You can bet the Calgary Flames will be one of the busiest teams in the league over the next little while as they potentially transition from contenders to rebuilders. The team must determine their direction for this season, which will be consistently evaluated based on their performance.
The main decision that has to be made is what they will do with the defensive core. Following the Zordorv trade, only Hanifin and Tanav remained. Naturally, the initial inclination is to trade both of them. The problem is, can the Flames make the playoffs? It begs the question: Can you trade your defense if the Flames are aiming for the playoffs? Only time will tell.
The next question is whether the Flames will promote Wolf. Vladar was outstanding in the last game against the Knights. Without him, the Flames had no chance of winning. His consistent performance proved crucial for the team's victories. Meanwhile, Wolf continues to be an All-Star in the AHL. The Flames will have another issue to deal with as the Flame's depth continues to be a story this year.
The Flames have seen a resurgence in their leaders, with Huberdeau and Kadri stepping up their game of late. Huby played his best game of the year against the Stars. If the kids can continue to bring out the best in Kadri and Huberdeau, the team could be in for a fun couple of months ahead.
All of this goes to say that the Flames have been fun to watch so far this season. I wonder when or if the plug gets pulled on the season. Will the next trade focus on future prospects, or will the team persist in their efforts to enhance their performance this season? So far, it would appear that the Flames have no intention of giving up this season.
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