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The Calgary Flames haven’t had too many concerning issues to address this season. Sure, they struggle to score goals, but that was always expected to be with a team that parted ways with so many veterans a season ago. They did that in order to begin a rebuild, and in the first season of doing so, sit in a playoff spot with only 17 games remaining.
The biggest reason for the Flames’ success is the play of rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf. The 23-year-old has excelled all season long, and is a frontrunner to win the Calder Trophy given annually to the NHL’s best rookie performer.
Wolf isn’t the only Flame who has stepped up, however. Jonathan Huberdeau is having a much-needed bounce-back season with a team-leading 25 goals and 49 points, while Nazem Kadri has also been solid with 23 goals and 48 points. Meanwhile, another young player in Matt Coronato has brought provided some impressive secondary scoring with 16 goals and 33 points through 60 outings.
One player who has not impressed is Yegor Sharangovich. The 26-year-old exploded for 31 goals and 59 points in 2023-24, his first season with the Flames, which helped earn him a five-year, $28.75 million extension. That signing is quickly looking like a mistake, as he has been a shell of himself in 2024-25.
Sharangovich Providing Nothing of Value to Flames
It was well known when the Flames traded Tyler Toffoli to acquire Sharangovich that they were receiving a very streaky player who had frustrated both fans and the coaching staff of the New Jersey Devils organization. For whatever reason, he was never able to put it all together in New Jersey, though that seemed to change in his first season with Calgary.
Now, the Flames organization is quickly realizing just how frustrating of a player he can be. It’s evident watching him that his confidence is completely shot. He’s generating next to no chances offensively night-to-night, isn’t shooting the puck despite having a great release, and has just 12 goals and 23 points through 57 games.
The issue with Sharangovich is that when he isn’t scoring, he doesn’t bring anything to the table. He isn’t a physical player, and struggles in the defensive zone. That’s made him a tough player for head coach Ryan Huska to use in the lineup, and even resulted in him sitting as a healthy scratch on the Flames’ latest road trip.
Flames Need Sharangovich More Than Ever
The Flames needed Sharangovich in a big way on Friday night, as they were without Mikael Backlund due to an upper-body injury as well as Connor Zary due to suspension. Backlund is one of the few natural centres the Flames have on their roster, and with him out, the expectation was that Zary would fill in down the middle.
With Zary out as well, Huska made the decision to go with Sharangovich down the middle of the ice. He hasn’t played centre a ton, but was given an opportunity a season ago to see if he was capable. He struggled last season and was moved back to the wing. On Monday, his struggles down the middle hit an entirely new low.
Not only did Sharangovich fail to create any sort of offensive chances against the Colorado Avalanche, but he prevented his team from getting any type of possession when he was on the ice. He took 16 faceoffs in total, winning just four of them. He entered the third period having won just two of 13.
Zary is set to serve the second of his two-game suspension in tonight’s game versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, meaning Sharangovich may get another crack playing down the middle. He’ll need to be far better not only tonight, but in the next few games moving forward to ensure he has a spot in the lineup moving forward. If not, he could find himself sitting as a healthy scratch several more times as the Flames look to push for a playoff spot.
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NHL Rumors: Could the Boston Bruins Be a Seller Again?
