There is an extended quote that sticks with me from the 2006-2013 comedy 30 Rock. Alec Baldwin’s character, Jack, serves as an executive mentor to Tina Fey’s character, Liz, who runs a late night comedy show at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
“Sometimes the way back up is down. Let me tell you a story. It’s 1994. I went ice climbing, and I fell into a crevasse. I hurt my leg, and I couldn’t climb back up. So, fighting every natural instinct, doing the thing that seemed most awful to me, I climbed down into the darkness. And that’s how I got out. When I got back to base camp, I went and found my fellow climber, the one who had cut me loose after I fell. And I said, ”Connie Chung, you did the right thing.”
Great show. You get about 60 jokes packed into 22 minutes and the odd dash of profundity in the form of Alec Baldwin playing the opposite of who he is in real life; a lifelong conservative with a focus on innovation in the free market.
You have to wonder if the anecdote applies to the guys currently running the Calgary Flames.
With 28 points in 31 games, Calgary is three points out of a playoff spot after going 8-3-2 (.692) since Nov. 13.
The Flames are also in 30th place and are tied with eight other teams for most games played so far.
Leading the way over this hot stretch has been a few choice veterans. Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri both have 13 points in 15 games. Mikeal Backlund has eight points and has only been on the ice for two even strength goals against in those 13 games.
Backlund’s wingman, Blake Coleman, has six points on the stretch. The combo’s penalty killing prowess matches their even strength results. Calgary is a fourth place 90.2% on the PK since Nov. 13 with those two serving as the first unit.
Calgary’s second forward PK unit, John Beecher and Joel Farabee have only been on for one powerplay goal against on this stretch; don’t count them out either. Although, most recently, Jonathan Huberdeau has grabbed Beecher’s spot on PK2.
This is a long way of saying that the veterans are getting it done.
Are other teams bringing poor efforts due to Calgary’s position in the standings? Absolutely, but other teams don’t need to know that. As soon as the code gets cracked, we’re going to see the team revert back to a points percentage starting with .4. All the opposition needs to do is bring their lunch pales and more talent to grind two points out against the Calgary Flames.
Oh, and hope that Dustin Wolf doesn’t completely steal the game.
Easier said than done, but don’t expect the Flames to stay at .693. Perhaps right around this time, when Kadri and Andersson are hot, is the best time to push for a trade, but there are plenty of factors. You can’t just hit “sell” and get your returns. There has to be a buyer willing to meet the price.
Then Again
OK. Say we’re looking at a return of two first round picks for Nazem Kadri. One is a late pick and one is a guy drafted recently. That is about what Tomas Hertl fetched when Vegas gave up a late first and David Edstrom.
Would you give up those two assets to move up five spots in the draft? How about ten?
More importantly, what NHL general manager in their right mind accepts any amount of late firsts to move down from Gavin McKenna or Keaton Verhoeff?
Craig Conroy and the Calgary Flames are stuck in the middle, and they’re once again working themselves back to .500. Every point they steal hurts their odds at drafting a player that truly moves the needle.
In six years, so many fans could be reflecting on how dumb it was to hold out until the deadline for an extra second for one of these guys while the team grinds along a few hairs below a playoff pace. One of those situations where objectivity is needed.
Perhaps it makes more sense for Conroy to accept a reasonable return, give a middle finger to the other GMs low-balling him, and start the journey down and out of the crevasse. A couple late firsts and a top three pick instantly revives faith from a fan base clamouring for long term moves.
The Brz is Back
Hunter Brzustewicz will play his first game of the season tonight against Detroit. Game number two of his NHL career. The right-side defenceman has four goals and eight assists for 12 points in 24 games this season.
Brzustewicz and Kuznetsov were a defensive pairing last season. Wonder if we see them reunited. Joel Hanley hasn’t done well with top four minutes this season.
The Hot Stove was down for maintenance, so I published a piece on X/Twitter at the time. Kuznetsov being claimed off waivers in late September would have been an absolute disaster. The 23 year old defenceman has fit seamlessly into Calgary’s top four.
Here it is if you’re interested.
One last note on Brzustewicz. The timing is odd. Yes, Jake Bean may be injured. Yes, Brayden Pachal didn’t exactly blow any doors down against Buffalo.
Hunter hasn’t been hot in the AHL lately. Just a single assist in his last eight games. The 21-year-old was also a -2 in his most recent game.
This isn’t the first questionably-timed call-up the Flames have made this season. Rory Kerins cited his unfortunate lack of goal scoring at the time that he was called up as well. The Caledon, Ontario product had just one goal in six games prior to his promotion.
It has to work for both sides. In the end, the Flames need a body called up, but bringing these guys up when they’re not producing opens up a can of worms when it comes to timing and meritocracy.
Botching the Battle
This has to be the worst schedule-making that the Flames have had to deal with in years. The gauntlet to start the year completely derailed the season, but this sequence is heresy:
Insulating the Battle of Alberta with the Christmas break. Brutal. Nothing like Christmas cheer to escalate a situation. The league has been mishandling the best rivalry in hockey since 2022.
Make them play two consecutive Saturdays. Only one game for both in between. Hype up the rematch. Sell some tickets and give people something to watch. The league is stronger when the Battle of Alberta hits the odd home run.
And for god’s sake, Lemon, make it a national broadcast in both Canada and the USA.
Stats courtesy of the National Hockey League.
KEEP READING:
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3 Questions as the Calgary Flames Wrap November
Bob Wilkie’s “Sideways” Debuts Powerful Journey
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Thanks Trevor.
Looks like he’ll lineup with Nacho, easing him in. One thing about the Flames since Conroy’s taken over, is he been true to his word on prospects getting a chance.
Don’t think anyone is in a hurry to move Kadri unless it’s a killer offer. Andersson may be our only vet traded this year and the way he’s been playing, we should get a great return for him.
Typical Flames hockey, just when they’re a hope for a top 3 pick, they go and fuck it up again.