A bit of a precursor here, due to attending the home side of the split squad game, the Vancouver end of the split squad will be a bit on the wayside. Just a few notes on individual players. The home game on the other hand, has much to be discussed. Let’s start with the units.
Huberdeau-Lindholm-Toffoli
What may end up being the Flames’ first line had a strange game. Despite scoring the game winner at 16:49 of the second period while on a 5v3 powerplay — there was much to be desired.
CF% — Even Strength (scoring chances for and against) Huberdeau: 33.3% (5-10) Lindholm: 45.45% (5-6) Toffoli: 36.36% (4-7)
44.4% when all three were on at the same time at even strength. Against a mostly affiliate squad.
There were certainly some interesting moments when Huberdeau created offence through creative passing plays, but there is a lot of work to do. That line should not be out-chanced by a mostly minor league squad. Unfortunately, Tyler Toffoli looked already snakebitten. Something to keep an eye on.
Lindholm played a very steady game. The one complaint being his faceoffs. Both him and Mikeal Backlund were 1 for 7 over the game. A 14.29% for both.
Dubé-Backlund-Coleman
The second unit fared far better. We’re not going to list the CF% of every player playing in a split squad game, but the unit fared well. Blake Coleman and Mikeal Backlund played a very strong game. Dylan Dubé looked unremarkable. He had two clean chances using his speed, but the neutral zone play didn’t impress.
Eakin-Zary-Milano
As much as it would be nice to dismiss Cody Eakin — he’s working hard. It’s troubling, but his work ethic might grow on Flames head coach Darryl Sutter enough to earn him a contract. He plays hard along the wall, and despite not showing it in the scrimmage, can pinch hit on faceoffs.
Connor Zary had an interesting game as well. He has a very unique game. He read several plays and perfectly placed himself moving up the middle to snare the loose puck and get the play into the offensive zone.
The 22 year old plays a lot like Daymond Langkow with his spacing. Supporting the play from lower in the neutral zone allowed Milano and Eakin to play higher up and take chances — something Sonny Milano loves to do.
That kind of support led to Milano getting space in some areas that the Canucks B squad weren’t expecting. The tryout winger had a handful of opportunities to put his skill on display in tight. The 26 year old is clearly an NHL player. He didn’t shy off contact either.
Sutter-Bishop-Duehr
This line put up the best CF% together. Not always the best indicator, it’s still worth noting that they were 70% in that category. The late third featured two sequential shifts where Brett Sutter made a big shot block and then scored a garbage goal.
Darryl was stiff as a board for both plays until a clear tell — he scratched his ear. What a time to be a Flames fan.
Duehr looked very solid as well. He used his size and speed to force the play into the middle of the ice in the offensive zone. It’s easy to forget how close the 24 year old from Sioux Falls, South Dakota came to grabbing a roster spot out of camp last season.
Hanifin-Andersson
This pairing once again showed why they are considered a favourite for first pairing this season.
9-2 in scoring chances while Andersson was on the ice at even strength. Hanifin 7-2. More compelling is the second pairing.
Mackey-Weegar
These two didn’t seem to gel. Weegar got outchanced 3-7 while on the ice as Sutter worked to find his place. Mackey was a more solid 10-10, but that discrepancy between two defencemen on the same pairing speaks to the growing pains of adding a top 4 talent and expecting him to be lights out from day one. Despite the statistical worries, neither were on for a goal against — and Weegar wasn’t on the ice for a high danger chance against.
Overall, in one game, Weegar looked like a very dependable support to a more dominant defenceman. Mackey might not be that defenceman yet at least. It will be interesting to see Weegar get a look on a pairing with Tanev.
Poirier-Poolman
Poirier made some great plays with the puck and looked very underdeveloped when it came to positioning. He dominated his last year of Junior by being such an advanced skater. Playing against a more professional group of opposition made it clear he needs to get faster and stronger. He has the tools to do so.
A less reliable note on Poirier: despite his strong skating, he doesn’t seem to be in the shape he needs to be at an NHL camp. Which may be a good thing. If he’s this good already, then he’ll be hard to defend if he takes that next step.
Poolman had a game he would likely like to put behind him. A bad penalty. He misplayed a puck on the blue line and gave up a breakaway. Maybe he gets another look, but he’s bound for the AHL squad at this rate.
Whether it was out of necessity due to a slough of penalties against in the first period leading to Andersson and Hanifin being overworked or Darryl Sutter simply wanted to send a message to the 26 year old Minnesotan — Poolman led the team in time on ice at even strength. 16:55. The next highest was Poirier with 13:46.
That said. Factor in special teams and Rasmus Andersson played 24:16, so that may explain that.
Daniel Vladar
The 25 year old played the majority of the game and looked like he hit the reset button over the offseason. He made some big saves and earned the shutout. One cross crease one-timer that he got a piece of turned the game while momentum was still in the air.
Oscar Dansk
There is a bit of confusion in that Oscar’s last name translates to “Danish”, the Stockholm, Sweden native did what was required to seal the shutout.
On a personal note, this writer has been a fan of Oscar Dansk since reviewing his pre-draft footage in 2012. The Blue Jackets took him 31st overall in the second round. The Blue Jackets took Jonas Korpisalo #62 in that same draft. Frederick Andersen and Connor Hellebuyck went in the following two rounds. Korpisalo has been solid beyond last season, but if you’re using an early second and an early third on two goalies — you better get the best goalie in that draft.
Beyond that tangent, Dansk looked good. He has the tools to surprise if an unlikely series of injuries occurred.
Adam Klapka
To those that watched the game in Vancouver, you probably caught a very strange fight.
Klapka won a fight against Jets tryout Wyatt Wilson by wrestling him to the ice. Against the 30 year old Vincent Arseneau it was less smooth. Klapka lost the fight, but gave a few to the AHL veteran. Adam is likely to refine his skills against the AHL’s best this season — for better or worse. There are some very mean skaters in the AHL. A session or two with Flames professional development coach Brian McGrattan might help.
Mitch McLean
The Flames organization has an interesting player in the likes of Mitch McLean. Let’s go back to his first professional season in 2019.
If you caught the game, you saw he has a nose for the net. A goal and an assist. Originally credited as two goals.
Then there is the discrepancy of goals to assists. 17 goals last season puts him tied at 89th. Not bad. His fighting majors last year? Seven. That’s two less than Stockton fan favourite Alex Gallant, but with goal production to go with it.
Here’s him fighting Kurtis Gabriel last season — who can take all comers.
While Mitch is on an AHL only deal, having Klapka and McLean on the roster will take a lot of pressure off of Alex Gallant and Martin Pospisil, who were the go-to to drop the gloves last season on the Stockton Heat.
Next preseason game is tomorrow against the Seattle Kraken at 8:00pm mst.
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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