[Flames2007FIRE IT UP]

The players are all individual contractors as well. There are only about 730 NHL jobs. For the Flames and most bottom end teams the players truly are playing for their jobs and another year or 2. When I look at the D as an example - Weegar and Anderrson probably had little to play for. Everyone else was fighting for a job, contract and/or to stay at the NHL level. The forwards are not that different. Huberdeau, Kadri are fairly secure and going to get paid for the next number of years. Backlund is an established NHL player but if he mails it in, has some injury issues next year, his next contract might be an issue. Mangiapane is an established player but looking to get paid next summer. Very few NHL players are in a position to take many night off. And the ones who are probably are because they rarely have off nights (Crosby, Mackinnon, etc group).

Even for Kadri - i am not saying he wants out but if he did playing well makes a trade much easier. The players individually almost always have something to play for.