Flames Playoff Clarity Ahead – Flames Unfiltered – Episode 231 - Flames Unfiltered - Calgary Flames Hockey Podcast

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:22):
Good evening. Welcome to Flames Unfielder, hosted by Brad Brude
and Kyle Lewis. Kyle Weird here talking Flames hockey again
this week. Last week we had a little different show
and we're back for a regular episode because the Flames
are back, right.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
Yeah, it's kind of uh, it's kind of nice. Was
I was, I wasn't. I was really starting to miss
the team, you know, I'm kind when he kind of
needed a break after the crappy stretch with which we entered.

Speaker 3 (00:45):
The Four Nations break, well we had we had that
horrible game against the Kraken and then I mean my
spirits were in the dumps, and I think a lot
of a lot of the Flames fan base was, and
I know yours were two and the four Nations break
came and we were happy, and then about halfway through it,
I was like, Tuesday night, no Flames, this is no fun. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well it was weird too because there's what else was
there other than I think some basketball and you know,
spring training and ball, like that's it.

Speaker 1 (01:17):
There's no football that spring just started, so I mean
there's really not a lot to watch. Like if you're
a sports guy, it was pretty slim pickens, you know.
But it's back now when the Flames played last night
and a big win over the Washington Capitals, and it's
these last two wins against the Sharks and the Capitols
have kind of I don't know, is it send us
back on that roller coaster? Right?

Speaker 2 (01:40):
Uh well, yeah, that's kind of the thing. I mean,
I don't think everybody expected, least of all me at least.
You know, the win against the Capitals. The Santos A
game was pretty flat. The Flames looked like a team
that was, Yeah, the team looked like they were all
on vacation, you know, kind of struggling to get back
into a groove. But the game against the Capitals might
have been the best one they played this year. I'm
near it.

Speaker 1 (02:00):
If not, I would agree it was. It was fully entertaining.
The San Jose game was just like, you know, when
Celebrini scored right away, I was like, oh boy, this
is not what we wanted coming back here. But the
team fought back and Joel Hanley gets a game winner
when we're when we're counting on Rooney and Handley to
score for us. That's troubled. I know, we both had

(02:22):
a heyday on on Twitter with that one. But geez,
we all did this community for sure, for sure, but
we needed that two points and then going into Washington.
I'm not gonna lie, Kyle. I was not all that
pumped to watch that game last night, and as I watched,
I was kind of started laughing a little bit inside
because I was like, this is uh, this is a

(02:44):
perfect road game, right well.

Speaker 2 (02:46):
I was texting a buddy of mine bemoaning the fact
that Ryan Hasko started the fourth line, who admittedly, as
you just mentioned, had a good game against San Jose.
I'm like, oh, why would you start the slide against
like the best team in the league. And then they
potted a goal, you know, like midwi you the first
I'm just like, I look like such an idiot.

Speaker 1 (03:03):
They why is it? Like? And I think it's not.
I don't think it's just aweso. But like sometimes both
me and you will I know, it happens to me
a lot, probably more than it happens to you. But
I'll put something on X and then I'll be like,
as soon as I do it, I swear I hit send,
and then something happens and it's like makes me look
like a complete moron.

Speaker 2 (03:21):
We know what the worst of it is. It's like
in person, like in conversation, you know that can happen,
but with something like posting online, you have every opportunity
to not do it. Oh yeah, when you send a
nasty text, it's like you can stop yourself. We come
looking as she commune to those ways. We don't stop ourselves,
and we still look idiots. We're still al idiots, whatever
the case would be.

Speaker 1 (03:42):
So what did you think at a postble sotill go last night?

Speaker 2 (03:48):
I was kind of interested in how quickly the commentator
said it wasn't a kicking motion because to me, initially
I'm like, oh, that might have been kicked.

Speaker 1 (03:56):
I thought it was kicking.

Speaker 2 (03:57):
I did. Yeah, So just well, here's.

Speaker 1 (04:00):
What I always think. And god, I know it's flames fans.
We drag the wed, drag up the demons of the
pass up way too much. But like if Blake Coleman's
goal doesn't count and post whistles counts, like I don't
understand hockey anymore.

Speaker 2 (04:12):
It's goll thender deference, you know, same thing all over again.
Nobody knows what the actual rule is. Well, I shouldn't
say that because we all know what the actual rule is.
You can't make a kick in motion towards the puck,
which to me is a pretty skillful play, so you
should be able to do it.

Speaker 1 (04:23):
But I think I think high sticking should be allowed
to I mean, not like the high sticking of the puck,
not high sticking of a player.

Speaker 2 (04:32):
Right, why there.

Speaker 1 (04:33):
I don't want to sound like some barbaric person here.

Speaker 2 (04:36):
No exactly, but unlike yourself, I was looking forward to
the game because I've been so goddamn sick I couldn't
really do anything else, so I was ready to.

Speaker 1 (04:42):
Watch Kyle's day to day here. He's under the weather.
That's why we push back the pod this week. And
it was a good choice because now we get to
talk about this fun Washington game.

Speaker 2 (04:51):
But it wasn't It wasn't a choice I willingly made.
It was I went from being da to day to day.

Speaker 1 (04:56):
So o, lord, life happens, though, right, you know, I mean,
and it just does, and like we roll on the
fly and then everybody understands, but we're I'm glad you're
feeling a little better. I mean, it's it's tough when
you're not feeling well.

Speaker 2 (05:08):
It's incremental. It's incremental, right, so yeah, but yeah, it was,
it was, it was. It was good. I mean, I'm
this was the big thing for me and I think
for most of us too. This was the first time
these last couple of games, especially the game against Washington
where we get to see a full, healthy Flames team
and what that looks like now Ferman being at it,
and it was you know, like I said, Santo, it

(05:31):
was really flat. But I think obviously they got to
two points there there with Washington having slowly off playing
really well. Since he's been called up, I think Pastpacil's
added a lot to that fourth line because he wasn't
really fitting into a scoring role this season.

Speaker 1 (05:45):
Uh do we finally find sorry interrupted, but do we
finally find a place for Paspacil that? Like we were
probably way over playing him when he was on the
first line, probably over playing him on the second line.
I was kind of thought he was a third line guy,
but maybe maybe he is. If you're a really good
hockey team means a great fourth fliner, right.

