The next two weeks of the season will likely shape the direction of the Calgary Flames for the next two years

While the standing positions don’t look too bad, the Flames have a game nearly every other night and a road back-to-back in the Eastern Conference in there. Looking at the list, if you pencil in the two games against the Jets as losses and the two games against the Sharks and Senators as wins, it’s hard to see the Flames really grinding out a ton of wins through this stretch. A lot has to go right for them to outduel a goalie like Igor Shesterkin or shut down Auston Matthews, Kirill Kaprizov, and Connor Bedard.

The challenge for the Flames is that not only do they have to perform well through this stretch, but if they are to fight back to be a contender, they need to win 60%-65% of these games. Given how they started, even going 50/50 all the way down the stretch will not move the needle. That’s a tall order.

To go 65% through this stretch, they need to win eight of 12 games. Assuming the above scheduling remains, the Flames need to win six of their eight games against the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild, and St. Louis Blues. Stranger things have happened, but it’s hard to see them only losing two.

What if the Calgary Flames turn it around?

But let’s say they do. Let’s say they turn it around and go 70% over the next three weeks and find themselves in the mushy middle of the NHL. The Flames will find themselves back in a pickle. Do they push forward with the group they have and strive for a playoff spot? They probably give it a shot again.

If they do, they would likely start by reengaging with Rasmus Andersson to sign him long-term. If they don’t sign him long-term and trade him, they look to trade him for players who will help them both today and tomorrow. Similar to Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee, these are young NHLers who can play in their lineup right now.

They also likely try to add more depth to their lineup towards the deadline, but do so without moving much, if any, draft capital. They probably make hockey trades to get younger if they have to, but roll the dice on this group and hope the winning continues.

What if the Calgary Flames’ losing streak continues

On FlamesTalk, Pat Steinberg talked about the team potentially throwing in the towel on the season if things don’t turn around through this stretch. Elliotte Friedman cautioned that the Flames are worried about how their veteran players would take this news if they did decide to take a run at a high draft pick this season. Something has to break here. If they do keep losing, the Flames will likely look to move some of their veterans.

Andersson is likely at the top of the list of players to be dealt if the Flames’ struggles continue. Blake Coleman is not far behind. The Flames will likely also try to dangle Nazem Kadri’s name out there. But with a modified no-trade clause, he has some control over where he goes.

The team also has Joel Hanley, Brayden Pachal, and Jake Bean, whom they can look to move. Given how they have played, moving Yegor Sharangovich or Daniil Miromanov is unlikely. Both have been very poor to start the year.

The team is almost certainly not moving Dustin Wolf, Zayne Parekh, Samuel Honzek, Matt Coronato, or Connor Zary. Given their age and potential, it doesn’t make sense.

What to watch for on the Calgary Flames going forward?

Looking at the team from last year, it’s hard to see why they took such a large step backward this year. They were far from perfect, but they nearly made the playoffs. Starting the season the way that they have just doesn’t track. The Flames look disjointed on the ice, and they are not holding their own defensively as well as they did last year.

Over the next two weeks, you need to see more than just signs of life. This team needs to pull up its socks and win games confidently. If they can do that, there’s a chance that this team looks itself in the mirror and pushes for a playoff spot. But even if they see just minor signs of life, it doesn’t make sense to push for a playoff spot. There is a massive hill to climb to get to the playoffs at all, and even then, it’s hard to see this group making a dent against a team like Vegas.

Whatever happens, this franchise has been floundering for the last few years and needs to set a direction quickly. It’s long overdue. Hopefully, in a few weeks, we will know what way the team is going.