Fireside Chat

The first season of the Calgary Flames retool is in the books. This season the guys break down the exit interviews from the Flames and what information we can gain from them (or from reading between the lines). As they do at the end of every season, Dan and Matt review the season predictions that they made in the pre-season to see how well they did. This will be the last show on our regular Monday release schedule. We'll be back to preview the NHL Entry Draft in mid to late June, follow our social media accounts for an announcement as to when the next show will be.

The Calgary Flames had a pretty successful week, even though they didn't play very well in most games. If the NHL Entry Draft was today, the Flames would likely pick at #8. The guys discuss the good weeks for Andrei Kuzmenko and Connor Zary and answer a question from listener Al about how the decisions that have been made by the team in the past that have lead the team to where they are now.

Even with the three losses this week, there was still plenty to discuss about the Calgary Flames including where they may pick in the draft, whether Connor Zary can be the #3 Centre the team needs, whether Martin Pospisil's third misconduct in two months is worrisome, and what the workload for the two goalies should be for the rest of the season.

It's been a busy 5 game week for the Flames, but they've finally clinched a spot in the 2004 playoffs! The guys look at possible playoff matchups and who we do or don't want the Flames to take on. We discuss the season Shean Donovan is having and how some of the young guys like Kobasew, Lombardi, Saprykin, Regher and Leopold are looking and other important topics leading up to the final few games of the regular season. APRIL FOOLS! We've wanted to do this episode for a while, and with April Fools' Day landing on a Monday on the 20th anniversary of the 2004 run, it was the perfect time. We hope you enjoyed a trip down memory lane. We'll be back with a regular episode (covering 2024) next week.

This week Jacob Markstrom returned from his injury, but Dan Vladar is out for the season with a hip injury. With Markstrom/Wolf as the tandem for the rest of the season, what do we expect the workload to look like? The guys also discuss an interview that Craig Conroy did with Frank Seravalli this week and what the GM's comments mean for the future of the Flames. Former Flame Chris Simon passed away this week at age 52. The entire Fireside Chat team sends our deepest sympathies to Chris' family and friends. Chris was a big part of the '04 Stanley Cup run and is fondly remembered by our team and the C of Red.

The Calgary Flames won 2 of their 3 games this week with Dustin Wolf in net - but are still outside of the playoff picture. This week's discussion revolves around the roster situation with AJ Greer back, the guys discuss how the roster should be juggled up front and how the Flames should manage starts for their three goaltenders for the rest of the season with Jacob Markstrom, Dan Vladar and Dustin Wolf all showing they can play at the NHL level. The guys also chat about Jonathan Huberdeau and how his game has improved since the All-Star game.

The Trade Deadline has passed, and the Calgary Flames now have a very different-looking defence group. The guys discuss the new additions to the team, the loss of Noah Hanifin and if the deal was good for the Flames and if they're surprised Jacob Markstrom is still a Flame. With the team now sliding further from a playoff spot Dan and Matt also give their opinions about if the Flames can be a playoff team this year.

We're still riding a high from the Miikka Kiprusoff jersey retirement game and a 2-0 week for the Calgary Flames which of course we discuss in detail. The guys give their thoughts as to who is the best Flames goalie of all time - Kiprusoff or Vernon. Then as they look ahead to NHL Trade Deadline, they discuss the Chris Tanev trade and what to expect in Artyom Grushnikov, Jacob Markstrom's comments that "I think it could have been handled a lot different from up top." and if we expect any other deals besides Noah Hanifin to be done before the deadline.

After a disappointing week last week, the Calgary Flames won all three of their games this week and still sit outside a playoff spot. The guys talk about the crazy Battle of Alberta game this week and the big roles Dryden Hunt and Dan Vladar played in the win. With Andrei Kuzmenko playing up and down the lineup lately, we discuss if he is the player Flames fans hoped for when he was acquired. To wrap up the show we share our thoughts on Miikka Kiprusoff's jersey retirement which happens this Saturday (March 2).

What the heck happened to the Calgary Flames? Last week was a fantastic week for the team; this week, they look like they can barely compete. The guys debate if the pressure of the Trade Deadline is affecting the team or what else might be causing this change. While on the topic of Trade Deadline we break down some of the recent trade rumours around Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev and Jacob Markstrom.

