The Flames have scoring depth...and Iggy is only a small part of it.

[cannon7]

At the beginning of the season I was unconvinced that the Flames had the secoring depth necessary to be competitive. Eleven games in the Flames have been proving me wrong -- and Iginla has been in a support role. I thought that the Flames' fortunes rested heavily on the likes of Backlund and Baertschi, but it turns out the Flames have many offensive weapons.

The biggest surprise to me has been Jiri Hudler, who has without a doubt been our more consistently dangerous offensive weapon thus far this season. I expected a second-line forward and thus far Hudler has been a game changer. He appears to be flourishing under Hartley's system, which is making me think that he was held back in Detroit.

Tanguay has also flourished under Hartley, but that should come as no surprise as he played very well under Hartley in Colorado.

Cervenka, who was the dark horse pickup this season, looked a little shaky to start his NHL career. What a difference eleven games makes! Cervenka now has four points in his last four games (2g, 2a) and last night looked like he could've scored 3-4 goals if not for a postor two.

Wideman has also been an amazing pickup thus far. Taking offer the #1 role from Bouwmeester, he's been without a doubt our best defenceman. Ontop of that, it appears to have taken the pressure of Bouwmeester and he is actually playing better on the second pairing than he has in the past three seasons. It's also hard to overlook Wideman's defensive partner, Brodie, who has played amazingly well and currently has a team-leading +6+/-.

On Pace:

Hudler 51pts
Cammalleri 51pts
Tanguay 48pts
Stempniak 39pts
Wideman 35pts
Iginla 35pts
Glencross 31pts
Cervenka 28pts
Bouwmeester 26pts
Backlund 23pts
Stajan 22pts
Brodie 19pts

Can you imagine where we'd be if Iginla was playing the way we know he can? Teams are already starting to put their shutdown guys on Hudler's line.

[red sky]

82 Game Season Pace:

Hudler 87pts
Cammalleri 87pts
Tanguay 82pts
Stempniak 67pts
Wideman 60pts
Iginla 60pts[/b]
Glencross 53pts
Cervenka 48pts
Bouwmeester 44pts
Backlund 39pts
Stajan 38pts
Brodie 32pts

If they played entire 82 games

[Bertuzzied]

Yeah cammy. He had 2 points total prior to the last 2 games......

But what happened to the special kids up North? We have scored 4 more goals than them in 2 fewer games. haha

[cannon7]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

Yeah cammy. He had 2 points total prior to the last 2 games......

But what happened to the special kids up North? We have scored 4 more goals than them in 2 fewer games. haha

Glencross was also goalless in four games until last night. The point is that guys can get hot/cold without the Flames offense completely drying up.

[cannon7]

Originally Posted by red sky

82 Game Season Pace:

Hudler 87pts
Cammalleri 87pts
Tanguay 82pts
Stempniak 67pts
Wideman 60pts
Iginla 60pts[/b]
Glencross 53pts
Cervenka 48pts
Bouwmeester 44pts
Backlund 39pts
Stajan 38pts
Brodie 32pts

If they played entire 82 games

Assuming those top three were on a line (and they haven't been most of the season) -- that's a 256 point #1 line and a 180 point #2 line. Yikes!

[foshizzle11]

Originally Posted by cannon7

Glencross was also goalless in four games until last night. The point is that guys can get hot/cold without the Flames offense completely drying up.

Ya, it's great that we aren't relying on a couple guys and those couple guys weren't cutting it for years.

Two biggest changes have been wideman and Hudler for sure. Biggest surprise is Jaybo, this is what we have been wanting for years.

It is more exciting and I can't wait to see what happens this season, we are far from out if it.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by cannon7

Glencross was also goalless in four games until last night. The point is that guys can get hot/cold without the Flames offense completely drying up.

Cammy is prob less than a point per game player right now. But i hope he proves me wrong by continuing to average 3.5 points a game.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

Ya, it's great that we aren't relying on a couple guys and those couple guys weren't cutting it for years.

Two biggest changes have been wideman and Hudler for sure. Biggest surprise is Jaybo, this is what we have been wanting for years.

It is more exciting and I can't wait to see what happens this season, we are far from out if it.

Jaybo is on pace for a 20 goal 42 point season, which is what he was getting in Florida with more playing time.

[GreenLantern]

I have confidence Iginla will get there, notoriously slow starter.

It is nice to have other people picking up the slack though. A lot of different dynamics on this team.. when they click, they seem to really work out, but when they don't it can be pretty painful to watch.

[Huntingwhale]

TBH I'm glad to see Iggy not leading the team in scoring. His days of carrying this franchise on his back are done. The sooner fans/media get it in their heads that he shouldn't be carrying the load, the better.

This was an article in the Herald yesterday.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...905/story.html

An Iginla revival is imperative if Calgary is to get its playoff drive back on track. In other hours of need, he has risen up to accept the responsibility.

Well, the only franchise home he’s ever known needs him again. Needs him now.

