Veteran players like Jiri Hudler had career seasons posting numbers they haven't seen before; and young players like Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan had some incredible seasons with both posting 60+ point seasons.
Skeptics (myself included) expected them to come crashing back to earth and miss the playoffs, but they proved everyone wrong and showed everyone just how good this team was.
Their team PDO was a 101.4 and they had a goal differential of +25 on the season. Multiple players had 10+ goals on the season and their goaltending was on their game as well. They posted a team average 0.915 sv% (average for the NHL) giving the team a chance every night and helping them to a 45 win season.
So many are asking the question, will they be able to replicate what they did in the 2014-15 season in this upcoming season?
Well there is a strong possibility that they won't be able to do it again, but with some off season moves and acquisitions; they should be able to come close it.
With the addition of Dougie Hamilton and Michael Frolik, this team's rebuild seems leaps and bounds ahead of their rivals to the north, the Edmonton Oilers (which is a whole new story).
A very modest interview with Brian Burke during this summer he was quoted as saying that even he doesn't believe that they will be able to replicate what they achieved last season, but they sure are going to try and get there again.
He credited GM Brad Treliving with all of the deals made this off season and said he has great faith in what this management team is doing.
Looking at the numbers of some key players like Hudler, Monahan, Gaudreau, Brodie, Hiller and Giordano, you can see that all of them achieved way more than they were expected, but were able to do so over the whole season. For a 1st year player like Gaudreau to achieve 64 points and be a go to player when goals were needed says a lot about this small, speedy left winger. He was a guy who when needed would step up his game and put it all on the line. Blocking shots, making plays and shooting the puck.
Will he be able to do it again in 2015-16? Only time will tell, but every hurdle placed in front of him, he's cleared with pretty much no issue.
For veteran players like Hudler and Giordano, they are going to have to work harder to achieve what they did last season and help lead this team like they did.
Both had great seasons, when available to play, and showed that when on the ice with the right line combo they were able to make even the best teams back peddle and cause them fits.
The depth of the Flames was another question mark at the start of the season but that was answered quickly by play off time when players like Ferland and Bennett were called up to help out.
Both made significant contributions to the team by using their speed and their aggressive play to cause havoc for teams, and in the playoffs, they caused the Vancouver Canucks headaches like you wouldn't believe.
Those are just a couple of players that are in the pipeline for the Flames, and I'm sure we will soon see them both in Calgary on a regular basis.
In an effort to better this team, the GM made deals and decisions to move players or not re-sign players (so far) through last season and into this off season.
Players like Curtis Glencross who went to Washington with the Capitals 2nd and 3rd round picks going back to Calgary in the deal.
Prospect Sven Baertschi went to Vancouver at the trade deadline for 2nd round 2015 draft pick (Rasmus Anderssen).
Prospect Max Reinhart went to Nashville for a conditional 4th round pick in 2016 and he signed there on a one year deal.
Looking at all of these moves, it shows that Calgary is looking to re stock their prospect pool and are trying to add depth as much as possible. This is a good thing for Flames fans who are going to be able to see some young talent added to their team as time goes on.
The players they have drafted over the last couple seasons most likely won't join the Flames in the NHL for a few more seasons, but you will start to see them slowly make appearances as time goes on. I would expect to see some players make a few starts at the start of the season just so the coaches and management can have a good look at them and see how they are progressing. Players like Drew Shore, Tyler Wotherspoon and even Sam Bennet. All of them played in games for the Flames last season, but don't be surprised if they stay in the AHL for a while this season.
All three of those players are still on their 2 way contracts and have the ability to move up and down as needed. So if they do get to see some time in the NHL, say to fill in for injury, they are still able to be sent back when the time or space is right.
The Flames had 3 players who went to arbitration for new contracts, but have already settled with 2 of them (Bouma, Jooris) and just have Paul Byron left to try and get signed which should happen next week sometime. (Arbitration date is July 30)
They also have some players who are RFA's and UFA's left that they have said they want to get signed but neither the players or the club are in a huge rush to get them done. Ferland (RFA) and Schlemko (UFA) I believe would be the top two on the list of players to get under contract.
So by keeping pieces of
the team from last season and by adding new ones this off season, the Calgary Flames seem to be poised to repeat their success from the 2014-15 season. They seem, to me, to be a better team right now on paper then they were last year and should be able to be a top contender in the Pacific Division this season.
I would expect to see them make the play offs again but I wouldn't expect them to just walk right in. They should be a 6-8th place team in the west, but with all of the confidence this team has and some key additions, they could be much better.
Let me know what you think of the Calgary Flames and how they will do this upcoming season.
Can they repeat their success?
Thanks for reading.
Until next time.
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