‘ THIS IS WHERE WE’RE AT’
The Calgary Flames kick off the 2015- 16 NHL regular season on Wednesday against the team they vanquished in the opening round of the playoffs last spring — the rival Vancouver Canucks. Here are five things to watch for in Wednesday night’s battle at the
1. ROSTER SET ( FOR NOW) It’s not a traditional roster breakdown. Sure, all the Flames really needed to do was declare a group of 23 or fewer players on Tuesday afternoon, which they did — 22 chaps, in fact ( with D T. J. Brodie, D Ladislav Smid, RW Joe Colborne all bound for the injuredreserve list) … But trotting out an in- season array of three goalies, six defenders, 13 forwards does come with its dangers. Suppose, one of the blue- liners bumps his head in the morning skate? “The one thing is, Smid is there,” said general manager Brad Treliving. “Because of his ( I. R.) retroactive status, he could ( be activated) at any time. So there’s protection for right now.” … Further, Treliving pointed to his club’s light schedule — only three games in the next nine days. 2. THREE’S COMPANY On July 1, when the Flames signed G Karri Ramo, they had three netminders on one- way deals — and they still do, on the eve of Game 1 of the regular season … Ramo, by virtue of his nod Wednesday, is the team’s No. 1 goalie. Backing him up — and dressing for the contest — is G Jonas Hiller. The development leaves G Joni Ortio, 24, in his civvies on game night. Hardly ideal … “We’ve got three today,” Treliving said Tuesday. “Is my goal in life to carry three goaltenders for an extended ( period of time)? No, it’s not. When will that change? We’ll see. This is where we’re at right now. This is the move we want to make. We’ll adjust as we move forward.” … All three gents, of course, are waiver eligible. 3. ONE YEAR LATER Oct. 8, 2014 — the Flames opened against the visiting Canucks, falling 4- 2 … RW Jiri Hudler and C Paul Byron scored for the locals, while G Jonas Hiller was saddled with the loss … Different players in the lineup now — as compared to then — include D Dougie Hamilton, D Brett Kulak, C Josh Jooris, C Sam Bennett, LW Micheal Ferland, RW David Jones, RW Michael Frolik … Not aboard for Game 1 this time? D Ladislav Smid, D T. J. Brodie, C Paul Byron, LW Curtis Glencross, LW Mason Raymond, RW Brian McGrattan, RW Joe Colborne … In its last dozen season- openers, Calgary is a frightful 1- 10- 1 … The teams meets Saturday at Rogers Arena. 4. WHEN LAST THEY MET The capper on a captivating campaign for the Flames was spring’s first- round booting of the Canucks. The elimination took six games and was jam- packed with subplots — LW Micheal Ferland’s non- stop battering of enemy blue- liners ( to the tune of a series- pacing 40 belts), Vancouver D Kevin Bieksa’s entertaining reaction to Ferk- lund, D Deryk Engelland’s double bill on fight night, Stajan & Co. versus Sedin & Sedin, LW Sven Baertschi’s opportunity to haunt his former employers, C Sean Monahan’s mysterious injury, D Kris Russell and D Dennis Wideman shouldering a ( continued) massive workload, C Sam Bennett’s bright emergence. 5. WAIVING GOODBYE Tuesday, three players were snatched off waivers — Calgary C Paul Byron, 26, by Montreal; Vancouver D Frankie Corrado, 22, by Toronto; Los Angeles G J. F. Berube, 24, by New York Islanders. A curious trend, age- wise … “As you start to analyze it, this is one of the spinoffs we’ve talked about the last couple years,” said Treliving. “The league’s becoming younger. More young players are stepping into the league earlier than maybe there was previously. ( So) people get games in the bank, as pros, earlier than they might have. Now, instead of seeing waivers just being a 28and 29- and 31- year- old exercise, it’s younger players. And in a cap era, you don’t ( get to) keep everybody.”