Will Boston Bruins Sell Off Pieces If Their Season Doesn’t Start Off Strong During his segment on TSN Radio in Montreal, when he was asked about reactionary teams making moves, whether getting off to good or bad starts, Dave Pagnotta of the Fourth Period mentioned the Boston Bruins as one of those teams. “I mean, the other club that I look at that we haven’t mentioned is Boston. If the Bruins perform the way I anticipate them to perform this season, which is not that great,” Pagnotta said. “I see them being a team that starts to look to move out some additional pieces that they’ve got. Similarly to how they did last year, but being a little bit more aggressive in their attempt to do it, because of their opportunity to go after the number one pick with Gavin McKenna being the top prize. You’re going to see some teams looking at that quarter mark, that first third of the season, going all right, we just don’t have it. It’s time to look to move out some pieces here, and maybe we can better our odds at getting that first overall pick. And I think Boston’s in that boat.” One of the players that was brought up in the segment was Pavel Zacha, who was mentioned as a potential player that could draw teams around the league, according to Jimmy Murphy of RG Media. Pagnotta was then asked if Zacha was at the top of the list, and then proceeded to mention other players who are entering the final year of their deals that could be on the move if things don’t go their way to start the year. Host: “Top the list. You talk about Zacha, right?” Dave Pagnotta: “Yeah, yeah. Zacha. Andrew Peeke is a pending UFA. I mean, Zacha was available last year. They tried to move him out, even going into the off-season. And I know there have been some whispers, ties, and reports that the Canadiens are one of the teams in that mix. But I certainly look at Zacha. I look at Victor Arvidsson on an expiring contract, who they got from the Oilers. I look at some of those pieces that they’ve got. Keep in mind, (Charlie) McAvoy was hurt for a good chunk after Four Nations. (Hampus) Lindholm was banged up for a good chunk of the season as well. They had some injury issues that factored into their poor performance last season. But I think if this team starts to falter a little bit, I think they look to those types of players as potential guys that can, that they can move. It’s again, this is another retool on the fly scenario because of the off-season that they got there. They feel Tanner Jeannot, whom they signed as a free agent is the power forward that hasn’t been able to be unleashed yet that could fit the mold of what the Bruins bring. So if they again, if they falter, I could certainly see them being a club that looks at some of their other pieces and going all right, we don’t need to tear this down fully, but if we move out some of these pieces to better our future here again, it may better our odds at that first overall selection.”
NFL Legend Terry Bradshaw Shares Big Personal News
There is no doubt about Terry Bradshaw being one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. The fact that he led the Pittsburgh Steelers to no less than four Super Bowl wins in the span of six years during the 1970s is an undeniable testament to this fact. Since his retirement in 1983, Bradshaw has been able to establish himself as a top NFL broadcaster. He’s been a staple for “Fox NFL Sunday,” providing his unique brand of commentary since 1994. Bradshaw has not limited himself to sportscasting in his post-NFL career. He’s starred in his own reality show, “The Bradshaw Bunch,” has gotten into horse racing and even has his own small-batch whisky brand, Bradshaw Bourbon. On Wednesday, the 77-year-old shared some big personal news. This comes in the form of his new cookbook, “The Bradshaw Family Cookbook,” which was released on Tuesday. Bradshaw announced it in collaboration with the official Instagram page of his reality show. “From our kitchen to yours The Bradshaw Family Cookbook is here, y’all! “Our new cookbook is packed with recipes full of heart, flavor, and a little Bradshaw fun. What are you most excited to try?” the post read. According to the publisher’s website, the cookbook aims to “celebrate the great American tradition of food, family, and football.” It is authored by Bradshaw himself, along with his wife, Tammy Bradshaw, their daughters, Lacey and Rachel Bradshaw, as well as his son-in-law, chef Noah Hester. The book contains nearly 100 recipes, which range from game-day classics to Southern-style dishes. This includes Terry “Bradshaw Beans,” spicy pork canoes with cilantro sour cream and buttermilk pecan pie, to name a few. As it turns out, Bradshaw is not only a legend on the field and a revered sportscaster. He’s also a whiz in the kitchen, and he’s now sharing his personal recipes with the rest of the world.