Speaker 2 (06:06):
I would think so. I mean, if I still like
he's versatile enough to move up down the lineup because
of his foot speed, and he's got a heavy shot.
But given his lack of scoring this year, like that
was only his fourth goal against the Capitals, and with
the acquisitions like Frost and Fariby Frost especially, he's been
dynamic offensively so far. It really adds a skill that
we haven't really seen much from anybody else this season.

Speaker 1 (06:26):
I still am. I think Farb is gonna end up
being a good player too for us. I really do.

Speaker 2 (06:31):
Yeah, he's lots that we are going I find, but
but hopefully I don't.

Speaker 1 (06:34):
I don't, you know, I don't expect a ton of points.
But like I think he just is ideal on the
third line though, right, I mean, he just he's gonna be.
That's like, that's where he'll fit no matter who he's with, Right.

Speaker 2 (06:47):
Yeah, I think I like the same with with Colon,
Coleman and Backland.

Speaker 1 (06:50):
I think that would be a really good line.

Speaker 2 (06:54):
Gets Aerien into more of a scoring role. That's what
I'd like to see. But I also appreciate Zero can
back injury, playing him in the safest and there is
to play him on.

Speaker 1 (07:01):
Right, Right, That is that is good. That's good coaching.
And I've been a little bit critical of Husky lately.
But I did like that move. I think that's super
smart and and it's paying off. I think because I
think Zari's getting his feet wet coming back. I thought
he looked pretty decent last night.

Speaker 2 (07:16):
Yeah, he started to come around. He just missed a
lot of time with a pretty significant injury, one that
you know, for lack of better ways saying, it probably
should have been way worse considering it was knee on knee.
So yeah, I mean, I think as this road trip
kind of winds up, he's going to get better and
better and will need him to be because this is
a really, really.

Speaker 1 (07:34):
Tough This is a gauntlet here. I mean, we are
in the middle of it. And I promise you when
we get home from this road trip and March what
is it. Let me look here, we get home on
this March sixth, last games against Dallas, we will have
clarity in the playoff picture, whether it's good or bad,
we will have clarity because this is a gauntlet and

(07:57):
if we can run these and gain I mean, I
said the other day three points in the holy crap.
I said that on the show last weekend or two
weeks ago, and I was like, that's lowball.

Speaker 2 (08:07):
Lowball.

Speaker 1 (08:07):
But if we could somehow, you know, get six points
out of this road trip, hey, we're still probably in
the race, right. Vancouver is doing nothing to help themselves,
that's for sure.

Speaker 2 (08:17):
No, And it's interesting too, like looking at the schedule
that just hockey is a funny sport, like you like
the way that it played out. So the Flames are
just one point ahead of the Cannucks right now, and
you look at the standings and you think, oh, you know,
the Kings are still within you know, striking distance too,
and who are they playing? Of course, the Canucks and
Kings are freaking playing each other.

Speaker 1 (08:35):
And a three point game that you know it is
going to be.

Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, like why couldn't you know, why couldn't the Canucks
follow Calgary into Washington to get beat up Biovegkan Like
it's just you get no help, no help at all.

Speaker 1 (08:47):
Edmonton's doing a good job of it though.

Speaker 2 (08:49):
Yeah, this is true, this is true.

Speaker 1 (08:51):
Holy lord, Oh I saw you put on X the
other day. The Flames have tons of cap space, blue
chip prospects, some franchise goaltender, lots of draft picks, and
are in the playoff race. Pretty enviable franchise, right, now
and something we haven't been able to say a lot
in the past. I completely agree with it. And what's

(09:13):
your confidence level that we survive this in are in
the playoffs? I know that's the tough question because I
mean this week probably a little easier question for you
next week to ask you. But I'm not. I'm I'm
asking not.

Speaker 2 (09:28):
Because of the standings, but because of how I feel
all told, I mean, pretty pretty damn high, honestly, because
this is the best lineup we have had all season.
I did. I did get a little bit of pushback
on that comment. Most, I mean the vast majority of
people seem to agree, but there was some some talk
around like the only blue Chipper being Saint Peak, which.

Speaker 1 (09:51):
Oh I disagree. Yeah, Like, I mean, I don't think
we have the deepest, deepest prospect pool, but I think,
you know, I look at I think strong Gren is
gonna be good. I think I think Buskevitch is gonna
be an everyday Flames player too, I really do. And

(10:11):
how there's a couple other ones. I'm just obviously right
up not at the top of my head here, but
Grindon is another one that I have high hopes for.
But I guess we'll see what happens, right.

Speaker 2 (10:23):
Yeah, And that's the thing I mean, it's it's I
guess blue chip most people's eyes, understandably, so means like
somebody that's ripping it up at every every level. Like
you know, it depends on how you look at it.
But at the end of the day, however, let's take
that word into the equation. Okay, we're talking about prospect
covers are essentially full at most positions. I still think
we're missing an elite center for sure, for sure we are,

(10:47):
but there's a lot like the last draft they had
was just like an embarrassment of riches. I when you
look at the caps based of Flames have the caps
going up, they have the ability to take on bad
contracts with the teams to leverage certain assets. Like I
don't know what more he could want because I don't
know about you. Well, I mean, if I could, I
do about you because we agree on this most times.
It's like do you want to be watching meaningful hockey

(11:08):
in February March or do you not? Because like I'm
going to Toronto to see the Flames play on Saint
Patti's Day and I can't freak await, you know why,
because the game is most likely going to mean something.

Speaker 1 (11:17):
You know, and I am a little confused, and I
mean I do, I'm gonna I'm gonna sympathize. And I
see what some of these tank guys are all about.
I understand what they're saying. But it looks really good
on paper, but sometimes paper doesn't always work out. Ask Buffalo,
and I can name a list of other teams too,
as Chicago how they're doing it with this rebuilt But.

Speaker 2 (11:38):
Don't ask Seth Jones.

