The Calgary Flames’ stated goal is quite simple: do something the organization has done just once in the last quarter century by finishing with over 100 points.
Given the team’s second-half surge, its off-season acquisitions, it’s youthful core and its unparalleled blue line, reaching Glen Gulutzan’s coveted century mark shouldn’t be that tall a task.
After all, nine teams managed to do it last year.
However, when you realize the organization’s only such season in the last 25 years was a 104-point effort by Miikka Kiprusoff’s 2005-06 edition, it’s clear the Flames aren’t just trying to make the playoffs – they’re taking aim at some franchise history of sorts.
"This organization is really on the upswing and expectations should be higher than the past," said Gulutzan, who said last month his team would be aiming to break 100.
"It’s based on reality if you asked me. We expect to be a playoff team. We were one last year and it wasn’t a fluke. Last year we went from 77 to 94 points. You’re not going to go up 17 again. Can we go up six? I think it’s realistic. I think these expectations, contrary to years past, are real."
In the last few years management has worked hard at trying to manage expectations as the city got jacked about a young team that shocked the hockey world with a playoff berth and first-round upset three years back.
It gave the club a swagger it probably didn’t earn, resulting in missed playoffs two years ago and a four-game exit against Anaheim in the first round last year.
That sweep, and a couple key additions in the off-season, should fuel a much better start this season for a team no longer worried about outside noise.
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This team is poised to be a contender.
They opened camp Friday completely healthy, they know what’s expected of them, Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan are both in camp (as opposed to last year) and the lads seem motivated by last year’s exit.
In other words, no excuses.
After years of stockpiling draft picks, GM Brad Treliving swapped a bunch to acquire Travis Hamonic, giving the team a top-four that makes Mike Smith the envy of most netminders in the league.
Can the quartet of Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, T.J. Brodie and Hamonic help the 35-year-old acquisition from Arizona shine enough to allow the club to live up to the hype?
Well, one thing he doesn’t have to worry about is the players struggling to adjust to a new coach’s system. They did that last year and once they figured it out the 5-10-1 Flames surged to the fifth-best record from mid-November on.
Mikael Backlund emerged as a Selke Trophy candidate and was arguably team MVP on a line with Michael Frolik and Matthew Tkachuk that was the team’s best all year.
Micheal Ferland settled into a top-line mainstay with Gaudreau and Monahan later in the season, giving the team two potent units.
What makes this training camp so different for the Calgary Flames is that this club now has stocked cupboards which have players like first-rounder and AHL standout Mark Jankowski pushing Sam Bennett for third-line centre duties.
Hotshot Union College star Spencer Foo could bump down Kris Versteeg or Troy Brouwer, and any number of first- and second-round defensive hotshots could jump into the sixth spot on the depth chart behind Michael Stone.
After years of being bereft of depth, this club is brimming with prospects to bolster an already formidable lineup.
"I’ve never felt better about the team we have here and the opportunity," said Backlund, citing the World Cup, holdouts, injuries and a new system that plagued the team early last year.
"The stability that we have in our room now is what we’re really excited about," added Brouwer.
"Having the coaches in place, the familiarity, knowing what is expected of us, the lines will be similar up front and we have a great addition at the back. We have high expectations of ourselves."
As they should.
"We think we made good moves and everything we did will help the team, but we’re coming with the attitude, ‘We’re not going to win it on paper," said assistant GM Craig Conroy, who has seen plenty of Flames teams fall short of expectations.
"There was a swagger coming into last year but I don’t feel it this year. Hey, we got swept. That really pissed them off. They were disappointed and it made them more focused this summer. They want to prove themselves."
They can start by reaching Gulutzan’s goal.
"I think if we get 100 points and have a goal differential more than plus-8 (like last year), you can call us a contender," said the coach.
"You don’t want to label yourself. We’ve got to go out and do it. It’s up to us."
