Todd Cordell: On the importance of a quick start, Andersson vs Ehlers, and goaltending

When do they stat playing games?

Is Edmontons arena safe to play in? Seems like they got their defensive coach to from years past to construct their rink.

Up until camp I had all but forgotten about Geoff ward as our HC. Any thoughts as to wether or not he’ll have the interim tag removed or how much success the team would need to have in order for that to happen?

Up until camp I had all but forgotten about Geoff ward as our HC. Any thoughts as to wether or not he’ll have the interim tag removed or how much success the team would need to have in order for that to happen?
- RedC21

I think it depends if they can get Gallant. If not than I guess to me it would take getting passed the 2nd round and not getting absolutely overwhelmed like they did by Colorado.

what is Calgary fans confidence level at with this series? Winnipeg fans seem a bit cocky to me. I see it more as a coin toss with special teams and whose goalie comes out hot as the two biggest factors.

what is Calgary fans confidence level at with this series? Winnipeg fans seem a bit cocky to me. I see it more as a coin toss with special teams and whose goalie comes out hot as the two biggest factors.
- Ross77

I think Jets have a better top 6, Flames slightly better on the backend but the big difference & will be the difference in this series is Hellybuck is way better than Talbot or Rittch. That equates to Jets in 4. If Helly isnt elite, all bets are off.

what is Calgary fans confidence level at with this series? Winnipeg fans seem a bit cocky to me. I see it more as a coin toss with special teams and whose goalie comes out hot as the two biggest factors.
- Ross77

I'm thinking most of us peg this series as a 50/50 match up with a consolation prize if we lose. Lafreniere would be great but the Flames will still move up in the draft if we lose so its kinda a win/win.

I think it depends if they can get Gallant. If not than I guess to me it would take getting passed the 2nd round and not getting absolutely overwhelmed like they did by Colorado.
- DuranDuran

For me it would take a good amount of success as I would also have interest in Boudreau or laviolette. Too many good options out there this off-season that normally aren’t available

what is Calgary fans confidence level at with this series? Winnipeg fans seem a bit cocky to me. I see it more as a coin toss with special teams and whose goalie comes out hot as the two biggest factors.
- Ross77

As everyone else has pretty well said I think it’s 50/50. The winner of the cup always goes to the team that goes on a hot streak at the right time. Considering how even both the jets and us are on paper it shouldn’t take much for either team to pull away from the other, especially given the unpredictability of how each team performs with this amount of time off.

what is Calgary fans confidence level at with this series? Winnipeg fans seem a bit cocky to me. I see it more as a coin toss with special teams and whose goalie comes out hot as the two biggest factors.
- Ross77

Slight edge to WPG. I think Flames can be the better team overall but are incosistent. Helly could easily steal 3 games in a row.

That being said, GFG.

I think it depends if they can get Gallant. If not than I guess to me it would take getting passed the 2nd round and not getting absolutely overwhelmed like they did by Colorado.
- DuranDuran

I would LOVE Gallant. I think he would be a great fit. But the Flames have never went for the big name coach they always look for more economical options

I would LOVE Gallant. I think he would be a great fit. But the Flames have never went for the big name coach they always look for more economical options
- kresco

That’s the boat I’m in. I’m not legitimately considering gallant because I don’t want to get my hopes up. I for one wanted Boudreau when he went to the wild and every team laviolette has gone to puts up 100 pts in his first year there. My gut feeling though says they just remove the interim tag from ward. I recall someone saying that we interviewed him for the HC job when we hired peters.

I'd be wary of Gallant. The way he lost his last two jobs sure makes it seem like there's something there we don't know about.

I'd be wary of Gallant. The way he lost his last two jobs sure makes it seem like there's something there we don't know about.
- Hunkulese

What do you think that is?

What do you think that is?
- DuranDuran

No idea, but the amount of success he has had and the way he's been unceremoniously kicked to the curb twice now in the past five years, once literally, makes it seem like something's up, especially when the NHL is a culture that loves to tout how important respect is.

No idea, but the amount of success he has had and the way he's been unceremoniously kicked to the curb twice now in the past five years, once literally, makes it seem like something's up, especially when the NHL is a culture that loves to tout how important respect is.
- Hunkulese

Kinda my thoughts as well. Especially that Vegas situation. To get a first year expansion team to the Cup final should have bought some years of good will. Many coaches have a shelf life, D Sutter usually was about 3-4 years, great coach but his style wore off after awhile. Terry Crisp was gunned a year after winning the Cup here, dont know what happened but if my memory serves me at all I dont think he ever got another head coaching gig in the nHL either. You just dont know.

Kinda my thoughts as well. Especially that Vegas situation. To get a first year expansion team to the Cup final should have bought some years of good will. Many coaches have a shelf life, D Sutter usually was about 3-4 years, great coach but his style wore off after awhile. Terry Crisp was gunned a year after winning the Cup here, dont know what happened but if my memory serves me at all I dont think he ever got another head coaching gig in the nHL either. You just dont know.
- Kevin R

One has to think that Tre will be doing his sue diligence after Peters.