Speaker 1 (11:39):
Holy, No, exactly right. That's why I threw that one
in there today. The thing is, though, Kyle, like, I'm
the same as you like I want to watch meaningful hockey.
And if and and they're we're not tearing down to
the studs. And if if people think we are going
to have to do that, they're they're wrong because I
don't see that. We have too many high quality players

(12:00):
with long term contracts. And we have, like you said,
a fairly good prospect pool. Is a Grade A prospect,
No it's not, but it's pretty solid prospect exceptly except
especially on the blue line. Geez something today, It's where
I was sick like you, But I really do think

(12:21):
though that like there is I agreed with your post,
and I think there's a lot of things moving in
the right direction. I will push back a little bit
on on one thing is I am a little hesitant
to believe that we're going to do a lot with
leveraging taking on bad contracts. I wish, I wish we
would and leverage that a little more, But with the

(12:43):
position we're at in the standings, I don't know, well
that happened, uh, I.

Speaker 2 (12:49):
Mean it depends on the context of the deal, right,
I mean they could retain, you know, act as a
broker for two other teams something in return. I mean,
there's so many different ways to go about it. I
think at the end of the day, what's become increasingly
apparently in it shell is that that's an asset cap
space is a huge asset take on even portions of
those deals. Like we're gonna million dollars, Yeah, somebody, I

(13:12):
forget about this, But did somebody retain some money in
the handifin trade? Is that?

Speaker 1 (13:18):
Right?

Speaker 2 (13:19):
That was it? But it's just stuff you don't even
think about because it just gets forgotten. Right, But like
teams will jump in.

Speaker 1 (13:24):
Who was it the easy guess would be Arizona, but
I don't think it.

Speaker 2 (13:29):
Is well, that don't exist anymore, So that's probably one
I had to I had to. Yeah, it's it's I
just we have the ability to do any number of things.
And that doesn't mean that I'm trying to suggest they
should go out and acquire a bunch of players at
the at the deadline. We know at this point the
player is gonna have to make sense, not they're not
in your mental market. But I think we can we

(13:49):
can all agree that if there is a steady left
shooting defenseman available right yeah, Because I don't, I don't,
I don't think. I mean, I'd love to see these
guys like Jermany Potier to get a look and Pristavit
Chinnel soon enough, But I mean I don't. None of
those guys I don't believe are gonna be ready to
jump into play significant minutes obviously, So that's one position
they're gonna look at. I think they really addressed a

(14:10):
lot of their issues with center by acquiring Morgan Frost,
because like I said, he's been very, very dynamic since
he was brought in. But the point is it just
I guess I could simplify it in one statement, like
what more could you possibly want as a flame spend
right now? Like the only thing you could want is
to be absolutely taking.

Speaker 1 (14:27):
I know the one question mean you know, like when
you say that, right, I know what the whole fan
base is gonna say in the same as me, and yeah,
we need a superstar center. The problem is, if you
look at a lot of the rosters in the league,
they're they're they're not they don't have a superstar what
I would consider a superstar center.

Speaker 2 (14:45):
No, there's there's a there's there's a few teams that do.
And there's a few teams that have a guy that
they're hoping is going to be one like Connor Berdia
Macklin celebrity. Right, yep, it's it's the rarest of things
in hockey. You're you're but you're more likely to find
a dust the wolf is the seventh round pickfick the
Flames did. As unlikely as that is than you are
to just stumble across the center that isn't draft. Who's

(15:06):
going to be a leade who wasn't drafted, you know,
one to five basically, Yeah, so I'll put it this way,
then I don't know what more of the Flames fan
base could reasonably expect, because I don't think that's a
reasonable ask at this point, because the only way that's
going to happen is predicated on on a season of serious,
serious losing, which was never possible because coming out of
twenty twenty two, the Flames made the secon rond of

(15:28):
the playoffs look to be a containing team for years
to come. The Gudroa thing happened, the Kachuck thing happened.
They had to change course, tried to stay competitive, which
we were all excited about at the time with kydri
who and it didn't work.

Speaker 1 (15:40):
And we don't even know if it doesn't worked, because
I think Youbert has been pretty damn good this year
and Wiger has two so.

Speaker 2 (15:45):
Well, it didn't. It didn't work immediately.

Speaker 1 (15:47):
Like Noewood did not because me and you both had well,
not even just me and you, The vast majority of
Flames fans thought we were ticketed for a deep, deep,
deep playoff runt.

Speaker 2 (16:00):
A lot of the pundits that the Flames picked to
win the Stanley Cup after those moves they did.

Speaker 1 (16:03):
I have the Hockey News that says it.

Speaker 2 (16:06):
Yeah, which is I don't know. To me, it was
just it was like trading hockey, like basic mathlete. You're
taking a player this many points, you put in a
player that many points, and it doesn't work that way.
I mean, we've talked about those issues at length, but
all that to say that the Flames pivoted two years
later are at least playoff contenders again and have shed
a lot of bad contracts. And we've seen how some

(16:28):
of those players, especially Lycelynd Holmes, since they moved on,
how they performed in other markets. It's like, again, I'd
love for somebody to tell me and I'll you know,
I'd like to see on an ex or anywhere else,
like what more can you reasonably expect? What more do
you want?

Speaker 1 (16:42):
Well, think about this. We were trying to re sign
Lindholm last year, oh at eight million dollars.

Speaker 2 (16:50):
Think about that, Well, look what the Bruins get locked
into with him and zidoroff.

Speaker 1 (16:54):
The Bruins are in trouble.

Speaker 2 (16:56):
Well, but see, they're trying to do the same thing
that any other team, you know, eyes do, which is
it's kind of gone the way junior hockey where your
team's age out right, you've only got a certain window.
The Penguin's window is basically slam shut at this point.
With their core. We talked before about Detroit to happen
with them with dat Suit and Zeneberg and part of
that they had Eiserman and Shanahan. They were competitive for
so frigging long. It was almost a fatible that they

(17:20):
missed the playoffs, right, So now it's like, as you
go through those cycles, you know, how do you stay well?
And the Bruins did everything they could and Don Sweeney did,
I think to remain competitive and they're still a competitive team,
but you can't, you know, for all the time's undefeated
as they say, right, burs Arm retired, Marshawn's getting older,
breaking up the goaltending tanem to do the New Favors

(17:40):
swim and missing camp was a killer for him, it
seems like. And it's like all of a sudden, yeah,
and they're trying desperately to stay relevant. But at the
same time, you get guys aging out, you don't have
enough talent coming in, and that's probably the most difficult
balance to juggle as a GM in the NHL today.

