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The votes are in.
We wished to know what Flames followers have been fascinated by their crew and our pre-season ballot gave us a terrific understanding of what Calgarians predict from the squad this season.
Right here’s what you mentioned in response to fifteen questions we requested at first of coaching camp:
1. Out of your perspective, what would you take into account a profitable season for the Flames?
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The group won’t like utilizing the phrase “rebuild,” however Flames followers voted emphatically. They need to see the crew plummet in the direction of the underside of the standings and safe a high decide within the 2025 NHL draft. Nearly half (47.54%) of voters went that means, so it’s clear that Calgary hockey followers need to see the crew safe a star in subsequent 12 months’s draft, even when it means there are many losses this season.
2. Who needs to be between the pipes for the season-opener?
Flames followers have been enthusiastic about Dustin Wolf for a very long time and that performed out in our pool, with 58.77% of voters saying they wished to see the 23-year-old beginning in web on Day 1 of the common season. Presently, it seems to be prefer it’s going to be Dan Vladar, who 35.09% of voters selected, however we’ll be seeing loads of each this season.
3. Who will lead the Flames in factors this season?
Yegor Sharangovich will get the nod right here at 37.04%, narrowly edging out final 12 months’s pace-setter for factors, Nazem Kadri – who acquired 35.19% of the votes. The 2 are slated to begin the 2024-25 season on the identical line with Andrei Kuzmenko, in order that they’ll most likely be piling up factors collectively this 12 months. It needs to be a enjoyable line.
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4. Who will lead the Flames in objectives this season?
It’s Sharangovich once more, which tells you a large number concerning the impression the Belarussian winger made on Flames followers in his first season in Calgary final 12 months. Sharangovich led the crew with 31 objectives regardless of getting off to a little bit of a gradual begin. If he’s locked on this 12 months, he’s a acquired wager to bury so much, which is why 42.72% of voters picked him to complete the season with extra objectives than anybody else on the Flames roster. Kuzmenko was second with 36.89%, which solely is sensible. The man can rating.
5. Who’s the very best speedy choice to fill the Flames’ emptiness at centre?
Martin Pospisil acquired the nod on this one with 38.83% and it’s appeared in coaching camp just like the Flames coaches agree. Pospisil is anticipated to begin the season at centre on a line with Jonathan Huberdeau and Anthony Mantha.
6. Which summer season free-agent signing do you count on can have the most important affect in 2024-25?
Mantha gained this one by an extended shot with 56.44% of voters selecting him. He’ll be on a line with Huberdeau and Pospisil, and a man along with his dimension and abilities across the web ought to have the ability to make his mark, for positive.
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7. Which low season departure will the Flames miss most?
No shock right here as 60.19% of Flames followers voted for Jacob Markstrom. Whereas there’s optimism concerning the goaltenders the crew has on its roster, you’re all the time going to overlook among the best shot-stoppers within the sport if you commerce him away.
8. Which rookie do you suppose needs to be subsequent to make his NHL debut?
Followers might need missed the mark on this one, sadly. Hunter Brzustewicz led the way in which with 26% of the vote, however loads of the individuals who responded to our ballot have been doing so earlier than Sam Honzek ripped it up all through coaching camp. The 2023 first-round draft decide is a secure wager to get plenty of common season enjoying time this 12 months. The identical is likely to be true of Brzustewicz, however he’s somewhat additional away.
9. Of the rookies who acquired their NHL begins final season, who do you count on to have the most important affect in 12 months 2?
It’s Connor Zary. How may it not be? Zary earned 51.02% of the vote on this one after a rookie season that noticed him burst onto the scene and rating 14 objectives and add 20 assists in 63 video games. Expectations are excessive in 12 months 2 and the identical could be mentioned of Pospisil, who garnered 36.73% of the vote.
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10. What’s an affordable expectation for Jonathan Huberdeau’s points-total this season?
A complete of 41.8% of followers count on Huberdeau to get 60 factors, which might be a bump-up from the 52 factors he managed final 12 months. You’d most likely like extra from a man who’s getting paid $10.5 million US this season, however after the way in which his first two seasons with the Flames have gone, 60 factors appears affordable.
11. We all know Rasmus Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar will play probably the most minutes, however past these two, who turns into an important participant on the blue line?
Daniil Miromanov, with 34.38% of votes, edges out Kevin Bahl (26.04%) right here. Miromanov appeared good within the 20 video games he performed final 12 months after being acquired within the commerce that despatched Noah Hanifin to the Vegas Golden Knights, scoring three objectives and including 4 assists. He was coming off a giant knee harm final season, too, so he may make a leap now that he’s absolutely wholesome.
12. Which sport are you most enthusiastic about?
The Dec. 3 sport towards the Columbus Blue Jackets goes to be an emotional evening on the Saddledome, as the 2 groups play for the primary time because the tragic deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, and 43.01% of voters mentioned that’s the sport they’re extra trying ahead to this season.
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13. How would you grade GM Craig Conroy’s low season strikes?
Flames followers are proud of the job Conroy’s doing working the crew, as 41.76% of followers gave his summer season a ‘B’ grade and 36.26% sport him an ‘A’.
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14. The place do you count on the Flames to complete within the Pacific Division standings?
Expectations will not be notably excessive this season as 31.91% of followers suppose the Flames will end seventh within the eight-team Pacific Division. The fellows within the locker room imagine they’ll be extra aggressive than they’re being credit score for and shoutout to the one one who is absolutely on board and thinks they’ll end in first.
15. No one’s anticipating the Flames to be within the combine on the high of the Pacific Division, however which rival do you count on to complete atop the standings?
It would harm, however the Oilers are a perennial contender proper now and Connor McDavid & Co. have clearly earned the respect of Calgary hockey followers. We all know that as a result of 64.6% of voters selected the Oilers to complete first within the Pacific.
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