Flames have GMs singing their praises
Ever wonder what NHL general managers talk about when they gather around the water cooler?
More or less, it’s similar to the banter usually taking place around any office water cooler — last night’s game, the NHL playoff race and hotshot players.
So, when first-year Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving sauntered up and started chatting casually at the three-day long NHL general managers’ get-together in Boca Raton, Fla., he was pleased to hear the leaguewide impression of the Calgary Flames.
“It’s nice,” Treliving said Friday, a few days after things wrapped up. “Guys were really complimentary of where the team is at and how they compete on a nightly basis. People were saying it’s a tough outing, Calgary is a tough (opponent). Those things are nice to hear. So, we’re starting to establish an identity as a team.”
But, whether he conveyed it to his peers or not — and while the greater good of the NHL was mostly on their list of talking points at the meetings — it’s obvious the Flames aren’t satisfied yet.
“Our goal in the next two and a half or three weeks is to get into the playoffs,” Treliving said.
“You spend a lot of time with (the other GMs at the meetings) and you talk, not only on the agenda items, but everyone is talking about their situation and you’re talking to other teams about their situations.
“It was nice to hear the comments that are being made about our players and our team ... we are creating an identity that people are appreciating in terms of how our team plays.”
The business at hand, however, was clear. Treliving was there to give his input on a few changes and recommendations — the rules governing faceoffs and puck possession, a three-on-three overtime format, and video replay on goaltender interference.
But, overall, the state of the union message from the NHL to the assembled general mangers made it clear the game is moving in the right direction.
“As we see it, the competitive balance throughout the league, the playoff races, the intensity, and — quite frankly — the entertainment of the games, I don’t think has ever been higher,” Treliving said.
“This wasn’t necessarily a meeting where we had to come in and make a whole bunch of radical changes. The game is in a good place. You look at areas we can tweak or are there areas we can spend some time looking at closer.”
After the GM meetings, Treliving headed east on a scouting trip to watch a handful of OHL, QMJHL, college games, and he’s making some headway on 2015 NHL draft preparations.
He’s also keeping an eye on college free-agency and took care of some business Thursday night by signing Alberta-born defenceman Kenny Morrison out of Western Michigan. The 23-year-old is scheduled to join the Adirondack Flames next week.
As for his own group at home, the Flames (39-27-5) dispatched the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 on Thursday night and picked up an important two points to slide back into a Western Conference playoff position. With 83 points, they’re currently back in the Pacific Division’s third slot.
But Saturday’s NHL events outside of Calgary’s game at Colum- bus carry a pile of implications on the post-season picture. Games between Los Angeles (34-33-14) and Vancouver (40-26-4), Washington (39-23-10) and Winnipeg (36-23-12), and St. Louis (45-20-6) and Minnesota (39-25-7) could all have an impact on the Flames position in the Western Conference standings.
Especially if they suffer a loss to the Blue Jackets (32-35-4), who are playing spoiler.
“The league is tight, the league is close,” said Treliving who hopes to join the Flames on the road next week, starting Friday at Minnesota.
“As long as the season is, what is magnified is the importance of every game ... it’s hard to chase. We’ve been in that situation where it’s hard to make up ground. So, it’s difficult to go long stretches when you’re not getting points — whether that’s in October or March — and not to fall out of the race.”
The competitiveness wasn’t lost at the GM meetings, sure, but the bigger picture agenda was still the purpose.
“The mood was, yeah, you compete against all the guys,” Treliving said.
“But the object of these meetings are to put that competitive fire on the back burner and, as a group of managers, you’re putting the game’s best interest at the forefront and not personal agendas.
“Everyone looks at what do you do to help the game versus what can we do to help my situation?”