Speaker 1 (17:57):
Yeah, I mean, your windows only open so long and
you know, I was, you know, and speaking of windows
and and a goalie has a longer window. But I
sit in I look at dust and a Wolf and
where we're what we're getting from him, and we don't
have time for a tear down rebuild.

Speaker 2 (18:19):
No, but I mean at the same bowl, why would
you if you have a goaltennder that good? Right exactly now,
We've talked a lot about him, and rightfully so the
guy should be hands down rookie of the Year.

Speaker 1 (18:31):
I think, although we have pushed back on one thing here.
I hadn't watched Celebrini as much as I should have
this year, and I was super impressed with him on
Sunday night, super impressed.

Speaker 2 (18:41):
Oh he's a fantastic player, Yeah, fantastic, But Celebrity is
a fantastic player and a horrible team. Horb Wolf is
making the Flames relevant, yeah, when they shouldn't be. Quite frankly, right,
I forget what the estimations were, but I think that,
you know, you might be able to crack on this,
but I've seen numbers where it's like the Flames have

(19:03):
probably twelve plus more points than they otherwise would without
Dustin Wolf.

Speaker 1 (19:08):
Like, yeah, I mean I think there's a I mean,
you could probably find a million people to argue on that,
but I would say that it's probably pretty high. I
would say, what's within you know, eight to twelve for sure.
I don't think you get much argument with that. I
really don't know.

Speaker 2 (19:25):
Now. One of the things that I want to talk about,
and I mentioned it, uh tweeted it last night. You
got quite a lot of of a response Kevin Ball's game.
So I didn't know this, but our good friend Robert
Munich pointed this out. Kevin Ball is, actually, despite playing
nine less games than Anderson A. Wiger, is I think

(19:46):
tiede or leading these tide even strength points among flame
defensemen with twelve.

Speaker 1 (19:51):
Really, I didn't see that. That's crazy.

Speaker 2 (19:54):
And when you watch him play, this is how I
try to think of this, and I'm trying to pay
more attention to him. He does so many little things
so well so he It's it's almost like it's kind
of like secondary assists when somebody makes a big play
but they've done their part and the next guy gets
the bucked. The guy that scores Ball breaks up plays
and makes them insignificance so quickly and typically with a

(20:16):
stick check or you know, getting his body in front
of people, that it never develops anything worth talking about
because the pucks the play is already dead and the
pucks going back the other way. Like he's his first
response on d is so good so much of the
time that he's constantly preventing high dage your chances almost
at a distance. And it's remarkable to watch because when

(20:37):
you see, like how the plane's fair without him. I mean,
we actually tried to water okay, but with him in
the lineup, it's like, I'm not nearly like as scared
when the opposing team comes over the blue line I was.

Speaker 1 (20:48):
I mean, I was super excited on having back for
the San Jose game, and then we find out he
was out with an illness and then he had to
line up last night, and you're right, he's a he's
a how do you how do I heard this quiet
difference maker? Does that make sense?

Speaker 2 (21:02):
Yeah? Absolutely, like if you want.

Speaker 1 (21:04):
Him, and then all of a sudden it's like, well
that play died on died because of him.

Speaker 2 (21:08):
I mean yeah, But I mean you're trying to you
talk about Anderson's play this year, which I think we
can agree has been fairly erotic. It's certainly not sure. Yeh,
it's certainly not great in the last couple of months.

Speaker 1 (21:19):
I don't know, not at all. And you know, let's
talk about that. He goes to the Four Nations, he
only gets in one game, and that had to have
been like a I mean, I'm not saying it's an
insult by any means, and to make the team is
a great honor, but I mean for a guy that, uh,
the league is super high on and they're talking nine

(21:41):
plus million dollars, I don't know. I mean, in his
play this year hasn't warranted that. So it's going to
be really interesting to see how that plays out. Well,
I didn't really add on I mean, I don't know.
I like Anderson, I really do, and I like what
he brings to the team, but I feel like this
is this the one the one of my knocks on
him is I feel like there's certain times that he

(22:04):
tries to do too much, which results in really really
bad results.

Speaker 2 (22:10):
And if there's other times like last night against Washington
where he comes really really close to scoring a highlight
real goal by taking a chance. So the problem, I mean,
as far as the Four Nations goes he didn't play himself.
He played himself onto the team. Now, mind you, the
league isn't I wouldn't say totally flushed with brilliant Swedish
defenseman right now. But you know, he's a high caliber

(22:31):
player and deserved a spot. But he didn't play himself
in the lineup. He only got one game because based
on the season he's had, that's probably really all he deserved.

Speaker 1 (22:38):
Yeah, so yeah, I would agree.

Speaker 2 (22:41):
He hasn't been a big difference maker. And I mean again,
he is a very talented player. He's going to be
a lot better off having ball, you know, back beside him.
But I mean, this talk of a contract of the
nine million range is absolutely absurd. I mean, I'm sitting
here making fun of Darnel Nurse's contract every chance I get.
If we were to give that to Anderson, I haven't
gonna like to stand as far as I'm concerned. Better defensively,

(23:02):
mind you, but that's still a ton of money.

Speaker 1 (23:05):
He's better defensively than Darnell Nurse by a long shot
in my mind. So I don't think you'd look quite
as a fool as that. You know, I look at
Darnell Nurse and it's like when you sign a defenseman
to big dollars like you, but he better damn well
be defensively sound right?

Speaker 2 (23:23):
Wait, sure, hope, So.

Speaker 1 (23:25):
It's easier to air on a defenseman and say, well,
he's not putting up the points we wanted him to,
but we feel safe with them on the back end, right,
And I I mean, I surely don't think the Oilers
feel that way. And I mean I know I watch
them all. I watch Oilers a lot, and I laugh
a lot at his defensive play.

Speaker 2 (23:44):
Well, you could say the same thing with Seth Jones
in Chicago, right for sure. Jones threw his whole team
under the bus in an interview. I mean, and you know,
I'm not going to see it come down on the
four because I do think that sometimes players can stand
to be a little bit more honest in their media availability.

Speaker 1 (23:57):
But oh, I don't think the end zer in Chicago.
I'm sorry, I don't think he ends the year in Chicago,
do you.

