Calgary's GM Displeased w/ Several Players, Eyeing Major Moves

Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving is NOT happy. And for good reason, frankly.

Calgary - as it stands - does not hold a playoff spot with 28 games left on their schedule. They have fallen from the NHL's 3rd best defense in '21-22 to 16th so far this season. The Flames finished 6th in goals-for last season; this season they sit 17th. As such, their position in the league standings has dropped significantly.

Treliving isn't interested in excuses, either. Sure, Tkachuk and Gaudreau both left, but he did just about everything he could to restock the team's shelves. In the offseason, he supplemented his losses with the additions of forwards Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau and defenseman Mackenzie Weegar.

Of those three, Kadri is the only one having an acceptable season with 20 goals and 40 points through 54 games. Huberdeau is on pace for 58 points (yikes) and Weegar for 25; he had 44 with the Panthers last season.

To boot, forward Andrew Mangiapane is on pace for half the goals he scored last year after signing a three-year, $17.4 million contract this summer. Goaltender Jacob Markström is having an abysmal campaign, sporting a 2.93 goals-against average and a .891 save-percentage.

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Treliving is fuming and there is plenty of blame to go around. Pagnotta writes that Darryl Sutter's abilities have drawn into question and there are several possibilities on Treliving's desk.

As Calgary is still chasing a playoff spot, Treliving won't blow anything up just yet. But this summer? You bet he won't be afraid to shake things up.

One interesting piece was on Mackenzie Weegar, who was acquired in the Matthew Tkachuk trade. Weegar - who signed a lucrative eight-year, $50 million contract extension this summer - has reportedly been made available, although nothing imminent. Pagnotta writes that the Ottawa Senators have shown interest in the 29-year old Ottawa-native.

Pagnotta also noted that the Flames were involved in and around Vancouver Canucks Brock Boeser and Luke Schenn, but nothing is imminent there either. That kind of feels like the theme of the trade deadline so far; "nothing imminent."

If the Flames do - in fact - miss the playoffs, don't be surprised if Sutter gets the axe as well. Aside from the team's overall setbacks, Sutter doesn't have the best reputation with his players.

Awhile back, Sutter disrespected rookie Jakob Pelletier:

Sutter also butted heads with Jonathan Huberdeau earlier, and given that Huberdeau is signed for over $10 million for eight seasons it's more than likely management abides by the player rather than the coach. Just a guess, though.

Treliving has some serious questions to answer between now and the start of the 2023-24 season, and he has shown that he is entirely unafraid to blow things up.

Stay tuned...

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