Its almost October. The Chilly weather arrived just in time, which also means Flames hockey has arrived! A little earlier than usual due to the Olympic break and condensed schedule. Enough with the preseason, its time to get down to business. The most anticipated version of the Flames since 2005 is set to battle for a division crown, and hopefully a lot more.
Where will they finish?
For once in recent memory, Calgary should jump out to a fast start and push through October and November in the top 3 in the conference. Some injuries will provide a Christmas setback, but things will get rolling again nicely in the new year. The Olympic break will provide some much needed mid season healing the Flames have desperately needed in the past, and Calgary should glide to a fairly easy division win, and finish 2nd in the Western Conference.
MVP:
With the upgraded defense by the Bouwmeester addition, things will come much easier for Kiprusoff in the 09/10 season. He will look a lot more like the Miikka we remember from 04-06, and should post a superb G.A.A. and wins total. Prediction: 44-20-8, .925 SV%, 2.20 GAA, and 8 SO. Those numbers will make him the Flames MVP. Runner up: Jarome Iginla – 90 points. On Defense, Phaneuf will bounce back with 55 points and a Norris nomination.
Best Role Player:
Brandon Prust. #33 will be just the spark plug Calgary might have been lacking at the end of last season. Won’t score you a ton of goals but will do what it takes to get down and dirty. I have a feeling Brent Sutter will love this kid.
Worst Core Player:
Dustin Boyd. I just don’t see him progressing any further this season. No room for him on the top two lines, not enough time for him on the bottom two. Stuck in prospect purgatory yet again. Hope I’m wrong.
Breakout Player:
This is a hard one because my guy technically broke out last year, but I’m going with David Moss. Nobody outside of Calgary knows who he is, and that will change this year. I predict 30 goals with lots of PP time with Iginla and Jokinen.
Special Teams:
Bouwmeester should improve both the powerplay and Penalty Kill, and the addition Brent Sutter as head coach should solidify the defense top to bottom. Powerplay will finish between 7th-10th, while the Penalty kill should be top 5. The Special teams success will be one of the largest factors in the Flames winning the division, and the PK will provide the largest contribution to the improvement in Kiprusoff’s numbers.
Western Conference Standings:
- San Jose
- Calgary
- Detroit
- Vancouver
- Chicago
- Anaheim
- St. Louis
- Los Angeles
- Columbus
- Edmonton
- Nashville
- Colorado
- Dallas
- Minnesota
- Phoenix
Eastern Conference Standings:
- Washington
- Boston
- Pittsburgh
- Philadelphia
- New Jersey
- Carolina
- Ottawa
- New York Rangers
- Toronto
- Montreal
- Buffalo
- Florida
- Atlanta
- Tampa Bay
- New York Islanders