Speaker 2 (24:04):
Well, I don't see how he could now, But I mean,
how do you move a contract like the guy has
not been good the last few seasons, and it's not
just a consequence of being on a crappy team. Either.
I don't see from what I've watched now. It's interesting though,
And I brought this up as well. So you got
Seth Jones, Uh what was he? So he basically said

(24:24):
that the same team they were at the beginning of
the season. Yeah, they haven't improved at all. You got
Luke Shen saying in Nashville basically he's never played in
a team that struggles go much to score a goal.
And Shen was probably gonna be a rental when the
Predator started to fall uper anyway. But I mean, all
of a sudden, you have all these d in the league,
at least a couple of us far speaking their minds,

(24:45):
and it's like it's basically one way take out of town, right.

Speaker 1 (24:49):
So are you saying that the Flames should go after one.

Speaker 2 (24:54):
Not Seth Jones, because we have way that contract's way
too long. We have way too many good defensemen our
piper flight.

Speaker 1 (25:00):
You can make sure I didn't have to check you,
and I didn't know how many cole much cold medicine
you took.

Speaker 2 (25:04):
No, But I mean, what I hate acquiring a guy
like Luke Shen not necessarily wouldn't.

Speaker 1 (25:09):
I would be fine. I'd be totally fine with that. Yeah,
now it would go against some of the things we've said.
But but but.

Speaker 2 (25:18):
Not if you're going to make the playoffs, which the
Flames have a reasonably good chance of doing.

Speaker 1 (25:24):
According to money for forty six point nine chance.

Speaker 2 (25:27):
And if the Canucks losing regulation tonight, that's all I'm
going to go up.

Speaker 1 (25:30):
Right, currently are a thirty eight point seven, Well.

Speaker 2 (25:34):
There you go. So but in any case, if you're
going to make the playoffs, you think you're going to
acquiring a piece like that, which is going to be
quite low cost. It makes a lot of sense from
depth perspective. Guys got lots of experience. I don't have
an issue with that. What I have an issue with
is taking on guys like Seth Jones thinking like we
did years ago. When they get Doug Hamilton, it's like, oh,

(25:54):
we're way ahead of the curve. It's like you're gonna
recognize an operation for what it is, right yep.

Speaker 1 (25:59):
Oh, I'm with you. I'm with you. So that brings
us to another topic that was a hot button topic
this week in Calgary and brings us to our X
factor too. And our X factor comes from snowed in
a four thousand claim Vallamachi left defense you are screaming
for his last two seasons have shown that there is
something there. Only twenty six beside Wiger could be the

(26:23):
change he needs.

Speaker 2 (26:26):
And we all know Nowty cleared.

Speaker 1 (26:28):
He did clear and no one picked him up. And
I believe he's being assigned. But I don't know. I'm
interested just to hear your take on this. He's got
a two million dollar cap hit, one more year on it.
He was a flame that we lost on a waiver
claim and has not been the same player since his injury.

(26:51):
I think we can all agree upon that. Is there
something that could come of this? Maybe? But boy, I
just I just don't know. I how did you feel
about this? Did you? Did you want to claim him?
Because I went back and forth. I really did.

Speaker 2 (27:07):
I was I wanted to because I saw it as
super low risk.

Speaker 1 (27:10):
Right.

Speaker 2 (27:10):
I agree with you, Yeah, there's clearly something there. He's
a very skilled player and it's a great X factor
because I think we were all thinking about this if
we weren't talking about it, guys, and it's it's strangely,
I mean, even it's a totally different position to a
different age, et cetera. Et cetera. But like the Derrek
Ryan thing, it's like, this is a player that has
utility somewhere, somebody with an injury or somebody with an opportunity.

(27:33):
We've talked about Joel Hanley, but maybe being in a
miscast in the top four role. It's like Vallamaki probably
would have fit in really well with because God knows
anybody can play with him right, might have even elevated
wagers game another step. But for whatever reason, the Flames
took a pass, as did the rest of the league.
And I don't know if part of it's a injury
concern or because they know things about the player that
we don't, but I know I based.

Speaker 1 (27:56):
On or do they look at your lineup and say
we have Bean for another year. I don't think Bean's
gonna I don't think Bean works out in Calgary.

Speaker 2 (28:09):
I don't, well, he hasn't so far. I suspect that
Bean's gonna be playing for the Wranglers before the end
of the season, if not next.

Speaker 1 (28:14):
Year, for sure. Yeah, I would agree.

Speaker 2 (28:17):
Unless he gets cleaned. But I mean, and this is
a guy I want to remind everybody, Like when he
first went to Columbus, I wanted the Flames to sign
him because I thought going back to Calgary would be
good for him. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, it hasn't panned out.
So yeah, and we see that a lot these players
are going play for their hometown teams and it can
be disastrous. And there's other factors that play too. Without
getting too deep into it, but Jonathan Joanne Montreal, that

(28:39):
should have been a match made in heaven. It was
a match made in hell. Now, mind you, a French
game player in Montreal is probably the highest level of
difficulty there is. Yeah, but at the same time, it's
like you have these things in your head that make
sense on paper and they just don't play it the
way you hope and Jake Bean's in one of those.

Speaker 1 (28:55):
And going back to the Vaalle macketing, like, I agree
with you in the fact that, yes, it is a
low risk, so I guess I was flying either way
if we did it. We did it, and it was
a risk, and it's a short term risk and I'm
fine with it. Worst case we put them on waivers again, right.

Speaker 2 (29:11):
Yeah, that's the thing. And when you're trying to supplement
your roster but also retain a lot of your assets,
which most teams obviously love to do. Roll the dice.
What do you get to lose? Absolutely nothing? No oh no,
you made you made yourself deeper and didn't give anything up. God,
how could you look at Yeah.

Speaker 1 (29:27):
We got Braiden bahaal on waivers and I'm been over
the top excited about that.

Speaker 2 (29:32):
So yeah, well, uncle Kurt, I mean, he's involved in
a lot of discussion on Twitter, but he made a
comment actually about you know, Braiden being deserving more minutes,
and I agree, and I made the comment and he
liked it after It's it's like anything. It's like and
I've been through this situation many many times. When you're
really really good at your job, your bosses don't want
to move you up because then they have to replace

(29:53):
you in the role you were so good at, right,
And it's a it's a problem in all lines of work.
And I really think that's exactly what Pahall's issue is
is that.