Kyle Shanahan has surprising Brock Purdy update — 49ers are confident in QB situation regardless
Marvin Harrison Jr. brushes off potential Cardinals controversy
Second-year Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. added some muscle weight during the offseason in an attempt to improve after he experienced an up-and-down rookie campaign. However, eyebrows were raised when he recorded just two receptions on five targets for 27 yards in Arizona's 27-22 win over the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday. While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Harrison poured cold water over the idea that he cares more about his stats than about the fact that the Cardinals opened the season with back-to-back wins. Marvin Harrison Jr. brushes off "silly conversation" "That’s a silly conversation, really," Harrison responded when asked about the number of passes thrown his way across the season's first two weeks, per Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. "We’re 2-0. That’s the most important thing. We’ve got a big game this week, so that’s really my only focus. Anybody that’s a competitor loves the game, loves what they do. Everybody wants the ball. They want to impact the game. But most importantly, it’s all about winning." Many expected Harrison would take a major leap this season after the fourth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft finished his debut pro campaign with 62 receptions for 885 yards and eight touchdowns. Thus far, that hasn't happened. In the Cardinals' 20-13 Week 1 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 7, he caught five of six targets for 71 yards and a score. ESPN stats show that second-year New York Giants star Malik Nabers tallied a league-high 25 targets over the first two weeks of the ongoing season. To compare, Harrison enters Week 3 with seven receptions on 11 targets for 98 yards and one touchdown. Marvin Harrison Jr. insists he's happy despite lack of targets "It’s always frustrating when you may not get the impact that you kind of want in the game, especially when you put in so much work," Harrison acknowledged. "I know my process throughout the week and all the work that I put in throughout all season and leading up to the game. When you don’t get the results that you want to impact the game, that kind of is frustrating. But at the end of the day, you’re very happy that we’re 2-0 sitting here and got a victory." Earlier in the week, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray warned that his team must be better about finishing games after Arizona flirted with snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on two occasions. Perhaps part of that process will involve Murray targeting Harrison early and often during this coming Sunday's game at the 2-0 San Francisco 49ers.
'That's a concern': Steelers' Omar Khan hears something a GM never wants to
The Pittsburgh Steelers went through a big change back in the 2022 offseason. Once the NFL Draft had been completed, the organization searched for its next general manager after Kevin Colbert was set to walk away. The franchise ended up promoting from within and gave the reins to long-time front office member Omar Khan. It's been clear since he got the keys to the kingdom that a physical brand of football would be emphasized, as his three first-round selections as the man in charge have been either on the offensive or defensive lines. While the team has made a conscious decision to build in the trenches, it hasn't panned out just yet. The defense allowed 299 yards rushing to the Baltimore Ravens in the 2024 Wild Card Round, and the offensive line has not been able to consistently protect the quarterback or help the rushing attack find a consistent groove. Reporter has concerns about the Steelers' player development On Wednesday, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hosted his weekly fan chat. Someone wanted to get the insider's thoughts on both sides of the ball on the line of scrimmage. The reporter did not mince words. "My thoughts are you are right. They want to play a physical brand of football, but they can't because their players are not developing at the rate they had hoped," Fittipaldo wrote. "When Omar was hired as the GM, that was one of his main goals. Get bigger and more physical and be able to maul teams." It didn't stop there for Fittipaldo. He brought Andy Weidl into the equation, who is Khan's partner-in-crime. The lack of development regarding several players has to be something that is leaving the front office uneasy. "I remember a quote from Andy Weidl from a while back about how physical offensive and defensive lines travel well in the playoffs," Fittipaldo noted. "And yet, three years into the new regime, the Steelers don't resemble a physical football team at all. I'm sure that's a concern for the front office." It's one thing to worry internally about a trend, but it's even worse when it's blatantly obvious for the outside world to see. The Steelers' front office simply cannot be happy with how the coaching staff is making it look. Players with promise are being selected, but not turning into the professionals that they should be. Head coach Mike Tomlin is continuously recognized as one of the best coaches in the NFL, but still, somehow, lacks a legitimate coaching tree. There are arguments to be made that he is seriously losing his ability to truly develop the players that are drafted, and the individuals on his staff aren't as qualified as he would like to believe they are. It's currently being seen with the young group that is on the roster in 2025, specifically those who operate in the trenches. There is still time remaining to turn the ship around, but it's fair for fans to start worrying about the franchise's recent drafts. It's hard to blame Khan specifically, or Weidl for that matter, because the coaching staff is in charge of getting young players ready to compete at the professional level. The NFL is played at a completely different speed than college, so Khan's goal of dominating the trenches only ends up working if the draftees are developed and coached the proper way. Steelers' Omar Khan and Andy Weidl not necessarily at fault for losing in the trenches While the goal in recent seasons has been clear from a front office perspective, the vision on the field has not exactly gone according to that plan. The best organizations are on the same page at every level, but something is missing in Pittsburgh right now. The coaching staff is running out of time to get certain young players up to speed, and that is only going to delay the team's ability to compete for a seventh Lombardi Trophy.
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