The Calgary Flames have had a rough start to the season, and nobody needs a reminder that the record has looked ugly. But even in a year that’s been full of losses and not much offence, a few players have already separated themselves from the pack.
That was the idea behind the latest Sunday Census poll, where readers were asked: “Who has been the most impressive player so far this season? #Flames” The answers pointed to a handful of bright spots on a roster still searching for consistent success.
Kevin Bahl drew a strong case as Calgary’s steadiest defenceman. At 5v5, he leads all Flames blueliners in CF% at 61.25, xGF% at 65.80, and HDCF% at 63.16.
When he’s on the ice, opponents are getting the fewest high-quality chances, and the Flames look far more settled. He’s also one of the most experienced defencemen on the roster, which matters on a blue line that includes younger players such as Parekh and Nemec.
Aydar Suniev has also made a serious early impression. He had a strong preseason and kept popping as a scoring threat on a team that badly needs goals.
In four games, he has already produced three points and two goals, and he’s currently outpacing players like Matvei Gridin. The feeling here is that Suniev is likely here to stay, and the next step is putting him in positions where he can keep building on that production.
Matt Coronato has given the Flames something they can work with, too. For a team that has to scrap for every bit of offence, four points in seven games is a respectable start, and that total has him tied with Joel Farabee for the team lead.
His underlying numbers at 5v5 are more middle-of-the-pack among the forwards, though, with chances going both ways when he’s on the ice. In a cleaner world, those numbers would tilt harder toward Calgary’s attack.
Simon Nemec rounds out the group of early standouts. The points haven’t piled up yet, but his 5v5 numbers place him among the top defencemen on the team in CF%, xGF%, and HDCF%.
There’s still a caveat: much of that work has come beside Kevin Bahl, and Bahl’s impact is clearly part of what’s driving those results. Still, Nemec was brought in to be a key piece of Calgary’s future, and if Bahl can help him turn those encouraging numbers into consistent production, that would be a big development for the Flames.
The losses are still there, and the offence still needs help. But even in a season that was always going to be long, these are the kinds of performances that give Flames fans something to track while the rebuild takes shape.
In Other News...
Flames Are Scrambling For Answers Before This Slide Gets Worse
The early-season picture in Calgary is already grim enough to force a response. After one win in five games and a goal differential that has tumbled to minus-21, the Flames are not just losing, they are getting buried, and a difficult stretch ahead has only sharpened the pressure to find something that works before the slide deepens.
Practice this week offered a glimpse at how the coaching staff is trying to steady things, with changes across both the blue line and the forward groups as the team searches for better balance and cleaner results. Those tweaks have become necessary on a roster that has not found its rhythm, and the next question is whether the new combinations can hold long enough to give Calgary a chance to climb out of the hole. [Read more 🡒]
Wranglers Waste Another Big Offensive Night In One-Goal Loss
The Calgary Wranglers kept coming against San Jose, trading goals all night in a fast, back-and-forth game that never really settled into one teams control. Calgary generated enough offense to stay within striking distance throughout, but the Barracuda answered often enough to leave the Wranglers looking at another one-goal loss, 5-4, after a third-period swing decided it.
For a team trying to stack better results together, the frustration was familiar: another strong scoring night without the finish to match. There was also a lineup note worth watching, with Will Dineen listed day-to-day because of a lower-body injury, adding a little more uncertainty to a group that is already trying to find a way to turn competitive games into points. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Practice Revealed A New Twist Fans Will Notice Sunday
After returning from Las Vegas, the Flames were back on the ice at Scotiabank Saddledome for a practice that offered a little more than the usual pregame tune-up. Calgary had 23 players working, with some lineup shuffling and a few injured players absent, as the club turned its attention to Sundays matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. The session also gave fans an early look at a different uniform combination, as the team paired its 2004 throwback jerseys with new black pants, gloves and helmets.
One of the more noticeable details belonged to Dustin Wolf, who skated in fresh gear designed as a tribute to Miikka Kiprusoffs 2004 playoff setup. It fit the night well, with the Flames leaning into a nod to one of the franchises more familiar looks while sorting through their latest lineup choices. For a team trying to settle things down after the trip, the practice suggested Sunday could bring at least one twist worth watching before puck drop. [Read more 🡒]