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As teams determine which players to retain -- and which ones they want to sign via free agency -- ESPN.com looks at the Flames. We briefly review '99-00 to determine who had a good season and why the Flames fell short of the postseason. Then, there's the question of what must happen for the Flames to be better next season.
Season Review: Too many bad streaks
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Lots of good came out of '99-00. Except, and most importantly, the Flames didn't make the playoffs -- and actually finished second-to-last in the Western Conference. Starting with the positives, Valeri Bure emerged as an All-Star and scored 35 goals, to go along with 40 assists. Jarome Iginla (29 goals) and Marc Savard (22) had solid seasons, and veteran defenseman Phil Housley (44 assists) looked more 26 than 36. Goalie Fred Brathwaite (2.75 GAA, .905 save percentage) stepped in for Grant Fuhr and proved deserving of a shot at a No. 1 job.
Then, where did it all go wrong? First, the Flames were streaky, and losing streaks are a killer. In one stretch, the Flames went 0-9-1 (Jan 26-Feb. 16) and another time lost six in a row (March 7-18). Couple that with an 0-3-1 start, and the Flames couldn't expect to be a threat. Playoff teams don't have slides like that. And another problem was Fuhr. It wasn't so much that he was injured -- because Brathwaite proved capable -- but rather he played so poorly when he was in net. In this era, a 3.83 GAA and .857 save percentage is nothing short of atrocious. If he was playing hurt, that is both his and the team's responsibility -- and not a valid excuse. Harsh for a Hall of Famer, but true nonetheless.
The Open Market: Flames to stay cool?
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FREE AGENCY
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Key unsigned free agents:
Fred Brathwaite, Derek Morris, Marc Savard, Jeff Shantz, Jason Weimer, Clarke Wilm
Signings/offseason acquisitions:
Dave Lowry |
Brathwaite filed for arbitration, so there's no issue there; he'll have a contract and will be in camp. Savard and Derek Morris could be interesting, but they're not in a position to be overly demanding in contract talks. Overall, the roster from last season will have a similar feel. The question is whether the Flames and their new management team will sign any free agents to give some depth to the roster. Since the team still doesn't have a coach, new signings aren't the No. 1 priority.
How to improve: Consistency from D to G
The Flames allowed 256 goals last season, third worst in the NHL. A lot of it was Fuhr, but some responsibility falls on defensemen and the overall team game. If Calgary expects to move up in the West, the team must allow 30-40 fewer goals. Such a drastic reduction won't be easy, but having Brathwaite and Mike Vernon will be a huge help. As long as the new coach uses them well -- i.e. keeps them both happy -- a solid tandem like that should account for at least 20-30 fewer scores. The rest will be up to Housley and a corps of young blueliners. Also, against the league's better teams, Calgary's lack of depth was apparent. Even if the Flames don't acquire a forward or two, the third and fourth lines must score more.
Brian A. Shactman is the NHL Editor for ESPN.com.
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