Vanessa: Nick, I just saw the preseason bold predictions grades, and let's just say... someone owes me an apology for doubting the Flames' defense after that Nemec deal.
Nick: Hold on, we haven't even hit the ice yet. But I'll admit, that Simon Nemec signing is looking better by the day. Five years, 36.25 million, and he's only 22. That's a cornerstone piece.
Vanessa: Exactly. And today's a mailbag episode, so we're answering YOUR questions. From the Coleman trade fallout to the backup goalie battle, we've got it all. I'm Vanessa, and as always, Nick's here to keep me honest.
Nick: Let's get to it. First up, we've got a question from Sarah in Rochester who wants to know if the Flames are actually better after trading Blake Coleman and Olli Maatta to the Wild.
Vanessa: Sarah, great question. On the surface, trading a veteran like Coleman hurts. He was a heart-and-soul guy, a penalty killer, a playoff performer. But look at the return and the cap space. It's a hockey trade that sets up the future.
Nick: Right. And remember, the Wild took on Maatta's contract too. That freed up room to sign Nemec. So really, it's a domino effect. You lose a 34-year-old winger and a depth defenseman, and you gain a 22-year-old top-four blueliner. I'd call that a win.
Vanessa: Plus, the Flames still have plenty of forwards. We've got a logjam down the middle, which leads us to a question from @FlamesFan4Life in Calgary. He's asking: With all these centers, who's playing the wing this season?
Nick: That's the million-dollar question. You've got Backlund, Frost, Zary, Sharangovich, Strome, Pospisil... someone's moving to the wing. I think you see Zary on the wing, maybe Sharangovich too. It's a good problem to have, but it means lineup decisions.
Vanessa: And that's not even counting the young guys like Honzek and Gridin pushing for spots. It's going to be a fierce training camp. But it's a nice change from the years when the Flames had no depth up front.
Nick: No doubt. And that depth is why I'm still confident in my 88-point prediction. But Vanessa, you're sticking with 92?
Vanessa: Absolutely. With Nemec anchoring the back end and Wolf in net, I see this team surprising people. The Pacific is wide open after the top teams. We're talking a wild-card spot, and I think they get it.
Nick: We'll see. But it's a bold take, and I love the conviction. Let's take a quick break, but when we come back, we're diving into the defensive pairings and the backup goalie battle. Stick with us.
Vanessa: Welcome back. We're answering your mailbag questions, and this next one is from Marcus in Denver. He wants to know: What does the Flames' defense look like now that Nemec is in the fold?
Nick: Great question. Let's break it down. You've got Nemec, obviously, who's a top-pair guy. Then you've got Jake Middleton, who's a solid second-pairing veteran. After that, it's a mix of Bahl, Bean, Whitecloud, and some young guys like Parekh and Brzustewicz.
Vanessa: So who plays with Nemec? Is it Middleton, or do you go with a young guy to balance the pairs?
Nick: I'd start with Middleton. He's steady, he's defensive-minded, and that lets Nemec jump into the rush. You don't want to shelter a kid like Parekh with a rookie partner. But later in the season, maybe you see Parekh get a look.
Vanessa: That makes sense. And what about the power play? Nemec's a right-shot, he can quarterback that second unit. That's a big upgrade.
Nick: Absolutely. His offensive instincts are elite. He had 42 points in his rookie year with the Devils. If he's on the top unit, that's a game-changer for the Flames' power play, which was middle of the pack last year.
Vanessa: Now let's get to the crease. Dustin Wolf is the starter, no question. But who's the backup? We've got Devin Cooley on the roster. Is that the answer, or do they need to bring in someone else?
Nick: I think Cooley deserves a shot. He had a solid AHL season and he's been in the system. But if the Flames are serious about a playoff run, you might want a more experienced backup. That said, Wolf is going to play 60-plus games anyway.
Vanessa: So it's a low-pressure situation. And speaking of pressure, we've got a question from @HockeyTom in Moose Jaw: Who's the most underrated forward on this roster?
Nick: I'm going to say Morgan Frost. He's a playmaker, he's skilled, and he's been overshadowed by the big names. If he clicks with a shooter like Coronato, he could have a breakout year. Keep an eye on him.
Vanessa: I'll second that. Frost is silky smooth. Alright, one more break, and then we're doing a fun hypothetical and a lightning round. You won't want to miss it.
Vanessa: We're back, and we've got a fun one. This is from @PuckHeadPat in Vancouver. He asks: If you could trade any current Flames player for a player on another team, who would it be and why?
Nick: Okay, I'll go first. I'd trade a forward like Ryan Strome, who's on an expiring contract, for a young defenseman with upside. Maybe a guy like Owen Power in Buffalo. He's not going anywhere, but it's a hypothetical. That would give the Flames a future top-four lefty.
Vanessa: Interesting. But I'm going bigger. I'd trade Jonathan Huberdeau's contract for a top-pairing defenseman like Cale Makar. I know it's not realistic, but imagine Makar with Nemec. That would be the best defensive pair in the league.
Nick: Whoa, that's bold. But Huberdeau is still a 60-point guy. Makar is a Norris winner. It's a no-brainer if you can make the money work. But that's a pipe dream.
Vanessa: Hey, it's a mailbag hypothetical. We're allowed to dream. Okay, lightning round time. I'm going to throw out a player or topic, and you give me a one-word or quick reaction. Ready?
Nick: Hit me.
Vanessa: Connor Zary scoring 25 goals.
Nick: Lock it in.
Vanessa: The Flames' penalty kill without Coleman.
Nick: Concern.
Vanessa: The season opener against the Kraken.
Nick: Win.
Vanessa: I like the confidence. And that's all the time we have for today's mailbag. Let's recap: We talked Nemec, the Coleman trade, the center depth, the defense, and the backup goalie. Plus, we made some bold predictions.
Vanessa: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review. Share it with your fellow Flames fans. And as always, go Flames go!
Nick: Go Flames go! We'll see you next time.