It's been a few weeks since our last episode, and lots has happened for the Calgary Flames! This week Dan and Matt discuss the newest Flames with the Andrei Kuzmenko trade and Brayden Pachal waiver pickup and how those players have impacted the Flames' undefeated streak since the All-Star game. Our hosts follow up on their previous discussion about the All-Star game being irrelevant and how the NHL's return to the Olympics and the new World Cup impact their thoughts.

We don't have a new episode this week due to the Flames bye week, but since there is a big trade to announce, we're releasing a discussion from last week where Dan joined Sean from the Shifts and Pucks Podcast to break down the trade sending Elias Lindholm to the Canucks for Andrei Kuzmenko, Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo, a first-round pick and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. We'll be back on February 12 with a new episode.

We've seen the most roster turnover in a week that we can remember for the Calgary Flames. Adam Ruzicka and Nick DeSimone were lost to waivers, and AJ Greer is out for 8 weeks due to injury, which has prompted Adam Klapka, Cole Schwindt and Matt Coronato to be recalled. Combine the roster turnover with a lousy week on the ice, and the guys discuss if this All-Star break can be considered the official start of the Flames rebuild. Plus you get to hear Dan and Matt's annual rant on the NHL All-Star game and their dislike of the whole event.

On this week's episode Dan and Matt answer some listener feedback and questions that were submitted via social media as well as discuss all the Calgary Flames' lineup moves made this week which includes an assessment of Dan Vladar's viability as a starting goaltender, Matthew Coronato's play, Adam Kalpka's debut and who should fill Dillon Dube's roster spot.

Three games, three wins for the Calgary Flames this week during the "Dads and mentors" trip. What do we have to do to keep the Dads around for the rest of the season? The guys talk about this week's games and if this is a sign the Flames will turn this around to sneak into a Wild Card spot as well as answer some listener questions.

It's been a few weeks since we've talked about the Calgary Flames, so there is lots to discuss this week. Both of our hosts are confused about what criteria were used to determine that Elias Lindholm was the Calgary Flames All-Star for this year. We also discuss Oliver Kylington's conditioning stint with the Calgary Wranglers - what it means and why fans need to be cautiously optimistic. Since we're at the mid-point in the season, the guys look back at the season predictions they made back in October to see just how badly they're doing.

The Calgary Flames played four top teams this week and managed to get four points in the hardest way possible. After another less-than-stellar week, the guys discuss what we've learned about Dan Vladar and Dustin Wolf over the last week and how the Flames could use their goalies going forward. With 2023 coming to an end the guys predict the next few Flames game results and if they can go .500 until the near year. Plus, each of our hosts gives their wish for what the Flames need to change for 2024. We're going to be taking a holiday break so there won't be a new episode until January 7, 2024! We hope you'll join is then.

The Calgary Flames ended their longest homestand of the season with only one win in 3 games. With the Flames 3 points out of a playoff spot and 3 points out of a top 5 draft pick this season, the guys discuss the disappointment that continues to follow the team and reset expectations for the season. This week's big story surrounds the goalies - with Jacob Markstrom injured Dustin Wolf was recalled and got 2 starts this week. The guys discuss their thoughts on Dustin Wolf and Dan Vladar's play and what we think will happen with the Flames goaltending for the rest of the year.

This week's discussion focuses mainly on the Calgary Flames' defence after the Nikita Zadorov trade. Dan explains why he thinks the deal is a better one than many fans think it is. The guys also discuss the rumours and news around Noah Hanifin rejecting a contract offer from the Flames, Chris Tanev's trade value Oliver Kylington being back on the ice and where he slots into the lineup when (if) he returns.

The Calgary Flames are now at the one-quarter mark of the season, and we discuss where the team is and if there is any feasible way the Flames don't move their pending Unrestricted Free Agents with where the team is now, and the best we think the Flames can do in the standing this season. One of the challenges for the team so far has been the Power play. The guys break down if the issue has been the coach (Marc Savard), the system, the players - or perhaps a combination of them all.