SEASON SLUMP A MYSTERY
What is wrong with the Flames?
This past spring, beyond reason or statistical explanation, they managed to make you smile.
They made you feel like a kid again. Provided an escape. Reignited the Red Mile, stirred up memories of that unbelievable 2004 Stanley Cup playoff run, and, at the very least, all of those comefrombehind victories made you pay attention ( or at least keep your TV and radio on until it was really, truly, over).
Yes, the 2015 National Hockey League playoff party seems like ages ago, doesn’t it?
Only seven months after lighting up this city with their youthful enthusiasm and promise, the Calgary Flames have been off to an underwhelming start to the 201516 season.
“It’s frustrating,” said Calgary Flames forward Joe Colborne on Wednesday at the Scotiabank Saddledome as the team returned for a two- game homestand, which starts Thursday against Philadelphia. “You wanted to go out and — especially with the run we had last year — we really wanted to surprise some people. We knew there’d be heightened expectations.
“The thing is, it’s a long season. We have put ourselves behind the 8 ball, for sure. But we have a team that, we believe, can work our way out of it.”
And although it’s less than 20 games in, the hole is getting deeper.
Three victories. Zero regulation wins at home. Nine losses.
A 3- 9- 1 record that, heading into Wednesday’s action, was only better than three other teams in the NHL.
This, following an improbable post- season run — in the second year of a rebuild, no less — that saw the group formerly known as the “Comeback Kids” dispatch the lifeless Vancouver Canucks and battle with the Anaheim Ducks in the second round.
“You know what?” Flames head coach Bob Hartley was saying Wednesday. “After a loss, I leave the Saddledome and I’m mad, I’m sad. I’m sure all of our fans are the same.
“Walking to your car, it’s not a good feeling. Getting home, it’s not a good feeling.”
Mark Giordano understands the expectations that were placed on their group but believes fans still have their backs.
“We know we’ve been through tough stretches before and they’ve stuck with us,” he said. “If we’re going to turn it around, the support is going to be there through thick and thin in this city.”
Colborne, as a native Calgarian, understands what fans are going through — probably more than most.
“They know we aren’t where we expect ourselves to be,” he said. “It comes with the territory of being a team that everyone loves. They love you in the good times and, when you’re not performing, they’re going to let you know, too.
“We want to get this figured out more than anyone else.” The players aren’t the only ones. “We could sit and talk for hours about what needs to be cleaned up,” Flames general manager Brad Treliving said. “Even when things were going well, we knew we weren’t a perfect team. So, coming into this year, that was a big part from management’s side — we have to improve here. “We’re not going to get better just because we’re a year older and a year wiser.’’
The additions of two- way forward Michael Frolik up front and 22- year- old superstar defenceman Dougie Hamilton was a promising way to ease into the dog days of summer.
The goaltending situation — between Jonas Hiller, Karri Ramo, and Joni Ortio — was supposed to be sorted out.
And, fourth overall pick Sam Bennett, second- year whiz kid Johnny Gaudreau, and third- year centre Sean Monahan were supposed to be the matches lit under their fire.
No, it hasn’t quite worked out that way. Yet.
And while rumours have floated around — like they do when a team struggles — Treliving is thinking logically.
“We could make a trade as soon as I hang up the phone here,” he said. “But it’s one that, in an hour, we’ll be regretting for years. To me, there is no quick fix in this.
“The notion that you’re all of a sudden going to trade your way out of a slide or slump ... it doesn’t work that way.” So, they’ll persevere onward. Through thick and thin. “When you go through challenging times, you can use all the cliches you want,” Treliving said. “It’s easy to be strong during good times, it’s difficult and challenging during adversity. In difficult times you learn more about yourself, those you’re surrounded by.
“So, we’re going to learn a thing or two about ourselves in the next little while.”