Peters anxious to get started
Flames’ training camp begins Tuesday with flight to China for nine-day trip
Bill Peters meant no disrespect to the fine members of the community, raising money at Country Hills Golf Course for the Calgary Flames Foundation.
But the new head coach wants to drop the puck already.
“I’d rather be on the ice than at the golf tournament,” said Peters, just as the golf carts dispersed on Thursday morning to signify the start of the annual event which represents the unofficial start to the season.
“Great venue. Beautiful day. We raise some money. It’s great. But let’s get play hockey. Let’s get going.
“I’m ready.”
The energy and anticipation was palpable from Peters, so much so that one reporter asked if he felt energetic enough to scale the Great Wall of China upon the Flames’ arrival.
“Well, I’ve never been,” Peters answered. “How big is it?”
His excitement is understandable.
It’s been a long summer for the 52-year-old who became the 17th coach in Flames history on April 23. There’s been chatter, analysis, videos and more chatter. Peters is over it.
“I can’t wait to get on the ice,” said the former Carolina Hurricanes boss who’ll join the Flames rookies for their first ice time on Friday at the Stampede Corral. “It’s time to go. It’s been a long summer. We sit here and we talk and we talk and we talk.
“Let’s get on the ice. Let’s get to work. Let’s dig in. Let’s quit talking. It’s time.
“Let’s get there. Let’s get started." Peters has plans already, identifying that Matthew Tkachuk, James Neal and Elias Lindholm each could slot in on the right-wing spot with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan.
The plan is to limit Monahan, fresh off a springtime wrist surgery, and his time in the faceoff circle early on this pre-season.
Peters prefers left-right pairings on his back end but the left-shooting TJ Brodie appears destined to move to the right side alongside Mark Giordano.
Travis Hamonic will be teamed up with the smooth-skating Noah Hanifin on the second pairing.
And Peters is “open minded” about the team’s third pairing and wants to see how Rasmus Andersson fits into the picture.
But it all begins with training camp which starts, officially for the main group, on Tuesday with their departure for China.
In total, it’s a nine-day excursion which sees the 26-man group practise four times, play two preseason games against the Boston Bruins, visit — or scale — the Great Wall of China and return home.
The plan is to take 26 players: five lines, eight defencemen and three netminders.
The deeper plan is for the team to return to Calgary with a little more structure and cohesiveness.
And, finally, put Flames general manager Brad Treliving ’s off-season work to the test.
“When I took the job, we talked about what we wanted to address, and Tree and management have been able to do that,” Peters said. “I think we’ve improved our skill level and our speed on the right side. Our depth in our organization is definitely better. We’re very deep up front. A lot of those guys we brought in can play multiple positions.
“I’m just looking forward to the team reaching its potential, that’s the biggest thing for us.”
Great venue. Beautiful day. We raise some money. It’s great. But let’s get play hockey. Let’s get going. I’m ready.