NHL Preview: Calgary Flames

The Flames are getting old and Jarome Iginla can’t go on forever. Charlie Boccanegra looks at Calgary’s chances in 2011/12.

This team continues to spin its wheels since its amazing run to the Cup Finals back in 2004. They have not won a playoff series since and have now missed the playoffs altogether in back to back seasons. It appears ownership and management have not made a full commitment to rebuild, still believing in the current crop of veteran players. The Flames must start over from scratch to avoid missing the playoffs for the third straight year.

Calgary projects as a .500 team, but that .500 will be made up of long losing streaks counter-balanced by long winning streaks. The trick to NHL betting the Flames is to spot the start of a streak and betting accordingly.

Forwards: The offense is still led by one of the best goal scorers in the league Jarome Iginla, but Iginla is in his mid-30s now and in decline. Over the years he’s never been given enough supporting talent, they continue to surround him with decent offensive players in Tanguay and Jokinen who are now in their second go around with the Flames. If it didn’t work the first time why would it now?

The only real bright spots upfront are with young forward Mikael Backlund and second liner Renne Bourque who remains underrated and a viable scoring option. Backlund and Bourque will have to carry a lot of responsibility for the forwards to make up for a top line that’s old and past its prime.

After that they have a couple decent pieces in newly acquired Lee Stempniak who has shown he can score in bunches, good two way player Curti Glencross & Brendan Morrison. David Moss has never become the top 6 forward Calgary hoped for, making them a bit vulnerable with a lack of offensive depth.

Defense: They lack a true #1 overall defenseman even though many thought that could have been Jay Bouwmeester after signing his massive contract two years ago. Meanwhile he’s failed to live up to those expectations, and remains a decent overall defenseman. Just not a great one.

Mark Giardino has emerged as the Flames’ #1 threat on the back end because he possesses the offensive skills to move the puck the rest of the defenders do not have. Corey Sarich and newly acquired Scott Hannan replacing long time Flames favorite Robyn Regehr will be solid in the second pairing. But it ends there because good offensive teams can expose Babchuk and Butler, their 4-5 defense men.

Goaltending: Mikka Kipprussof is still a good overall goalie. He’s no longer elite, as his numbers have been on the decline the past couple of years. If Calgary has any chance of being a playoff team Kipprussof must play at an elite level to bail out his mediocre defense.