The flames are extinguished with optimism: ‘I think good things await us’

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For the second straight season, a dark cloud was one of the main stories as the Calgary Flames digested the disappointment of a playoff loss, cleaned out their lockers and parted ways for their summer break.

Except this was completely different.

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On this day a year ago, it was something that could be felt. There was a negativity that simply couldn’t be ignored, a kind of pessimism that seemed to envelop the organization.

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By contrast, Friday’s debates were mostly upbeat and overwhelmingly optimistic.

When workhorse MacKenzie Weegar mentioned dark skies, he wasn’t sharing any inside secrets.

In fact, quite the opposite.

“The biggest thing for me is I don’t know if there’s a dark cloud over Calgary right now, but we’re trying to find a way to change that so guys want to be here again and want to play here, and that’s establishing that. winning culture again,” Weegar said, beginning an impromptu speech to future free agents. “I guess it starts with those guys who didn’t want to be here, and then all of a sudden some guys follow them and then you get a little bit of that reputation. But that dark cloud disappears pretty quickly when you start winning again and making the playoffs.”

How quickly can the Flames, who finished the 2023-24 campaign tied for 24th overall at 38-39-5, get back to winning ways?

How quickly can they push for a playoff spot?

Well, if it depends on the guys in the locker room, the answer will be as soon as possible. The centerpieces took turns Friday to express their belief that this now-retooling team, with the right adjustments and the continued emergence of some of the youngsters, can be competitive sooner rather than later.

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“It seemed like there was a lot of optimism in the conversations,” said Flames general manager Craig Conroy, speaking to reporters after completing his exit meetings with the skating stars. “Hey, we have to take some action. We have to move forward. But I didn’t feel any negativity or upset or unhappy people.

“Last year I didn’t like the tone of what was said when everyone was leaving. It just didn’t feel right. But I didn’t understand that (on Friday).”

You may remember that Mikael Backlund made headlines with what he said (and, to the same extent, what he didn’t say) during his end-of-season media interview in 2023. When he hesitated about signing a contract extension, The feeling was: “God, if Backlund wanted out, this must be really bad.”

After a summer of change, with Conroy promoted to general manager and Ryan Huska installed as head coach, the veteran center reappeared in the fall and immediately had the ‘C’ sewn onto his No. 11 jersey.

“Of course, my dream is to win, but my biggest dream is to win here in Calgary,” Backlund emphasized on Friday, recapping his 16th season with the Flames silks. “I think this renewal is necessary for this organization, and I knew that coming into this year. I’m excited for next year. “I think good things await us.”

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Many of his friends seem to share that optimism.

There are gaps to fill, for sure. That’s a no-brainer after several top minute-eaters (guys who, unlike Backlund, weren’t willing to extend their contract) were traded for future assets.

There are questions to answer, no doubt. At the top of the list is the future of stalwart goalkeeper Jacob Markstrom, who was asked on Friday where he sees himself next season and responded: “I don’t know, but what I do know and what I tell you every day is “I love winning hockey games. That’s my competitive side.”

These guys are all fierce competitors, so it should come as no surprise that they’re already talking about fighting for a playoff spot in 2025. It would be concerning if they weren’t.

As Nazem Kadri, who led the team in scoring with 75 points, put it: “I don’t want to have another Top-10 draft pick after this one, and I don’t think I’ll be the only one. “That feels like it.”

For fans, another Top 10 pick, or two or three, doesn’t sound so bad.

But you shouldn’t be discouraged by what you heard Friday from the Flames either.

And that wasn’t true a year ago.

“I want to stay here and win here,” said Weegar, who just added his name to the NHL record books as the first player to finish a season with 20 goals and more than 200 blocked shots. “I think it’s just an easy way out. It would be so much more rewarding to get through this and come out of this and see it from the other side. I believe that when you go through difficult times and you sacrifice in those times, you will be rewarded for it.

“I really think this team has a lot of potential.”

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