Speaker 1 (29:59):
But he's on the right side, and he fits it
so well, having Weiger and Anderson both on the right.
You know, I just I feel like for his long
term success in Calgary worries that's great.

Speaker 2 (30:09):
Yeah, the problem right now to be honest with when
I look at these defensive pairings and indulge me here
for a second, because I'm kind of thinking as I talk,
if Anderson was the type of defenseman that elevated his
partner the way that Saint Ball elevates Anderson, the way
Eager Wigger elevates anybody. If Anderson was able to do that,

(30:29):
that right there, could allow you to change your d
pairings and all of a sudden you don't have to
be worried about who he's paired with. Right, maybe you have.

Speaker 1 (30:37):
And allow you to want to give him money too.

Speaker 2 (30:41):
Well, and yeah, and then you'd also have commentator's nightmare,
the Ball and the Hall pairing. How fun would that be? Right?

Speaker 1 (30:48):
That would be something? Huh.

Speaker 2 (30:50):
But again you're limited because when players don't make players
around them better to some extenter, at least allow them
to tread water and not sink. And this has been
our problem with the fourth line right Pastpasil I think
is making Lomberg and Rooney better, because I agree he
creates space for everybody, and you saw it in every
shift they played.

Speaker 1 (31:07):
Yep.

Speaker 2 (31:08):
So if you don't do that, it limits your coach's
ability to move pieces around and find other matches at
the work. So the way it is, Bahall is likely
going to stay where he's at and he's been exceptional
at it, and then Ball's gonna be with Anderson to
keep him steady, and Wiger is going to keep getting
Handley or whoever else he might get, and we'll see
how that plays out.

Speaker 1 (31:26):
Yeah, speaking of waivers, the Flames put Tyson Barry on
waivers since we last oked. He's his career and he's
been assigned to the Wranglers. Any surprise with them.

Speaker 2 (31:37):
M no. I mean early in the season when after
he made the team, I think we all knew he
was going to be like a powerplay specialist who probably
play semi regularly. Well, then he hardly played at all
and ultimately played I think thirteen games for the Flames.
And it's unfortunate because I mean, obviously, I haven't played
the NHL, never got close to any meaningful level hockey,

(32:00):
so it's easier for me to say. But the guy
clearly has lost the step. He just doesn't have the speed.
And the thing was the eye test, it was evident
he's getting beaten to pocks regularly. He was scrambling a
lot like he just he can't. He can't. They kind
of knew we probably gonna take a regular shift NHL anymore,
but now it's like most guys, you're a better option.

Speaker 1 (32:25):
He's kind of like me and a Beer League thing.
It's like I know I should be there, but my
body can't get me there, and so I can't be
there and I look like an idiot. But you know,
I think when Calgary took on Barry, I think it
was more like, hey, could this guy be the answer
to our power play? And if he is that, then

(32:45):
we're totally fine running him in our bottom perry. But
he didn't. He didn't boost that power play like we
wanted and like he's done so well in the past.
I mean, this guy's really had a great career, a
great great career and was a power play specialist and
it just didn't. He Yes, he's just lost the step
and unfortunately it didn't work. I wasn't surprised that the

(33:08):
waiver claim went through and didn't. He didn't get claimed
at all.

Speaker 2 (33:14):
I wish nobody, Yeah, I don't. I don't think he's
coming back up, because again, guys like Slovia Off have
played so well Slovief is the time. Yeah, they're the
ones that have that, haven't you know. Unfortunately for for
Barry have passed by. And I think part of the
thinking of the time too, was bringing Barry into camp,

(33:34):
give him somebody a kind of tutor the younger defenseman,
because as we've often said, we've got you know, Mara
Parak Pristavich. We have all these defensemen who are you know,
very offensively gifted, and Barry'd be a great tutor for that.
But as a regular NHL or and even as a
seventh y now there's better options. And that's kind of
the end of that story.

Speaker 1 (33:54):
One thing we probably should mention who and tough on
Anderson on this show again. He had a lot of
blocks last night. Was really really good. I mean blocks,
Like I guarantee that dude's walking with a limb today
because oh Acy ate some shots.

Speaker 2 (34:12):
Yeah, yeah, he loves abuse man getting hit by cars
and getting hit by vekin shots Like I forgot about that.
Oh I'm sure he didn't.

Speaker 1 (34:21):
No, I think eatinks about it every time he looks
at the schedule and their head headed to Dedroit, you.

Speaker 2 (34:26):
Know, yeah, their approaches a crosswalk.

Speaker 1 (34:31):
You got to hear a crazy story. I get kicked
out of a college class for this. I can't believe
this is going to go off the rails. I was
an adult in aging class and one of the questions was,
why is society's intelligence levels disintegrated over the last hundred years?
And I put down crosswalks. I thought of that after
twelve pack of beer one night, and I just said, Hey,

(34:53):
we spent too much time in society protecting stupid people now,
And yeah, I don't.

Speaker 2 (35:00):
That's like it's like Bill bur says, rudless species protects
the week.

Speaker 1 (35:06):
Yes we do.

Speaker 2 (35:06):
We do.

Speaker 1 (35:08):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (35:08):
So I'm not saying right or wrong, just saying is
what it is.

Speaker 1 (35:12):
Yeah, I mean the truth with you. I mean, okay,
I got a question for you. This week, we heard
a ton of talk, not not so much centered around Calgary,
but I did see it on social media directed towards
Calgary about going after I Ranton and or going after
or going after a Sam Bennett. I am dying to

(35:35):
hear your thoughts on this.

Speaker 2 (35:39):
Well, it's been covered pretty extensively, of course Ranton and
I don't know why he'd come to Calgary unless he
just wants to pay day. I don't think he's Calgary
or that, or he is the best of friends with
Ads Cadre, but you just sort of aware of it, which
is entirely possible. But the more interesting one to me

(36:00):
and I would love to see it would be Sam
Bennett return because I loved Sam Bennett.

Speaker 1 (36:05):
I did not want Sam Bennett to go. And I
know people are gonna be like, yeah, yeah, whatever. You
guys didn't say that when Sam Bennett was here. No,
we were frustrated with Sam Bennett too, But I also
remember the Sam Bennett and the Flames playoffs that whenever year,
well year was that twenty.

Speaker 2 (36:20):
Fifteen was his first year. He was great.

