Calgary Flames 2017 Season Preview: Draft Utopia

Calgary Flames 2017 Season Preview

Sean Monahan continues to dominate. Monahan wants to help Calgary win a playoff series in 2017-2018.

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Posted on 9/11/2017.

Calgary Flames Line 1 Forwards

Player	Position	Games Played	Height	Weight	Goals	Assists	Points
Johnny Gaudreau	Left Wing	72	5-foot-9-inches	157-pounds	18	43	61
Sean Monahan	Center	81	6-foot-2-inches	195-pounds	27	31	58
Michael Ferland	Right Wing	76	6-foot-2-inches	208-pounds	10	15	25

Calgary Flames Line 2 Forwards

Player	Position	Games Played	Height	Weight	Goals	Assists	Points
Matthew Tkachuk	Left Wing	76	6-foot-2-inches	202-pounds	13	35	48
Mikael Backlund	Center	81	6-foot-1-inches	199-pounds	22	31	53
Michael Frolik	Right Wing	82	6-foot-1-inches	194-pounds	17	27	44

Calgary Flames Line 3 Forwards

Player	Position	Games Played	Height	Weight	Goals	Assists	Points
Kris Versteeg	Left Wing	69	5-foot-11-inches	176-pounds	15	22	37
Sam Bennett	Center	81	6-foot-1-inches	186-pounds	13	13	26
Troy Brouwer	Right Wing	74	6-foot-3-inches	215-pounds	13	12	25

Calgary Flames Line 4 Forwards

Player	Position	Games Played	Height	Weight	Goals	Assists	Points
Curtis Lazar	Left Wing	37	6-foot-0-inches	209-pounds	1	3	4
Matt Stajan	Center	81	6-foot-1-inches	195-pounds	6	17	23
Spencer Foo	Right Wing	0	6-foot-0-inches	190-pounds	0	0	0

Calgary Flames Forwards Review: Calgary has four lines that can score. Some of the players on the second line did more than players on the first line.

Left winger Johnny Gaudreau and center Sean Monahan anchor this top line for Calgary. Michael Ferland is on the first line at right wing.

Matthew Tkachuk stepped up as a loine 2 left winger right away as a rookie after being a 2016 first round draft pick. Mikael Backlund helps as a line 2 center. Michael Frolik did better than Michael Ferland last season so he will thrive on the second line.

Calgary has a potent offense with multiple forwards that can win offense while being aggressive on defense to help out the blue line as well. The Flames ranked 17th in goals scored and 10th on the power play in 2016-2017. Calgary should be a top 15 team in both goals scored and power play in 2017-2018. The talent for the Flames to be that type of team with all of their assets on offense is there.

Calgary Flames Defensive Lines

Player	Line	Games Played	Height	Weight	Goals	Assists	Points
Dougie Hamilton	Line 1	81	6-foot-6-inches	227-pounds	13	37	50
Mark Giordano	Line 1	81	6-foot-0-inches	198-pounds	12	27	39
T.J. Brodie	Line 2	82	6-foot-1-inches	182-pounds	6	30	36
Travis Hamonic	Line 2	49	6-foot-2-inches	205-pounds	3	11	14
Michael Stone	Line 3	64	6-foot-3-inches	210-pounds	3	12	15
Brett Kulak	Line 3	21	6-foot-2-inches	187-pounds	0	3	3

Calgary Flames Defensemen Review: Calgary is pretty deep on defense. They got Dougie Hamilton and Mark Giordano on the first line. The second line features T.J. Brodie and Travis Hamonic. Michael Stone and Brett Kulak are on the third line for now. Calgary has a ton of prospects in their system that can replace those two down the road. Stone is a good third line defender. Kulak is in a make or break season with all the talent in Calgary's system.

Calgary finished 14th in goals allowed and 12th in penalty killing in 2016-2017. That kind of consistency on defense got Calgary to the opening round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Draft Utopia Between The Pipes Goalie Tracker

Starting Goalie

Player	Team	Games Played	Record	Shutouts	Save Percentage	Goals Against Average
Mike Smith	Calgary Flames	55	19-26-9	3 Shutouts	.914	2.92 GAA

Backup Goalie

Player	Team	Games Played	Record	Shutouts	Save Percentage	Goals Against Average
Eddie Lack	Calgary Flames	18	8-7-3	1 Shutout	.902	2.64 GAA

Calgary Flames Goaltender Review: Calgary now has Mike Smith as their starter and Eddie Lack. Both of these goalies were in situations with really bad defenses. These goalies will improve statistically in Calgary since they will be going to a team with a much better defense.

Calgary Flames Prospect Pool: Calgary has been phenomenal in the NHL Draft since Head Coach Bob Hartley arrived. GM Brad Treliving took over this team before the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and got 3 premium prospects in 2014 second round pick Mason McDonald, 2015 second round pick Rasmus Andersson, 2015 second round pick Oliver Kylington, and 2017 first round pick Jusso Valimaki.

Calgary also has defenseman Tyler Wotherspoon on the Stockton Heat in the AHL. I don't think those guys have the potential to develop into NHL guys like the players they recently drafted.

Calgary Flames 2017-2018 Prediction

Calgary has enough talent to be a top 3 team in their division after barely making the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs only to get swept by the Anaheim Ducks. I think Calgary can win a game or two against Anaheim or the Edmonton Oilers. They still need another year or home ice against a good opponent to have a shot of getting past the first round. I am not sure the Flames will finish top 2 in this division with Anaheim and Edmonton, but that's what it will take for them to get out of the first round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.