Calgary Flames at a glance

 

CALGARY FLAMES
LAST SEASON: 35-40-7, 77 points, finished 13th in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs.
COACH: Bob Hartley, fourth season with Calgary, 383-291-61-45 overall.
ADDED: LW Brandon Bollig, D Deryk Engelland, G Jonas Hiller, LW Mason Raymond.
LOST: D Chris Butler, LW Mike Cammalleri.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Johnny Gaudreau. Offense was a major issue for the Flames, who finished 23rd and 24th, respectively, in goals per game (2.46) and power play percentage (15.7). Gaudreau, the reigning Hobey Baker winner, recorded 80 points (36 goals and 44 assists) in 40 games with Boston College.
OUTLOOK: With the possible exception of John Tortorella, who attempted to fight his way into the Calgary dressing room during the first intermission of a Jan. 18 game in Vancouver to ostensibly express his displeasure about a line brawl following the opening faceoff, Hartley and the Flames earned praise around the NHL for their hardworking style of play. Even with the addition of Gaudreau and friends to the lineup, don’t expect the Flames to change their modus operandi. But it’s too much to ask the Flames to compete for a playoff berth.