1.) Flames depth defencemen seem like they’re are feeling the heat. Brzustewicz-Parekh as pairing #3 is pretty, pretty, pretty enticing.
Flames General Manager Craig Conroy noted that there are only so many spots and room needs to be made when asked about goaltender Daniel Vladar and defenceman Joel Hanley returning for another season. He also provided some praise for both of their games this year.
2.) Huska wants to get faster. He mentioned that almost the entire league is somehow all getting faster. Therein lies the meta. The Flames had bottom-five speed metrics as of the Four Nations Face-Off.
Then again, so did a few teams much higher in the standings. Going to be fun to see how he handles that in his third season as an NHL head coach.
3.) A head coach discussing the meta and admitting an area that they’re trying to figure out? We’re spoiled with this guy.
I’ll be digging into Huska’s content-loaded media avail more in the coming days.
4.) It doesn’t seem like any signed veterans at forward are on their way out. Rooney didn’t talk to the media, so he could be departing. The Flames ran a 90.3% PK to end the season and he was a huge part of that.
5.) Dan Vladar doesn’t seem to have any indication that he’ll be coming back. Devin Cooley’s contract converts to a one-way next season.
6.) Rasmus Andersson admitted a broken fibula. He’s not obligated to disclose anything or everything, but I believe that was the tip of the iceberg. We saw him eat shots to the upper body and look shook multiple times.
7.) Who here thinks that the people tearing this guy down have any idea what it's like to play the majority of an 82 game season with nagging injuries? I sure don't.
Conroy described Andersson's feet as purple when he took his skates off after games down the stretch.
The Flames GM also noted that Yegor Sharangovich broke his foot in game 82.
8.) MacKenzie Weegar is a remarkable leader and appears to have taken Zayne Parekh under his wing. Three hour conversation between the two at a team gathering on Friday night.
7.) Weegar's defence partner in Florida was Aaron Ekblad, who is a UFA this offseason. The two played 925:30 together during the 2021-2022 regular season and posted a 58.5% 5v5 expected goals percentage per Money Puck's model.
They were pretty good in the real world as well. Outscored the opposition 55-34 (61.8%) at even strength. An eight-year, eight million dollar contract might do it if Aaron likes the vibes around the team and wants to sign in Calgary. The first overall pick in 2014 turns 30 next February.
The last time the Flames signed a former first overall draft selection was Roman Hamrlik, who went #1 in 1992. Also defenceman.
Hamrlik played two seasons with the Flames and was arguably the best defence partner that Dion Phaneuf had in his career. The rookie defenceman socred 20 goals in his first year and 17 the next before Roman signed a 5.5x4 with Montreal.
8.) Jake Bean talking about his experience making the team he’s idolized since hanging around the arena as a kid is basically every Calgary hockey player’s dream.
Him and Brayden Pachal proved that they are NHL regulars this season, but keeping one or both may destroy the timing of prospects ready to make a push. Brutal.
9.) Calgary finished the year tied for most points with Toronto, 25, in the final 31 days of the season. The best penalty kill, the most shots per game (32.4), second in hits (414), first in third period goals (29), and first in win percentage when trailing after two periods (.625).
The point? This team found another level. They were arguably the best team in the Western Conference for 19% of the season. If Conroy takes another run with this core, the question next season will be:
How long is it going to take for the group to find that level again?
Next up is a breakdown of Huska and Conroy's media availabilities. They are both very content-rich, so buckle up.
Stats via nhl.com and moneypuck.com.
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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