next 20 games we will have home ice advantage throughout the playoff run ... unless we play the Lightning for the Cup, that is the only team we are trailing in the standings ... hey a girl can dream LOL!

The Sharks are keeping pace with the Flames though and beat the Wings 5-3. The Stars didn't do the Blackhawks any favors beating them4-3 last night and the Wild beat the Blues to keep pace for that final WC spot with the Stars and Av's. Looks like unless a miracle happens, 5 teams will make the playoffs in the West Central and 3 from the Pacific ...


NHL Rumors: Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, and the Chicago Blackhawks

The Calgary Flames are find the asking price for Mark Stone ridiculously high.
The Oilers may not have asked Russell about his no-movement clause

Ryan Rishaug: While there is still time for things to change, it’s not sounding like there have been any talks about between the Edmonton Oilers and Kris Russell‘s reps about waiving his no-movement clause.

Next year he carries a $4 million salary cap hit but a $1.5 million salary.

Kurt Leavins: There is a twitter account that is claiming the Oilers have been shopping Kris Russell. believes that to be “absolutely false.”
Possible asking price for Stone really high for the Flames

Pat Steinberg: The Calgary Flames are still very interested in Ottawa Senators forward Mark Stone but the asking price remains “ridiculously high.”

The sense is that the asking price is multiple first round picks, one of Juuso Valimaki, Rasmus Andersson, Oliver Kylington, and more.

The Flames are happy with their current roster and not willing to sell the farm for Stone.

Pat Steinberg: Makes that the Flames are not willing to move Valimaki or Andersson – should be a non-starter.
Don’t expect the Blackhawks to make a big splash, but could make some smaller deals

Scott Powers of The Athletic: Trade talk around the Chicago Blackhawks is quiet and they aren’t expected to make any big splashes.

A source said they could make a “hockey trade” but aren’t likely to give up assets to bring someone in.

A minor trade or two with an eye to next year could happen.

Teams are calling about defenseman Erik Gustafsson but they are not interested in trading him.

Duncan Keith (NMC), Brent Seabrook (NMC), Artem Anisimov (10-team trade list), Marcus Kruger (seven-team no-trade) and Chris Kunitz (NMC) aren’t interested in being traded.

Source saying John Hayden is being shopped.

Blackhawks could trade a defenseman or two as they have too many in their organization.

NHL NewsNHL Trades

NHL Trade: The San Jose Sharks Acquire Gustav Nyquist From The Detroit Red WIngs

The Detroit Red Wings have trades forward Gustav Nyquist to the San Jose Sharks for a 2019 second round pick and a conditional 2020 third round pick.

The Detroit Red Wings have traded forward Gustav Nyquist to the San Jose Sharks for a 2019 second round pick and a conditional 2020 third round pick.

Nyquist agreed to waive his no-movement clause for the deal to go through.

Pierre LeBrun: The Red Wings are retaining 30 percent of Nyquist’s salary.

Max Bultman: “Condition on the 2020 3rd: becomes a second in 2020 if Sharks make the Cup final, or if Nyquist re-signs in San Jose”

The 29-year old Nyquist was drafted 121st overall in the fourth round of the 2008 draft by the Red Wings. He carries a $4.75 salary cap hit.

Thoughts from the media

Robby Stanley: “The #SJSharks are going to be awfully difficult to beat. I felt that way even before the Nyquist deal.”

Matt Porter: “*their already-good forward depth. Nyquist slots in nicely behind Meier/Kane. Sorensen probably drops to LW4.”

Jeff Paterson: “man, Doug Wilson just can’t stop making sizeable trades. Guy not afraid to pull the trigger, that’s for sure”

Jonathan Willis: “Nyquist is a great addition to an already excellent top-nine forward group in San Jose. That’s a fun team. I wonder if they pick up a goalie now.”

Max Bultman: “For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t sweat the salary retention even a little bit on this Nyquist deal. His contract expires this year. It’s irrelevant.”

Bob McKenzie: “BOS believed to be the Eastern Conference team that was closest to landing Nyquist.”

Brennan Klak: “Highway robbery for Doug Wilson. Imagine getting a guy on pace for 65 points and not having to pay a 1st round pick. Meier-Couture-Pavelski Kane-Hertl-Donskoi Nyquist-Thornton-Labanc Easily the deepest the #SJSharks have ever been.”