I bet our 4rth line will be centred by Ryan with Rinaldo and Reider/Czarnik/Quine/Buddy to his sides (even though Quine/Czarnik has more offensive upside I think the coaching staff likes Reiders defensive skills in the playoffs...)
Hopefully they’re not starting Janks, unless he truly proves himself in camp...and I don’t know about you but that’s a line that can actually surprise some people and do some damage especially if Rinaldo becomes a monster (in good ways) on the ice...
I’m really digging the third line centered by Bennett (about time!!), with Looch and Dube... that line can be a true X factor for us as long as all our lines are doing there job...I have a big feeling that Talbot will be are go too guy even if big save starts the serious...
All in all I think the Jets has a hair of an edge because of goaltending and top 6 but if the Flames really puts on their sht kickers and kick some sht, I think they can do some serious frickin damage and even make it the western finals!!!🤞🏻
Hockey is back baby and I’m sooo stoked!!!
🔥GFG🔥

I bet our 4rth line will be centred by Ryan with Rinaldo and Reider/Czarnik/Quine/Buddy to his sides (even though Quine/Czarnik has more offensive upside I think the coaching staff likes Reiders defensive skills in the playoffs...)
Hopefully they’re not starting Janks, unless he truly proves himself in camp...and I don’t know about you but that’s a line that can actually surprise some people and do some damage especially if Rinaldo becomes a monster (in good ways) on the ice...
I’m really digging the third line centered by Bennett (about time!!), with Looch and Dube... that line can be a true X factor for us as long as all our lines are doing there job...I have a big feeling that Talbot will be are go too guy even if big save starts the serious...
All in all I think the Jets has a hair of an edge because of goaltending and top 6 but if the Flames really puts on their sht kickers and kick some sht, I think they can do some serious frickin damage and even make it the western finals!!!🤞🏻
Hockey is back baby and I’m sooo stoked!!!
🔥GFG🔥
- Cruzn’Oost

I kinda wish Buff was playing just to see the fireworks between him and Looch.

But I remember how he single handedly destroyed us when he was a young buck playing forward for Chicago.

I loved how in the 18-19 season, Johnny made Buff look like a humongous pylon as he caught him flat-footed and skated in and scored (on Hellebuyck, I think). Buff was so frustrated that he took a slashing penalty on the play. Sure, that's old news, but I think that's the kind of speed we'll see from many of the Flames in this play-in round.

Also, I wouldn't be surprised to see both of our goalies in net and both of them dialed-in and turning it up a notch. Ward will want both of them going in such a short series and really, it'll be the only way to make sure that either of them is fresh enough to play well.

As for Gallant, he's a great coach and I always thought that he got the shaft from Florida, but with the way things went down in Vegas, it really makes me wonder what the unspoken story is.

I kinda wish Buff was playing just to see the fireworks between him and Looch.

But I remember how he single handedly destroyed us when he was a young buck playing forward for Chicago.
- DuranDuran

💯 and I’m not gonna lie, if he actually makes a come back for next year and obviously passes medical I wouldn’t be surprised one bit to see Treliving making a run for him..
He’s such a beast in many ways!!!
And Mr. Clutch (for defensemen) come playoff time...

What do you think that is?
- DuranDuran

He's apparently not much of an analytics guy

I think Jets have a better top 6, Flames slightly better on the backend but the big difference & will be the difference in this series is Hellybuck is way better than Talbot or Rittch. That equates to Jets in 4. If Helly isnt elite, all bets are off.
- Kevin R

lol slight edge on the backend?

Flames have been better than the Jets two seasons in a row but if the Jets and their fans want to be considered favorites that's fine

lol slight edge on the backend?

Flames have been better than the Jets two seasons in a row but if the Jets and their fans want to be considered favorites that's fine
- flashfire

I do not consider the jets favorites. Their top 6 forwards are ridiculously talented, but their D is not strong in the least. Calg has a better bottom 6, and vastly superior D, but if Ehlers can quit being his own worst enemy, look out. The kid is on of the best at puck possession and creating space. But for whatever reason he keeps tossing the puck into no mans land or doubling back and putting his mates offside. Either way, I think this is going to be one of the more exciting series to watch and I can't wait to see what happens.

I do not consider the jets favorites. Their top 6 forwards are ridiculously talented, but their D is not strong in the least. Calg has a better bottom 6, and vastly superior D, but if Ehlers can quit being his own worst enemy, look out. The kid is on of the best at puck possession and creating space. But for whatever reason he keeps tossing the puck into no mans land or doubling back and putting his mates offside. Either way, I think this is going to be one of the more exciting series to watch and I can't wait to see what happens.
- bikeguy99

I think it will come down to goaltending. If Helly is on his game will be tough for Calgary to outscore the Jets.