Speaker 1 (36:23):
He was great, and I just I love his style.
I do, and I know someone's going to pay him
big bucks. And really his reward during the season is
regular season numbers aren't great what a fifty point guy probably,
but what he brings you in key games like the
Four Nations or a Stanley Cup playoffs is immeasurable.

Speaker 2 (36:48):
Well, he was actually tied for the Flames lead and
playoff goals over his time here, like like he had
eleven and thirty games or something like that. Very very
very effective player. Now signing him as the perceived scoring
center that he is in Florida doesn't mean that's the
sill where you're going to get. But there's also a

(37:11):
lot of false conjecture out there that the Flames game
every chance to succeed, blah blah. Sam Bennett never got
an extended look as a number one center of Calgary,
never for anyone like the time. I do not recall
a time when he centered like Goodreau Lindholm for more
than two It was. It was ridiculous, it was really was.

Speaker 1 (37:29):
And in some games Jeff Ward would have him out
there for like a period and it's like, well that's
all you get for an audition as a period.

Speaker 2 (37:37):
Yeah, And like what to me, what it boils down
to is, if you're going to rush a guy into
the NHL at eighteen years old in the playoffs still less,
you have to give some of that patients back as
he develops to an NHL player, you know what I mean, Like,
you can't if you're going to bring a guy in
at twenty two to twenty three and expecting to play
a certain role, Well, yeah, he's been marinating for why
he's learned the pro game. But to bring in the
NHL is much in the playoffs, and then you don't

(37:59):
show him any amount of patience and give an extended
leash in a scoring role. I don't know what you
think you're going to get. It's like you're not putting
the guy in a position to succeed. I agree, I agree,
and you know it. And it's kind of shitty now
because looking back on I mean, even the other pieces
of Bennett being moved like a mil Heinemann has got
like twelve to thirteen goals in Montreal. They have a
great year, right, Yeah, I forgot about it, so yeah,

(38:22):
and this is a guy that and so did I
until I looked at the Prabs rash I'm like, oh yeah,
like he was part of that deal. It's like, you know,
Brad Tree Living made some good moves as as the
Flames GM, and he made some really bad ones. You know.
The Monahan move has turned out to be a really,
really bad one. And I'll I'll pridefully say I felt
the time that he kind of cut batl into aggressively

(38:44):
on that. I thought Monahan deserved better and he's been
tremendous and Columbus and then as far as Bennett goes.

Speaker 1 (38:50):
It's like.

Speaker 2 (38:52):
A lot of people think he got tons of chances
because they remember him getting chances, but they seem to
forget how short those chances were.

Speaker 1 (38:58):
They were not lengthy chances. And I thought when Sutter
got here he would get more chances, and he was
just starting to get those chances and then he got
chipped off.

Speaker 2 (39:06):
Yeah, it was literally like the month prior. But by
that point there was like a comm made about, you know,
a change of series or something I remember vaguely, and
it was just like it was just too little, too late.
It's that's Caesars way to put it.

Speaker 1 (39:18):
Yeah, it was.

Speaker 2 (39:19):
It was so so let me ask you a question. So,
because of this road trip and the Murder's row of
opponents we have. We got Tampa, we got Carolina, we
got Florida. What game frightens you the most? What opponent
you most worried about.

Speaker 1 (39:34):
When I first looked at this, I thought Carolina coming
off of back to back from Florida the night before.
But then I'm like, well, Tampa Bay beat US eight
to three earlier this year, and we didn't even look
like we could skate at all with them. I'm hoping
that was just a bad game. The next three scare
the heck out of me. Tampa, Florida, Carolina. Oof, all
of them scare me, but that Carolina on a Sunday afternoons.

Speaker 2 (39:58):
And Tampa's hot right now.

Speaker 1 (40:01):
Yeah, he just come off a big win against Edmonton
last night, I believe, And uh, they're putting up points
like crazy.

Speaker 3 (40:07):
And.

Speaker 1 (40:09):
I here's here's the sidelo. Where who do you think
is going goaltenders for those the next through the weekend.

Speaker 2 (40:19):
That's a good question. I've actually been thinking a little bit.

Speaker 1 (40:22):
Looked really good last night. I will say that we
have to give him the credit that he deserves. I
thought he looked really The problem.

Speaker 2 (40:29):
The problem, though, is if they go back into the
previous way of thinking, whereby you think it's a tandem situation.

Speaker 1 (40:34):
Right. I don't want to change what we're doing all
I'm saying, well last.

Speaker 2 (40:38):
Night, but I'm worried the coaching staff might do that.

Speaker 1 (40:40):
No, I don't think so. I think we're going to
see wolf against Tampa. I think we're going to see
wolf again on Saturday against Florida. And I think we'll
see validar Sunday against Carolina.

Speaker 2 (40:49):
I'm gonna say I think we both agree to be
Wolf Tampa. I think you see Validar against the Panthers,
and I think you see Wolf against the Hurricanes.

Speaker 1 (40:58):
Okay, so we just have that one flip flopped.

Speaker 2 (41:00):
Yeah. And the only reason I say it is I
just feel like on the you know, at the tail
end of the weekend, they're going to be looking at
Wolf to steal a game, and they might think a
little more rest may benefit him. But you know, based
on how both goaltenders are played of late, I'm not
particularly the concern at the bout the breakdown because it's
not again, Wolfe is more likely to study you a game.
Letter has proven he can do it, and he was
very good against Washington and his prior start as well.

(41:21):
But the FOURD group and the D have got the
play like they played against Washington.

Speaker 1 (41:26):
Oh wow, it's that simplet This is this is really really,
really tough. This is a tough, tough, tough stretch, and
it's gonna it's gonna create so much clarity for us
coming into trade deadline, which is just a little over
a week away. I mean it's the seventh of March Friday,
is trade deadline. That's coming real quick. So a week
and a day away from the release of this pod.

(41:47):
So hey, it's uh, we need to figure out what
we're gonna do and what our game pion is going
to be, and this week's gonna give us that clarity.
I really truly believe that.

Speaker 2 (41:56):
Yeah, and it's funny, you know we keep talking aboutw
important this is. I wouldn't be at all surprised that
based on the fair, the King's Fair, the Avalanche Fair,
Hea we fare, I wouldn't be at all surprised if
after the road trip it's like we're on a point
in or a point out, you know what I mean,
Like this is going to go down to the wire.

