Vanessa: Nick, I've got one question that's going to decide the Flames' season before it even starts... and it's not about the goalies.
Nick: I think I know where you're going with this. Is it the logjam down the middle?
Vanessa: You read my mind. Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network, Flames fans! I'm Vanessa.
Nick: And I'm Nick. And today we are breaking down the battles that will define this roster when camp breaks.
Vanessa: We've got three things on the docket: first, the center ice crunch that's got more candidates than a reality TV casting call.
Nick: Then we're looking at the blue line, where the Simon Nemec signing just shook up the depth chart.
Vanessa: And finally, we're making our roster-cut predictions and naming who's trending up and who's on thin ice.
Vanessa: Alright, let's dive into the middle. The Flames have nine centers on the roster, Nick. Nine. That's not a position group, that's a traffic jam.
Nick: And it's the most interesting battle on the team. You've got Mikael Backlund as the veteran anchor, but behind him it's wide open.
Vanessa: So who's fighting for the top-six spots? You've got Yegor Sharangovich, Connor Zary, Morgan Frost... that's a lot of skill.
Nick: Right. And we made a prediction yesterday that Frost would win the third-line center job over Ryan Strome. I'm sticking with that, but Strome isn't going away quietly.
Vanessa: What makes Frost the better fit there? He's younger, faster, and his two-way game fits the modern NHL. Strome brings experience, but...
Nick: Exactly. And Frost's ability to drive possession is exactly what you want in a third-line pivot. Strome might end up on the wing or as a trade chip.
Vanessa: Speaking of trade chips, what about the kids? Martin Pospisil, Sam Morton, Ben Jones — can any of them crack the lineup out of camp?
Nick: Pospisil has the edge because of his physicality and penalty-killing ability. He could be a fourth-line staple. Morton and Jones are more likely AHL depth to start.
Vanessa: And what about Tyson Gross? He's a name that might surprise people.
Nick: Gross is an intriguing dark horse. He's got good size and a solid two-way game, but he's behind a lot of guys. If he impresses, he could steal a spot, but it's an uphill climb.
Vanessa: So the center battle is basically Backlund, Sharangovich, Zary, Frost, and then a scramble for the last spot. That's five guys for four spots.
Nick: And that's not even counting guys like Joel Farabee or Matt Coronato who can play center in a pinch. It's a good problem to have, but it means someone's going to be unhappy.
Vanessa: Alright, let's take a quick break, but when we come back, we're looking at the blue line and the ripple effect of that big Nemec contract. Stick with us.
Vanessa: Welcome back. So Simon Nemec signs a five-year, $36.25 million deal. That's a massive commitment. What does that mean for the defense corps?
Nick: It means he's a top-four lock, probably top-pair. You don't pay a defenseman that much to play third-pair minutes. So the battle is for the remaining spots around him.
Vanessa: Who's his likely partner? Jake Middleton? Kevin Bahl?
Nick: Middleton brings the stay-at-home element that pairs well with an offensive guy like Nemec. Bahl is another option, but Middleton's experience gives him the edge.
Vanessa: And what about the guys fighting for the bottom pair? You've got Zach Whitecloud, Brayden Pachal, Joel Hanley...
Nick: That's a classic competition. Whitecloud has the pedigree from Vegas, so he's probably the frontrunner. Pachal brings energy, but Whitecloud's defensive reliability is hard to beat.
Vanessa: Now, what about the prospects? Hunter Brzustewicz, Zayne Parekh, Hoyt Stanley — are any of them ready to jump?
Nick: Parekh has the highest ceiling, but he might need another year of seasoning. Brzustewicz is close, but I think he starts in the AHL. Stanley is a long shot.
Vanessa: So the top six on defense is probably Nemec, Middleton, Bahl, Whitecloud, plus two of Jake Bean, Michael Benning, or Yan Kuznetsov?
Nick: Exactly. Bean has the offensive upside, so he gets the nod. Benning is a nice story but might be the odd man out. Kuznetsov is a physical presence but needs to be more consistent.
Vanessa: And don't forget, they traded away Olli Maatta to Minnesota. That opens up a spot.
Nick: Right, and that trade also brought in some assets. But the defense is going to look very different from last year.
Vanessa: Alright, before we move on, I have to ask about the goaltending. Dustin Wolf and Devin Cooley. Is there even a battle there?
Nick: Wolf is the starter, no question. But Cooley had a solid stint last year, so he's a capable backup. That's not a battle, that's a hierarchy.
Vanessa: So the real battles are up front and on the blue line. We've got one more segment to go, and we're making our predictions. Stay with us.
Vanessa: We're back. Time for the hot takes. Nick, who's trending up in this camp?
Nick: I'm going with Connor Zary. We predicted 25 goals for him, and he's got the skill to do it. He's trending up big time.
Vanessa: And who's trending down? This is where it gets spicy.
Nick: I'd say Ryan Strome. With Frost coming in and the kids pushing, Strome might find himself on the fourth line or out of the lineup entirely.
Vanessa: That's a bold take. But what about the roster cuts? Give me your final 23.
Nick: Okay, up front: Backlund, Sharangovich, Zary, Frost, Pospisil, Farabee, Huberdeau, Coronato, Gridin, Klapka, Tsyplakov, and Honzek. That's twelve.
Vanessa: So you're leaving off Strome, Gross, Jones, and Morton? That's a lot of talent heading to the AHL.
Nick: It's a numbers game. But don't be surprised if one of those guys gets traded for draft picks or a winger.
Vanessa: And on defense?
Nick: Nemec, Middleton, Bahl, Whitecloud, Bean, and Hanley. That's six. Brzustewicz and Parekh start in the AHL to get big minutes.
Vanessa: So the odd men out are Benning, Kuznetsov, and Pachal. That's a tough call, but it makes sense.
Nick: Exactly. And in goal, Wolf and Cooley. That's your 23.
Vanessa: Alright, so who's your surprise cut? Someone who's going to shock the fanbase.
Nick: I'm going to say Adam Klapka. He's big and physical, but the skill guys like Gridin and Tsyplakov might outplay him. It's a gut call.
Vanessa: Wow, that's a hot take. I think Klapka makes it because of his size, but I love the boldness.
Nick: And remember, we said yesterday that Morgan Frost wins the third-line job. I'm doubling down on that.
Vanessa: And I'm sticking with Zary for 25 goals. If he does that, the Flames are in the playoffs.
Vanessa: Alright, that's our show. We've broken down the center crunch, the blue line battle, and our roster predictions.
Nick: Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the Beatline Podcast Network. Share this episode with your fellow Flames fans.
Vanessa: And remember, the future is bright in Calgary. Go Flames Go!