[MissTeeks]

Does this need it’s own thread? Probably not, but the offseason has gone quiet so why not!

https://www.nhl.com/news/johnny-gaud...up/c-308490928

Johnny Gaudreau is confident the two biggest offseason moves made by the Calgary Flames has them closer to winning the Stanley Cup.

The Flames signed unrestricted free agent goalie Cam Talbot to a one-year, $2.75 million contract on July 1 and acquired forward Milan Lucic in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers on July 19 for forward James Neal.

"Obviously we've been looking for a little bit of toughness on our team and Lucic brings that," Gaudreau said after playing in a Checking For Charity game at Flyers Skate Zone on Friday. "I've heard he's a great teammate and he works hard so I'm looking forward to that. Got to meet Talbot when I was in Calgary. Great person, great goaltender. I remember going into Edmonton a lot of games and not coming out with a goal or a win because he stood on his head. I'm looking forward to both of them."

However, like the rest of the Flames' offense, they went quiet during a five-game loss to the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Gaudreau had one assist in the final four games of the series, all Flames losses, and the big line combined for four points (two goals, two assists).

"That sat with us most of the summer, pretty much every player," Gaudreau said. "We know we need to be better coming into the playoffs. That's one thing we've obviously learned from the past season, you've got to be playing your best hockey going into the playoffs."

The focus of Gaudreau's offseason has been getting stronger in the gym and learning from Lindholm to be better defensively. But he said he's confident that he and his line can better, and the Flames can improve after they finished with 107 points, best in the Western Conference and second-best in the NHL behind the Tampa Bay Lightning (128).

"That first season we built a lot of chemistry together, learned playing together," Gaudreau said. "We started off quickly getting to know each other, the chemistry on the ice. After a full year like that you grow as a line, grow as a team, get better each day. I think it'll be exciting for us."