Speaker 1 (42:10):
I agree, I agree, say that's not graphic this week
before we go here and it was each NHL team's
worst team to play against. Do you know who the
flames hardest opponent has been over the over the since
the Flames started? Oh wow, Uh, this is a long
shot I'm putting in the spot. It's the Boston Bruins.

(42:33):
The Flames are forty two sixty three, ten and four
against the Boston Bruins.

Speaker 2 (42:39):
Wow.

Speaker 1 (42:40):
Now, the Flames are the most difficult opponent for two teams?
Can you name those two teams. No, Edmondton is not
one Carolina. Carolina is just twenty nine forty five and
seven against the Flames, and the New Jersey Devils are
twenty nine sixty nine to twenty nine sixty nine and eleven.

Speaker 2 (43:04):
See the Devils don't shock me because I always I
just remember so many games where we beat them.

Speaker 1 (43:08):
Well, I always beat them.

Speaker 2 (43:09):
It seems like, yeah, the Hurricanes I wasn't as aware of.

Speaker 1 (43:12):
But yeah, well, only thing I remember what the Hurricanes.
I don't know why. I remember a Saturday game in
Carolina and Lindholman just a beauty goal and the Flames
ended up winning. It was a couple of years ago,
and I don't know why that game just sticks in mind.

Speaker 2 (43:24):
Was that an afternoon game?

Speaker 1 (43:26):
It was Saturday afternoon game.

Speaker 2 (43:27):
I hate remember that. Oh I knew.

Speaker 1 (43:30):
I was watching it and I was like, oh, that
was just a game. It was a good hockey game.
It was a really good game.

Speaker 2 (43:35):
And you hate them so much. You should live actually,
you should live on the East coast of Canada, because
there never really is an afternoon game in your Flames
fan very rarely. It was only like one or two
a year.

Speaker 1 (43:43):
Yeah, But then I don't know. I couldn't. I'm turning
into an old man. I can't do this late night shitting.
I don't know how you do it.

Speaker 2 (43:49):
Oh dude, when they go into La at eleven thirty
at night, like I love.

Speaker 1 (43:54):
I used to love nine o'clock in my Time, which
is eight o'clock Calgary. I used to love that start.
You know, it's like idle in, you know, and just
really watch now, I'm like, cool, it's better be a
good game where I'm gonna be dozen. I can do
it on a Saturday night. I have troubles on a Tuesday,
Wednesday or Thursday night. I like the eight o'clock my
time seven o'clock Calgary starts. I just that's where I

(44:14):
that's my wheelhouse right there.

Speaker 2 (44:16):
Yeah yeah, the uh, the seven o'clock Calgary starts are
not yeah, they're pretty tough. That's that's ten here. But
the six o'clock ones, which are very rare, are beautiful.
And then the East Coast swing it's like, oh yeah,
like you know, supper's been been consumed, dishes are done,
feeder on the couch, let's go.

Speaker 1 (44:33):
Like it's yeah, you're gonna love this road trip. You're
gonna love it so well.

Speaker 2 (44:37):
I hope I do. If I have to watch a
bunch of misery, then.

Speaker 1 (44:41):
Well last night was the hell of a start. And
what it really was, oh.

Speaker 2 (44:45):
Yeah, yeah it was man and and anybody who says
they that they weren't shocked by that, it's an absolute liar.

Speaker 1 (44:50):
So everybody was shocked, everybody.

Speaker 2 (44:53):
I must have watched that Coronado shot like ten times.
It's so funny, like a guy is that gas? They
can still rip a shot like that?

Speaker 1 (45:01):
As we had out big thanks for everybody's comments on
last week's episode. We did a little bit different. We're
gonna do it a lot during the offseason and have
special episodes talking about, you know, different things in Flames history,
and last week we talked Flames jerseys just because of
the Four Nations break. Lauren Stewart threw out a nice
comment on X about great episode boys, and then from

(45:22):
CARBONYL put on there before you suggest fourteen retired for THEO.
Check out The Magic Man. Kent Nielsen's stats the fastest
we do one hundred points, two innerd points, three inner points,
most Flames points in a season, still tenth in NHL history,
and career points per game, and he also wore fourteen,
so good comment. I didn't know Kent Nielsen's numbers that

(45:44):
were that great, so appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (45:46):
Yeah, well, he was such a here he was kind
of like Striding macroff. He's such a here and gone
kind of player that it's a shame that he kind
of gets forgotten for how unbelievable he was. Yeah, that's
I forgot that.

Speaker 1 (46:00):
But it is a good argument, and it's a number
that should be in the rafters one way or another
in my opinion. But that's a topic for another episode.
It was actually a topic. It's the last episode right
next week we will be back with the normal episode.
Next week. We'll be recorded Monday night, Tuesday drop and
a lot. We'll know a lot more. We're gonna know
a lot more, and I'm excited to see how everything

(46:21):
pans out.

Speaker 2 (46:22):
I'm excited to see the toad. The next week's show, Well,
would be miserable and we'll be happy. Stay tuned to find.

Speaker 1 (46:27):
Out this little we were happy. We're really happy in
this station.

Speaker 2 (46:30):
Yeah, I feel like shit. So that's unbelievable.

Speaker 1 (46:34):
Well, I hope you get better and yeah, enjoy it.
This week's early games, you can get a good night's
sleep and hopefully we see some more ws and we're
back again next week. So Flames fans, thanks for tuning in.
Kyle and I will be back next week and enjoy
this road trip. And oh, just get a split every night,

(46:54):
get get get half the points and we'll be in
good shape, right Kyle.

Speaker 2 (46:58):
Shoot land among the stairs, four for six.

Speaker 1 (47:01):
Let's go have a good week. Claim friends, she was
a fan.

Speaker 4 (47:18):
Thanks for listening to Flames Unfiltered with Brad Burud and
Kyle lewis your source for unfiltered Calgary Flames hockey talk.
Keep it locked on Flames Unfiltered dot ca, a subscribe
where you get all your podcasts to never miss an episode.
Flames Hockey Talk every week presented by Inside Edge Hockey
Media Group

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Flames Playoff Clarity Ahead – Flames Unfiltered – Episode 231

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Flames Playoff Clarity Ahead – Flames Unfiltered – Episode 231