BATTLE BETWEEN THE PIPES
For the first time in a decade, there’s no clear-cut answer on who will open the season as the No. 1 netminder for the Flames. Over the next few weeks, they need one of these guys to prove they’re ready to be the go-to goalie. The frontrunner for the starting job is Dan Vladar, who has served for the past three winters as second-stringer to the since-traded Jacob Markstrom. Vladar, 27, had hip surgery in March, and is pain-free for the first time in two-plus years. The debate on Dustin Wolf continues — many believe he is a budding star, while others insist he is simply too small to be an NHL stud. The next step for the 23-year-old Wolf is to make it impossible for the Flames to send him back to the AHL’s Wranglers. The darkhorse is free-agent acquisition Devin Cooley. The 27-year-old is projected to start the season in the minors, but what if he is the best of the backstops during training camp and pre-season play?
CENTRES OF ATTENTION
Doing the media rounds at the Young Stars Classic in Penticton, B.C., Flames bench boss Ryan Huska was teasing an intriguing line combination — Martin Pospisil between Jonathan Huberdeau and Anthony Mantha. We’ve gotta admit, coach, we’re excited to see if that trio can click. What this tells us, for certain, is Pospisil is a leading candidate to solve Calgary’s shortage of centres. Some fans would prefer to see the 24-year-old rabble-rouser on the wing, arguing that he is most effective when he’s first to arrive on the forecheck. But it’s no secret that the Flames are looking to add some speed up the middle and they must have been impressed by Pospisil’s work as a pivot while representing Slovakia at the world championship tournament in May and again in an Olympic qualifier last month. Yegor Sharangovich and Connor Zary are also options at centre, although both are expected to be working as wingers on Day 1 of camp, while Sam Morton might be more on the radar than a lot of people think.
BOYS ON THE BLUE-LINE
Flames general manager Craig Conroy has been adamant that he won’t rush any of the up-and-comers into NHL action, and it’s important to reiterate that defencemen usually require a bit of extra time to develop. Still, we can’t help but wonder if one of Calgary’s prized blue-line prospects — we’re thinking, specifically, of Hunter Brzustewicz and Zayne Parekh — can make a case for a big-league look this fall. Brzustewicz is definitely going to be playing pro hockey, although the most likely scenario is that the 19-year-old righty will start his climb with the Wranglers. Makes good sense. Thing is, that’s not an option for Parekh, the ninth-overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft and arguably the Flames’ most exciting draft pick since Matthew Tkachuk. Because of his age, the 18-year-old Parekh must be returned to junior if he isn’t skating in ‘The Show.’ With a strong camp showing, this talented lefty could perhaps earn a nine-game audition.
WHAT ABOUT BARRIE?
Tyson Barrie is a one-of-a-kind at Flames’ camp — the lone player attending on a professional tryout offer, or PTO. Barrie, of course, is a proven commodity. He has logged 800-and-some career appearances in his NHL career, by far the most of any of Calgary’s blue-line hopefuls. He has accumulated 505 points along the way. Perhaps most important of all, the 33-year-old has a reputation as a respected leader and popular teammate, the sort of guy who would be a positive influence in the locker-room. Does that mean Barrie is a lock for a contract? Not so fast. There are only so many jobs on the back-end and it’s reasonable to think that he’ll need to out-play a couple of the other right-handed options — among them, Brzustewicz, Daniil Miromanov and Brayden Pachal — to secure his spot. There’s also the risk that another squad could swoop in and make Barrie a better offer.
WHO WANTS TO STAY?
Blake Coleman didn’t even wait for the question to be asked. During a radio interview this past week, the heart-and-soul forward wanted to erase any doubt about his commitment to Calgary. As he stressed: “I’ve been clear that I want to be a Flame, and I want to be a part of the solution.” Workhorse defenceman MacKenzie Weegar made similar statements during the NHL’s annual media tour, telling The Canadian Press: “The city has taken me in right away (and) I feel like I owe it to them to stick around and grind through these years and get a Stanley Cup.” This comes with the territory for any rebuilding team — questions about whether the veteran pieces are willing to stay put or whether they are instead angling to be traded to a contender. Conroy has repeated often that he wants to stock his roster with guys who want to be in Calgary. So who’s on that list?