The Flames Biggest Issue This Year: Scoring Depth

The Calgary Flames have experienced some roster turnover in the past few seasons. Talented players like star forward Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm have gone in trades, while beloved Johnny Gaudreau entered free agency, leaving big holes in Calgary’s roster. With GM Craig Conroy still helping the roster through a transition, Head Coach Ryan Huska has been working on getting the team to score.

Related: Flames History Of Trading Away Top Draft Picks

With that in mind, the Flames are 26th in goals per game with 2.61 and have a minus-13 goal differential. They also sit 26th in goals with only 86. Since Oct. 22, Calgary has scored more than three goals only twice in the past 27 games. Yikes.

So far this year, the Flames are seeing renaissance performances by Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri. While both forwards have struggled to live up to their big-ticket deals, they have recently delivered much closer to full value, scoring 12 goals a piece in 33 games.

Outside of Kadri and Huberdeau, there’s a decent drop before the next highest goal scorer, Matt Coronato, who has eight goals (in only 28 games). The lack of goal-scoring depth has significantly affected the team’s production struggles.

Realistically, the Flames need more from two forwards: Andrei Kuzmenko and Yegor Sharangovich. Last year, Sharangovich played all 82 games and was a constant scoring threat, registering 31 goals. With six in 28 games this year, he has been far less effective.

Meanwhile, Kuzmenko’s struggles are well documented this year, likely leading him to find his name on the trade block. After being acquired from the Vancouver Canucks, he scored 14 goals and 25 points in 29 games. This year, however, he has managed a single goal. If these two can return to last year’s form, the Flames could benefit from a bump in scoring.

Despite these scoring woes and the roster’s general lack of depth, Calgary is staying in the wildcard race. With one more game before the holiday break against a visiting Chicago Blackhawks, the team will look to end the home stand with a pivotal extra two points.