It will be awfully quiet around the Saddledome this week.
The Calgary Flames don’t return to practice until next Tuesday. Even then, with locker-room boombox Rasmus Andersson representing his country at the 4 Nations Face-Off, the volume will be a little lower than usual.
There will, however, be plenty of chatter in the hockey ops department, with Craig Conroy and the rest of the management honchos constantly back-and-forthing about how to improve their team — both for the right-now and for the long-term future.
It’s important to strike that balance. The Flames would love to snag a playoff invite this spring — after stumbling into the 4 Nations break on a three-game skid, they are currently sitting three points back of the Vancouver Canucks for the final wild-card in the Western Conference — but the priority is the bigger picture. It’s all about building a bona fide contender.
With both aims in mind, here are five conversation starters for the Flames’ brass while the skating stars enjoy their beach vacations …
Can they find a permanent partner for MacKenzie Weegar?
Weegar, who rolled into the break on a five-game point spree, has had a rotating door of defence partners. His most frequent sidekick, Daniil Miromanov, has lately been relegated to spare-part status, dressing for only eight of the past 25 games. Weegar has also been paired with Jake Bean and with Joel Hanley and even a bit with Brayden Pachal. We’re wondering if Ilya Solovyov could be next. The 24-year-old call-up was mostly solid in 19 minutes of work in Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken, and his stay-at-home style would allow Weegar to roam a bit. Among the external options, Carson Soucy is rumoured to be on the block in Vancouver and there have been whispers the Flames might be interested. But would the Canucks really be willing to trade a defenceman to one of their division and wild-card rivals? And if they would, what does that tell you? Weegar is among the Flames’ most important pieces — and really should be repping Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off — and some chemistry with a predictable partner should only help to bring out the best from No. 52.
Should they stick with the current backup plan?
A decision on Dan Vladar is due over the next few months. The 27-year-old netminder is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and with Dustin Wolf staking a claim to the starter’s job and Devin Cooley’s contract upgrading to a one-way ticket in 2025-26, an extension doesn’t seem to make much sense for either side. The more pressing conversation is whether the Flames remain confident that Vladar can deliver some timely victories down the stretch. He was sharp in his most recent outing — a 29-save showing in Seattle — but that was his first W in seven-plus weeks. His season-long stats aren’t especially pretty, and the higher-ups will analyze whether that is a result of some tough assignments or a sign they should be looking for an upgrade for the playoff push. If they do switch things up, do they look to land a more experienced second-stringer to support and mentor Wolf or find out what Cooley, fresh off a trip to the AHL All-Star Classic, is capable of?
How do they solve their search for a right-handed faceoff man?
The Flames’ best right-handed centre is their general manager. And since it’s been 14 years since he hung up his gear and transitioned to a front-office role, we are comfortable ruling out a comeback. OK, so if Conroy isn’t an option, who can fill Calgary’s void for a righty middleman? The Flames continue to be mentioned as a could-be suitor for Dylan Cozens, although the Sabres are understandably hesitant to risk a repeat of the Jack Eichel/Sam Reinhart story. Even if they do ultimately deal Cozens, who turned 24 on Super Bowl Sunday, it’s believed they want an established difference-maker as part of the return for the ‘Workhorse from Whitehorse.’ Conroy won’t be a major player in the rental market but if he continues to flinch at the asking price for one of his 20-something targets, he could seek a temporary solution at a low acquisition cost. In the meantime, the Flames will hope right-winger Matt Coronato can boost his success rate as an occasional faceoff fill-in. The 22-year-old sharpshooter is currently swiping 45.5 percent of his draws.
Which Wranglers are ready for a look at the highest level?
When William Stromgren is rewarded with his first NHL call-up, he’ll find a couple of familiar faces in the Flames’ locker room. The 21-year-old left-winger was invited to spend Christmas Eve with fellow Swedes Rasmus Andersson and Mikael Backlund, a classy gesture from two of Calgary’s locker room leaders. It feels like sooner than later that Stromgren will be spinning a solo lap before his big-league debut. A second-round draft pick in 2021, he has good wheels, solid size and has made major strides in two seasons with the farm club, with 12 goals and 38 points in 46 loggings as an AHL sophomore. Rory Kerins put up four assists during a five-game introduction last month, the sort of numbers that should guarantee another audition before long. Until then, the 22-year-old centre will benefit from a big-minutes role in the minors and will continue to focus on pushing his pace. Word around the rink is Yan Kuznetsov, 22, has impressed with his steady work on the Wranglers’ blue-line.
Is it too soon to talk extension with Morgan Frost?
When Morgan Frost ripped a top-shelf shot Saturday on a two-on-one rush, nearly 18,000 fans at the Saddledome were all thinking the same thing — ‘Yeah, we could get used to that.’ Even if that evening ended with a bummer, with the Kraken scoring the winner while Frost served a holding penalty in overtime, there’s no doubt that the new guy in No. 16 has so far made a strong impression. In five games in the Flaming C, the prized trade acquisition has potted two goals, won 51.4 per cent of his faceoffs and added another threat on the power-play. There’s no huge rush to talk contract with this 25-year-old pivot, currently collecting a cap-hit of US$2.1 million as a pending restricted free agent, but an extension offer would only add warmth to the welcome. Although Frost’s offensive tools are evident, he’s yet to surpass 46 points in a season, so this might be prime time to lock him up at what should be a reasonable rate, investing in his upside and also buying a few of his UFA years. Just one more thing for Conroy & Co. to think about.