Calgary Flames 2009 Season Preview, Picks & Odds

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Calgary Flames 2008-’09 record:
46-30-6, 98 points (2nd in Northwest, 5th seed in West)

Calgary Flames 2008-’09 playoffs:
Lost to Chicago Blackhawks 4-2

Calgary had a great year, finishing with a 46-30-6 record, good enough for a 2 nd place finish in the division. While they fell just two points short of the division crown, their strong showing still earned them the 5 th seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Powered by great seasons from captain Jerome Iginla (35 goals, 89 points) and winger Mike Cammalleri (39 goals, 82 points), Calgary finished 4 th in the conference in goal scoring! A late season acquisition of center Olli Jokinen brought more hope to Calgary for a long playoff run but they were bounced in the first round by Chicago, leaving their fans disappointed for the fourth straight season.

Calgary Flames 2009 Preview

Calgary Flames General manager: Darryl Sutter (219-144-47, 6th NHL year, 1st team

Calgary Flames Coach: Brent Sutter (97-56-11, 3rd NHL season, 2nd team)

Calgary Flames Captain: Jarome Iginla

Calgary Flames Top Returning Scorer: RW Jarome Iginla (35 goals, 54 assists, 89 points)

Calgary Flames Top Returning Goalie: Miikka Kiprusoff (45-24-5, 2.84, .903)

Calgary Flames Key Additions: D Jay Bouwmeester; RW Fredrik Sjostrom; C Brandon Prust; RW Riley Armstrong; Garth Murray; RW Jason Jaffray; RW Brian McGrattan; D Staffan Kronwall; LW Nigel Dawes; LW Colin Stuart.

Calgary Flames Key Subtractions: LW Michael Cammalleri; D Jim Vandermeer; D Jordan Leopold; D Adrian Aucoin; C Warren Peters; C Wayne Primeau; RW Todd Bertuzzi; D Anders Eriksson; LW Marcus Nilson; D Rhett Warrener; RW Andre Roy.

Calgary Flames Top Line: LW Rene Bourque, C Olli Jokinen, RW Jarome Iginla

Calgary Flames Top Defensive Pairing: Dion Phaneuf, Jay Bouwmeester

The Flames are going to have some trouble finding some scoring. After Iginla and Cammalleri, the highest scoring Flame was Damon Langkow, who only had 49 points! That means that there’s quite the scoring void to fill as their major departed players accounted for 64 goals last season, a full 4 th of the team’s production! Expect a great season like usual from Iginla, but players such as David Moss, Rene Bourque, Craig Conroy and Dustin Boyd will need to step up and shoulder more of the load.

Finally, the biggest question on offense is whether Olli Jokinen can produce a big year for a contender for the first time in his career as he struggled for most of the stretch run after arriving in the spring last year. Jokinen’s biggest production in his career has come while playing for last place teams out of the spotlight and he has yet to prove he can perform in the clutch. While I believe that the Flames will score enough goals to have a strong year, they’re going to sorely miss their lost production unless they get a big season from Olli.

On the other hand, they might not need as many goals to win games this year thanks to an incredible group of defenders. Bouwmeester joins powerful hitter Dion Phaneuf and exceptional defender Robyn Regehr on the blue line, giving Calgary the best trifecta of defensemen in the NHL. Along with solid defenders like Corey Sarich, Adam Pardy and Mark Giordano, Calgary should be death to opposing scorers.

Oh, I forgot to mention that Calgary has a great goaltender by the name of Mikka Kiprusoff. The former Vezina Trophy winner is one of the NHL’s elite goaltenders and you know he’s only going to be better behind such a stellar corps of defenders. Expect a career year from the Kipper.

2009 Calgary Flames Goaltending:

Kiprusoff’s GAA jumped to 2.84 as questions about whether the workload he’s carrying is wearing him down was raised following another sub-par playoff performance. Led league with a career-high 45 wins, but also was first in games (76), minutes (4,418), shots faced (2,155) and saves (1,946). Numbers have been in steady decline since 2005-06 Hart Trophy win, but there’s no rest in sight.

2009 Calgary Flames Player To Watch:

C/RW Mikael Backlund. Enjoyed successful campaign last season that included a one-game stint with Flames. Began season with Vasteras in Swedish Elite League, but after helping Swedes to silver at world juniors, remained in North America and finished season with Kelowna, winning WHL title and playing in Memorial Cup final. Equally dangerous as passer or finisher, protects puck with the savvy of a veteran.

2009 Calgary Flames Offense:

Brent Sutter will feel more at home back in Alberta than he was as coach of the Devils in New Jersey. There is added security and familiarity with brother Darryl as general manager. Brent Sutter was the owner, president, general manager and coach of the Western Hockey League’s Red Deer Rebels and went 314-194-68 as coach. Phaneuf played there under Sutter. Iginla became the Flames’ career points leader in March. He also owns the goals record with 409.

Calgary Flames 2009 Season Predictions

Will too many Sutters spoil the broth? Not as long as Kiprusoff doesn’t keep leaking oil. The addition of Bouwmeester should bolster defense, although goal-scoring depth might be a problem.

We predict that the Calgary Flames will finish 1st in the NHL Northwest, 3rd seed in West: 97 points.

Calgary Flames Betting

Calgary Flames Stanley Cup Odds: +1600
Calgary Flames Western Conference Odds: +800
Calgary Flames Northwest Odds: +150

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