A new Calgary Flames season is upon us and this year the team is content with the balance of old and new they’ve achieved on the bench.
“We have a good veteran presence. I think our young guys have been around for a bit and they’ve played in some playoff games and understand the ins and outs of the league,” Flames captain Mark Giordano said.
The veteran role refined just a little more for captain and birthday boy Giordano who turned 34 Tuesday.
“You try to avoid talking about it as much as you can,” Giordano joked.
The Flames’ roster is proving age isn’t anything but a number with more than half of their team hitting the ice on opening day over the age of 26. Peaking at 35, is Mike Smith starting in net.
Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan remembers some wise words surrounding their most talked about position over the past few years in Calgary.
“I was told by a very smart guy who’s won a lot of hockey games that I can have the best penalty kill meeting, I can have the best practice the day before a game, I can have the best power play meeting but if my goalie’s no good, you’re not gonna win. You’ve got to have goaltending in these league and we feel we have two really good ones,” Gulutzan said.
Gulutzan is especially proud of how much his team has developed since he first took over as head coach last year and teaching new systems to players he had just met.
“We’ve had a tremendous amount of growth from our young guys and I think that’s where our learning has improved tremendously. Our young players now have a framework of what they think needs to be done. That learning’s gone right through the team. The veteran guys start it,” Gulutzan said.
Newly signed forward Tanner Glass, who turns 34 as well in November, already feels at home with his new teammates.
“It’s an easy group to fit in with. My wife and I were talking the other day that we could be fitted better with this team, than three years in New York (Rangers),” Glass said.
Potentially making the Flames bench look even more like a fine aged wine, is the addition of 45-year-old Jaromir Jagr, according to reports.
Even with legendary status, Jagr is aware of the pressure he’ll face on Alberta ice. In a quote to NHL.com, he said: “If you don’t play well in Canada, it’s a much bigger issue than if you don’t play well anywhere else. But this is almost 100 per cent my last NHL season, so at least I would be able to say my last season was in Canada.”
Fans can’t get too ahead of father time just yet though since Jagr’s signing hasn’t officially been confirmed by the Flames and the right-winger may still be in Europe getting his immigration sorted.
“Jaromir’s not here so that’s not even a thought in my mind right now. My real thought in my mind and our coaches from 6:30 a.m. this morning, was the Edmonton Oilers,” Gulutzan said.
Touche. The Flames are getting the season started off right with a classic Battle of Alberta on Wednesday night.
“Games like this, you want to get up for. I haven’t been a part of this rivalry yet, so I’m excited about it and just excited about getting going,” Smith said.
When it comes to number 97 Connor McDavid on the Oilers squad and his “new tricks” this season, Smith is as prepared as you can really be for one of the best players in the world.
“You can’t study a kid like that, he’s as talented as they come and I had the privilege of training with him this summer, so I think I maybe know of couple of those tricks,” Smith said.
Forward Garnet Hathaway, who has already cleared waivers, is expected to be in the lineup for the season opener.
“You can’t dip your toe in this game,” Hathaway said.
Hathaway is unsure of his future with the big club since he could be sent down to the Flames farm team in Stockton but he’s staying positive and remains focused, understanding the reality that is the NHL business.
“You just got to take it day by day. You can’t get too high, too low. You just got to be ready. You realize the business in this game. There’s a business aspect…that’s just part of it, you got to go with it,” Hathaway said.
The Flames’ next chapter in pursuit of Lord Stanley starts Wednesday at Rogers Place in Edmonton against the Oilers.
“Last year’s behind us, we’re a different group now and we’ve got a different mindset. So I think we know what we have to do here to be good,” forward Sean Monahan said.
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