It’s early, but the Calgary Flames are one of the NHL’s surprise stories of the season so far.
That’s what happens when a projected also-ran skates through the first five games with a 4-0-1 record. They’re one of four teams that has yet to suffer a regulation loss in the early stages of the 2024-25 campaign.
The Flames will look to continue their roll during a three-game homestand — Tuesday’s visit from Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, Thursday’s clash against the Carolina Hurricanes and Saturday’s joust with the Winnipeg Jets. That’s a particularly tough test on Hockey Night in Canada.
As the Flames look to maintain their momentum, Postmedia beat reporters Danny Austin and Wes Gilbertson check in with another edition of Three Hot Topics …
With the Flames off to a 4-0-1 start, is there one player, person or position group that isn’t getting enough credit for their performance so far?
GILBERTSON: We’re not talking enough about Ryan Huska’s impact, and the head coach probably wouldn’t mind if it stayed that way. Huska does, however, deserve a heap of credit. He has his squad playing both a relentless and a responsible brand. Beyond that, he seems to have every guy in the lineup believing they’re a big part of the recipe for success. That feeling is not always easy to achieve. The Flames are playing with a ton of pace, probably more than we expected from a roster that doesn’t include a lot of burners, and the boss has rewarded them with plenty of rest days. Huska has also made some savvy personnel decisions — Jonathan Huberdeau on the penalty kill, Martin Pospisil at centre, a rotation between the pipes, etc. Impressive work so far, coach.
AUSTIN: I do think it’s sort of remarkable how quickly Kevin Bahl seems to have settled in. That shouldn’t necessarily be a surprise, given that he did play 82 games for the New Jersey Devils last season, but Bahl is third on the team in ice time per game, at 20:52, and is a +5 through five games while picking up two assists. The 24-year-old moves around the ice smoothly, especially for a guy who is 6-foot-6 and weighs in at 230 lbs., and he always seems to be in the right spot on the ice. There seems to be immediate chemistry between Bahl and his partner on the blueline, Rasmus Andersson, who has gotten off to a great start, too.
One of the ace insiders reported last week that the Flames were shopping the trade market for a middle-six centre. What do we make of that?
GILBERTSON: This is my 13th season on the Flames’ beat, and I think they’ve been shopping for a centre for just about that entire stretch. It’s no secret they’re currently thin up the middle, especially after losing their only right-handed option when Cole Schwindt was claimed on waivers, so it’s hardly a surprise that general manager Craig Conroy might be checking the price on pivot possibilities. But I wouldn’t worry that this is a sign the Flames are abandoning or accelerating their long-term plan because of a hot start, or that Conroy is suddenly willing to trade future assets for a quick fix at his former position. Patience has been one of Conroy’s strong suits as GM, and a five-game point streak shouldn’t change that.
AUSTIN: I didn’t make much of it, if I’m being perfectly honest. That’s not to suggest that the Flames wouldn’t make a move for a middle-six centre if one was available, but it takes two to tango when it comes to trades and it would probably take a big offer to get anyone who significantly moves the needle this early in the season. Are the Flames willing to give up any of the prized picks they’ve acquired over the last year-and-a-half to make a move like that? It seems unlikely, but Conroy’s certainly shown that he can be a shrewd wheeler and dealer when it comes to making trades, so I’m not willing to rule it out that he’ll pull something off.
Should the Flames be rewarding Rory Kerins, who leads the AHL with seven goals in five games with the Wranglers, with a big-league call-up?
GILBERTSON: Kerins must be making them think about it, especially when you consider the similarities to Connor Zary’s stat line last fall, when he piled up 10 points in six AHL outings before he was promoted. The thing about Kerins, 22, is he didn’t dress for a single pre-season game or even practise with one of the top-heavy training-camp groups, typically a sign you’re way down the organizational depth chart. He’s also getting his first extended run as a centre after starting his pro career on the wing. So while Zary’s scorching start in 2023 turned out to be the last step to proving he was NHL-ready, Kerins is still ticking that next box on his development checklist — to prove he can be a consistent difference-maker in the minors. If he keeps this up, though …
AUSTIN: It’s awesome to see Kerins stepping up his game in the AHL, but there’s no rush to get him to the NHL. He was named the AHL’s Player of the Week on Monday, which tells you just how well he’s doing this season. If the time comes when the Flames could use a centre, he’s certainly putting himself on the radar for a call-up. He’s certainly not alone, either. If you haven’t been paying attention to the Wranglers, there are a couple guys who have started the season really well. Kerins is tied for the league lead in points, with eight, with teammates Walker Duehr and Jakob Pelletier. Both of those guys have played NHL games and were pushing for a spot on the Flames’ roster during camp before getting sent down, so the way they’ve responded to the demotion and started the season in the AHL is worth keeping an eye on.
Is there a Hot Topic that you’d like Danny Austin and Wes Gilbertson to discuss next week? Send your idea to [email protected] or [email protected]