Pacific Division 2014-15 Preview: Calgary Flames

2014-15 NHL Pacific Division preview: Rebuilding Calgary Flames make up in muscle what they lack in firepower.

Author:
Gabriel Baumgaertner
Publish date:
Oct 1, 2014

SI.com's 2014-15 Preseason All-NHL Teams: first, second, third

COACH:

2013-14 RECORD: 35-40-7, 77 points (sixth in Pacific, missed playoffs)

VITAL SIGNS: 2.46 goals-for per game (23rd); 2.90 goals-against per game (24th); 15.7 power play pct. (24th); 81.7 penalty kill pct. (18th); shootout record: 7-3 (14th)

NOTABLE ARRIVALS: LWMason Raymond, G Jonas Hiller, D Deryk Engelland, LW Brandon Bollig

NOTABLE DEPARTURES: DChris Butler, LW Mike Cammalleri, C Blair Jones, G Joey MacDonald

PROJECTED DEPTH CHART:

Forwards
Curtis Glencross — Sean Monahan — Jiri Hudler
Mason Raymond — Mikael Backlund — Joe Colborne
Brandon Bollig — Matt Stajan — Devin Setoguchi
Johnny Gaudreau — Lance Bouma — Brian McGrattan

Defensemen
T.J. Brodie — Mark Giordano
Dennis Wideman — Kris Russell
Deryk Engelland — Ladislav Smid

Goalies
Jonas Hiller
Karri Ramo

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PLAYER TO WATCH: Devin Setoguchi

Much like another former Sharks winger, Jonathan Cheechoo (who scored 56 goals out of the blue in 2005-06), Setoguchi is a player whose skills may have been overestimated simply because he played on a line with Joe Thornton. He was seen as a potential All-Star winger after netting 31 goals during the 2008-2009 campaign, but hasn’t been able to tally 20 since leaving San Jose in 2011. After underwhelming stints in Minnesota and Winnipeg, Setoguchi was inked to a one-year, $750,000 deal by the Flames and in what could be his last go-round in the NHL, is being asked to shoulder the scoring load on an offensively challenged team. Will he deliver? If he does, it will be an impressive feat and he'll prove to be a grand bargain.

PREDICTION: 73 points (seventh in Pacific)

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