Matchsticks and Gasoline Sep 15, 2021
2021 Flames Top 25 Under 25: #12 - Matthew Phillips
Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Phillips finally made his NHL debut late in the year #12 - Matthew Phillips Position: Right Wing Age: 23 2020-21 Team: Stockton Heat (AHL) Stats: 30 GP, 8 G, 13 A, 21 Pts Drafted in 2016, 6th Round, Pick 166 2020 Ranking: #11 (-1) After weeks or perhaps even years of fans asking, the Calgary Flames finally got Matthew Phillips into some NHL action last year, dressing him in the final game of the regular season against the Vancouver Canucks. Phillips had a pretty respectable showing in that game but will have to fight for any NHL shot...
Matchsticks and Gasoline Sep 12, 2021
2021 Flames Fans Most Hated Opponents
Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via With the offseason winding down, I thought it would be a good time to look at the general state of animosity towards all 31 other teams for Flames fans. With the NHL (hopefully) returning to a full 82 game season where you play every other team, I figured we should get a baseline for a level of hatred fans had for each team. I have broken the rankings down into 8 tiers based on the average responses of readers/fans. Thank you for those who took a few minutes to fill out their answers. Remember that the scale was 1 to 5, with five being...
Matchsticks and Gasoline Sep 11, 2021
2021 Flames Top 25 Under 25: #13 - Dan Vladar
Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Vladar joins the club as the apparent backup #13 - Dan Vladar Position: Goaltender Age: 23 (as of August 1 2021) 2020-21 Team: Boston Bruins (NHL), Providence Bruins (AHL) Stats: NHL - 2-2-1, .886 SV%, 3.40 GAA, AHL - 3-4-3, .923 SV%, 2.19 GAA Acquired via Trade on July 28, 2021 2020 Ranking: NA On the opening day of free agency, there was some expectation that the Calgary Flames were going to sign a veteran backup goaltender on a cheap deal. Instead, they swung a trade late in the day with the Boston Bruins, sending a third round...
Matchsticks and Gasoline Sep 10, 2021
Flames Sign Gudbranson, Stone
Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Because who wants to save cap space The Calgary Flames announced a pair of depth signings this afternoon a mere few minutes apart from each other. First, they announced the signing of Erik Gudbranson to a one year $1.95M contract. Gudbranson most recently played with the Nashville Predators and Ottawa Senators last year. He has also suited up with the Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Anaheim Ducks, and was originally a 3rd overall pick by the Panthers in 2010. This signing doesn’t make a ton of...
Matchsticks and Gasoline Sep 9, 2021
2021 Flames Top 25 Under 25: #14 - Glenn Gawdin
Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Gawdin got his first taste of NHL action in 2021 #14 - Glenn Gawdin Position: Centre Age: 24 Team: Stockton Heat (AHL), Calgary Flames (NHL) Stats: AHL - 22 GP, 4 G, 9 A, 13 Pts NHL - 7 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 Pt Signed on November 16, 2017 2020 Ranking: #13 (-1) After two years of development with the Stockton Heat, Glenn Gawdin finally got into his first NHL action this year, dressing in seven games for the Calgary Flames. He made his NHL debut on February 20 against the Edmonton Oilers and dressed in five straight games over the...
Matchsticks and Gasoline Sep 8, 2021
Flames Sign Two Players For Depth
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Brad Richardson will be joining Calgary for 2021-22 and Connor Mackey inked a two year deal as well. Calgary announced two signings this afternoon with the inking of Brad Richardson and Connor Mackey. Richardson will be with the Flames for one season at the cost of $800,000. Mackey, on the other hand, came to terms on a two year deal worth an average of $912,500. Calgary will be a change of scenery for Richardson as he spent last year with the Nashville Predators. In 17 games in 2020-21, the 36 year old forward scored one goal and handed...
Matchsticks and Gasoline Sep 8, 2021
2021 Flames Top 25 Under 25: #15 Oliver Kylington
Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports Kylington took a big dive in this season’s T25U25 rankings. #15 - Oliver Kylington Position: Defence Age: 24 Team: Calgary Flames Stats: 0 Goals and 1 Assist in 8 Games Drafted in 2015, Round 2, Pick 60 2020 Ranking: #8 (-7) Oh how the mighty have fallen in the Top 25 Under 25, but I don’t put this on Oliver Kylington at all. The Flames haven’t given the 24 year old Swede a legitimate shot, bringing in journeymen defencemen to play where he should be slotted. Last year’s eight total games was a joke and it seems Calgary...
Matchsticks and Gasoline Sep 7, 2021
2021 Flames Top 25 Under 25: #16 - Emilio Pettersen
Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via The Norwegian forward played his first season of pro hockey #16 - Emilio Pettersen Position: Centre/Left Wing Age: 21 Team: Stockton Heat (AHL) Stats: 6 Goals and 8 Assists in 29 Games Drafted in 2018, Round 6, Pick 167 2020 Ranking: #15 (-1) If there’s one thing specifically about the game of Emilio Pettersen, it is that he is an extremely gifted offensive player. He had a very respectable first professional season with the Stockton Heat this past year and looks poised to easily surpass his totals as he returns this...
