NHL Preview: Flames

By Rich Carlson
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

2005 record: 46-25-11 (103 points)

2005 offense rank: 28th (2.63 goals per game)

2005 defense rank: 1st (2.35 goals allowed per game)

Key Additions: LW Jeff Friesen, D Andrei Zyuzin, LW Alex Tanguay, LW Eric Nystrom, D Mark Giordano, G Jamie McLennan

Key Losses: G Brian Boucher, RW Shean Donovan, D Cale Hulse, C Mike Leclerc, D Jordan Leopold, D Brian Marchment, LW Chris Simon

Overview: How does a team that only scored 2.63 goals per contest (28th out of 30 NHL teams) win the Northwest Division with 103 points? Simple – you only allow 2.35 goals per game, which is exactly what the Calgary Flames did in 2005. Calgary’s lone offensive weapon in 2005 was Jarome Iginla, who led the team with 35 goals and 67 points. To help take some of the pressure off Iginla, Calgary signed Tanguay away from Colorado. Tanguay is a legitimate goal scorer who will immediately benefit the Flames' attack. Among the big disappointments on offense were veterans Tony Amonte (14 goals) and Daymond Langkow (25 goals). The Flames need Amonte and Langkow to step up their offensive output. Head coach Jim Playfair preaches defense first, and that philosophy carried the Flames to their first division title in 11 years. Robyn Regehr and Rhett Warrener are strong, physical defensemen who control the blue line, while Dion Phaneuf became only the third rookie defenseman in NHL history to score 20 goals in a season. G Miikka Kiprusoff was outstanding in 2005, winning the Jennings and Vezina trophies after recording 42 wins and a league-leading 2.07 goals-against average. One hole the Flames were looking to fill was a dependable backup goalie, and they accomplished that by signing veteran Jamie McLennan in the offseason.

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Players to Watch: Even though Langkow scored 25 goals last season, he didn’t produce as much as the Flames had hoped, and the pressure will be on him to score more. D Roman Hamrlik was a big disappointment in 2005, fighting injuries and not producing on the power play when he was healthy. D Phaneuf needs to prove that his 20-goal season was not a fluke.

Outlook: The Flames succeeded last season on the basis of their defense, and their defense will once again determine how successful they are. Adding Tanguay gives the Flames another top-flight goal scorer, but the offense still has a long ways to go. The Flames will need to win a lot of 1-0 and 2-1 games, as they did last year, and that is tough to do. However, with Kiprusoff in net, and the addition of Tanguay to the offense, many sportsbooks are projecting another Northwest Division title for the Flames, and possibly a deep run into the playoffs.

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