Welcome back to the latest installment of THN.com’s “Top Issues Facing” series. Each NHL team has its own specific challenges that could impact not only themselves but also the league as a whole. This new team-by-team series explores those challenges, and today we focus on the Calgary Flames. (All financial information in this series is sourced from THN’s new roster and salary cap site, THN Lineups.)
Here are the key questions the Flames are confronting as they approach the 2024-25 regular season.
1. Will the Flames aim for the No. 1 draft pick.
The straightforward answer is “yes, they will aim to tank.” Calgary has been actively dismantling its roster, trading away veterans like Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, and Nikita Zadorov in exchange for draft picks, younger NHL players, and prospects. This coming season, the worst move for Flames GM Craig Conroy would be to pursue a wild-card playoff spot in the Pacific Division. Offloading burdensome contracts will be challenging, particularly in the case of star winger Jonathan Huberdeau, but pursuing a playoff berth isn’t a viable option either.
What Calgary desperately needs is generational, foundational talent, which cannot be acquired through trades or free agency. The only way to secure such players is through the top of the NHL draft, and that requires enduring some tough seasons to earn high draft picks. Conroy understands this, and Flames ownership is backing his strategy for long-term development.
"It's been a whirlwind for the past two months."
Zayne Parekh, selected 9th overall in this year's #NHLDraft, talks to the media at development camp. pic.twitter.com/KMTVHuiHqy
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) July 4, 2024
The process is going to be difficult and may become quite messy, but it’s the most reliable way to achieve long-term improvement. Flames fans can look to the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks as examples of how to effectively tank. Calgary has the potential to follow this path, but it requires a clear commitment to the strategy, which will intensify this year, for better or worse.
2. Can Nazem Kadri be a legitimate No. 1 center?
We appreciate what Kadri brings to the team; he’s a fierce competitor and a solid top-six player for any roster. However, labeling him as a No. 1 center would be overstating his abilities. He is not a generational talent and won’t lead the league in scoring. While he can be tough and fearless, he does not reach superstar status.
As a result, trading Kadri is unlikely to yield a significant return in picks and prospects. However, moving his $7 million annual contract, which extends for five more years, would signal that the team is genuinely in a transitional phase. Kadri can serve as a strong second-line center for a team contending for the Stanley Cup, but his current situation in Calgary isn’t working. He holds a full no-movement clause for the next two seasons, but we believe he would be open to a trade to a more favorable market.
At 33, Kadri is focused on winning, which is unlikely to happen with the Flames. While he excels at getting under opponents’ skin, he is not on the same level as players like Nathan MacKinnon or Sidney Crosby, who are true No. 1 centers. Kadri does not belong in that category.
3. Will Jonathan Huberdeau regain his former excellence?
After Huberdeau’s offensive numbers plummeted last season—from 85 assists and 115 points in 2021-22 to just 12 goals and 52 points in 2023-24—it’s hard to envision him returning to peak form, especially on a Flames team that may struggle to generate offense in the upcoming season.
Huberdeau’s hefty contract, worth $10.5 million annually through the 2030-31 season, makes him nearly impossible to trade, and a buyout is equally unrealistic. Unless a remarkable turnaround occurs, he is likely to remain in Calgary for the foreseeable future. Even if he manages to become the Flames’ most impactful player, it’s doubtful he will reach the offensive heights he once did.
Huberdeau’s best seasons came with the Florida Panthers, a team that had significantly more depth and talent than the current Flames roster. While he may see a modest 10-20 point increase next season, the days of his offensive dominance feel like a distant memory.
The Flames will rely on Huberdeau for leadership and professionalism as they rebuild their roster, but expecting more production from him seems unreasonable. By signing a long-term deal with Calgary, Huberdeau made a risky decision that has left him in a difficult situation he may not be able to escape
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