Matchsticks and Gasoline Sep 3, 2021
Mental Health & Hockey Talks with Kelly Hrudey
Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Register to join us on Tuesday, October 5th from 6-7:30pm at the Calgary Central Library Join former NHL goaltender and current Hockey Night in Canada analyst, and Calgary Flames play-by-play and colour commentator, Kelly Hrudey for a conversation and moderated Q and A about mental illness. There will be a limited number of seats for this in-person event. The event will be live-streamed, and you will be able to join us virtually as well. Hope to see you then! Reserve your seat: Calgary Public Library Registration Reserve your seat:...
Matchsticks and Gasoline Sep 1, 2021
News On Fire 9/1: Flames Inclusion Program, Oilers Projected Win Totals, NHL Signings
It’s slow during the summer, but there’s some stuff to report on today. News On Fire Flames Latest M&G: Top 25 Under 25- Ryan Francis & Jeremie Poirier Flames.com- CSEC Inclusion Program Announced Pacific Division Roundup Copper & Blue: Oilers projected win totals Nucks Misconduct: Canucks prospects are gearing up Fear The Fin: Chekhovich placed on waivers NHL News Islanders Sign Palmieri and three others Connor Murphy signs four year deal with Chicago Riley Sheahan signs one year deal with Seattle Best remaining free agents
Matchsticks and Gasoline Aug 30, 2021
2021 Flames Top 25 Under 25: #17 - Jeremie Poirier
Poirier finished 4th in QMJHL scoring by defensemen #17 - Jeremie Poirier Position: Defense Age: 19 Team: Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) Stats: 9 Goals, 28 Assists in 33 Games Drafted in 2020, Round 3, Pick 72 2020 Ranking: #19 (+2) Jeremie Poirier is arguably the Calgary Flames most intriguing prospect right now. He brings a strong mix of offensive talent and playmaking from the blue line but still has some deficiencies in his defensive game. Poirier was a consensus late first round to early second round pick at the 2020 draft, so for the Flames to snag him in the third round...
Matchsticks and Gasoline Aug 27, 2021
2021 Flames Top 25 Under 25: #18 - Ryan Francis
Telegraph Journal Francis rockets up the rankings #18 - Ryan Francis Position: Centre/Right Wing Age: 19 Team: Cape Breton Eagles, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) Stats: 16G, 34A, 50 points in 32 games Drafted in 2020, Round 5, Pick 143 2020 Ranking: #36 (+18) Following an impressive draft season where he had 72 points in 61 games, Ryan Francis continued to impress and set new career marks during the 2020-21 QMJHL season. The season was already quite uncertain given the pandemic, but Francis’ season was even more unique as he was traded for the first time in his junior...
Matchsticks and Gasoline Aug 25, 2021
Flames Sign Two Players
Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Calgary added depth to the franchise, signing both Glenn Gawdin and Justin Kirkland. The Calgary Flames re-upped two players this afternoon, the team announced. Both Glenn Gawdin and Justin Kirkland were signed to one year, two-way deals, keeping them with the franchise for 2021-22. Gawdin saw some ice time with the Flames last year, skating in seven games and dishing out an assist for his first NHL point. The rest of his 2021 season was spent with the Stockton Heat where he suited up for 22 games and had 13 points. Kirkland meanwhile...
Matchsticks and Gasoline Aug 20, 2021
Flames Sign Juuso Valimaki to 2 Year Deal
Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Calgary inks their young Finnish defenseman The Calgary Flames have signed their 2nd RFA of the day, inking 2017 1st Round Pick Juuso Valimaki to a two year contract. The contract will carry an AAV of $1.55M for each of the next two years. The Flames also signed Nikita Zadorov earlier today. ✍️ Vali is signed ✍️The #Flames have signed @juike4 to a two-year deal: https://t.co/2HtTqEjjGJ pic.twitter.com/OLg9vqwloJ— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) August 20, 2021 Among the remaining RFA’s for the Flames are Dillon Dube, Glenn...
Matchsticks and Gasoline Aug 20, 2021
2021 Flames Top 25 Under 25: #19 - Martin Pospisil
Stockton Heat Injuries hampered the Slovakian again, but took big offensive strides #19 - Martin Pospisil Position: Centre/Right Wing Age: 21 Team: HC Kosice (Tipos Extraliga), Stockton Heat (AHL) Stats: 9G, 8A, 17 points in 22 games (Slovakia), 5G, 6A, 11 points in 14 games (AHL) Drafted in 2018, Round 4, Pick 105 2020 Ranking: #31 (+12) Don’t look now, but the Flames may have themselves another 4th round gem. Selected just one spot after Johnny Gaudreau’s notorious 104th overall selection, Martin Pospisil continues to develop at a very promising rate. In his...