Talk about putting the weight on the city on his shoulders....again. The media really needs to lay off on all the talk about how Iggy needs to shoulder the load in order for us to be succesful. While I agree that his contributions do help, we realistically cannot expect him to do it all. It's about time the rest of the players start carrying some of that burden and let Iggy evolve his game into a more all around player that can contribute in other ways. And he has.

[Tron_fdc]

Iginla will pick it up. He has 44 shots in 11 games (4 per game), so if you were to extrapolate that over 14 games (same as most players in the top 10) he would be top 3 overall. No way a guy that has scored as many goals as he has suddenly stops shooting the puck well. He'll start scoring, and I'm hoping it's when the other guys start dropping off.

Is it fair to say we actually have "balance" this year?

No way a team that has 3 dmen in the 30-50 point range*, 4 forwards in the 50+ range and a few in the 65+ range misses the playoffs. Especially with Kipper in net. I'm expecting a Flames run at some point that puts us in the top 6.

*over an 82 game season

[JazzyFlame]

Not to be a homer, but Iginla will most probably get there and out pace everyone, save Cammy, in Goals.

[Vulcan]

Wideman has also been an amazing pickup thus far. Taking offer the #1 role from Bouwmeester, he's been without a doubt our best defenceman.

I don't agree with that. Bouwmeester is still the main guy on the #1 pairing. His PP time has gone down and Wideman has taken over that place to be sure but as far as I know Jay still leads the team in PK minutes and plays against the other teams top players. Wideman has been great but I think we'd miss Jay more than Dennis if we lost one to injury.

[browna]

Teams still focus on Iginla first and foremost when they game plan, especially early in the year.

That can also explain his poor start to the seasons (stats wise) as well.

The mentality is to stick on Iginla and don't give him the time and space like he tries to find in the offensive zone and "let someone else on the Flames beat us" has likely been the mantra. For the most part, its not a bad strategy. The Flames secondary scoring is right to be tested year in and year out because fans and even players on the team have no idea where its going to come from at the beginning of the year.

Until that point where other player or players step up 10-20 games in the year and put up stats and other teams have to worry about a Glencross, Tanguay, Cammalleri, Jokinen/Langkow (previous years) or now Hudler, other team won't pay that player any special extra attention.

When that player does step up and Iginla isn't the sole focus, Iginla starts to get that time and space to make plays and get better shots away, and his stats bear that out.

If Hudler can continue to put up points and a guy like Glencross can get on an extended streak, I'm guessing you start to see more from Iginla.

[Red Ice Player]

The thing I liked the most about the win over Dallas is the Flames not only winning a run and gun game, but actually making me believe they can win playing this style of hockey. It could be a temporary illusion, but they look like they have the horses to actually outscore good teams.

[edslunch]

Flames are 4-2-2 since Hudler and Cervenka joined the team

[Bourque's Twin]

Originally Posted by edslunch

Flames are 4-2-2 since Hudler and Cervenka joined the team

and should be better...

[killer_carlson]

The guy whomhas blown me away is Stempniak. I was very critical of the signing but he has shown himself to be a true pro out there. Producing from the third line and killing penalties. Key to our scoring depth.

Im man enough to admit i was wrong on that one.

[djsFlames]

I think it's funny that some people/this poster are actually surprised that this team can score goals, and has some depth this season. All you had to do was look at the team on paper for 2013.

Iginla
Tanguay
Cammalleri
Glencross
Hudler
Cervenka
Backlund
Baertschi
Stempniak

Wideman added to the D

That top 9 didn't do it for you coming in? Combined with the new offensive-branded coach.

How does that look in any way incapable of scoring goals? Lmao. Not to mention the addition of a previous 10 goal / 44 point Dennis Wideman.

All I know I'm not too surprised, you can look back and see some of the (at the time) ridiculous looking totals I predicted for some of these guys. What's funny is they're actually spot on pace with a lot of those predictions now. And still waiting for #12 to evolve into the beast he usually is..

What did concern me was the defensive side of the team.

Because it is the Flames I think some people didn't give half these players the benefit of the doubt in terms of their offensive capabilities. Turns out Calgary isn't always where offense goes to die.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

I think it's funny that some people/this poster are actually surprised that this team can score goals, and has some depth this season. All you had to do was look at the team on paper for 2013.

Iginla
Tanguay
Cammalleri
Glencross
Hudler
Cervenka
Backlund
Baertschi
Stempniak

Wideman added to the D

That top 9 didn't do it for you coming in? Combined with the new offensive-branded coach.

How does that look in any way incapable of scoring goals? Lmao. Not to mention the addition of a previous 10 goal / 44 point Dennis Wideman.

All I know I'm not too surprised, you can look back and see some of the (at the time) ridiculous looking totals I predicted for some of these guys. What's funny is they're actually spot on pace with a lot of those predictions now. And still waiting for #12 to evolve into the beast he usually is..

What did concern me was the defensive side of the team.

Because it is the Flames I think some people didn't give half these players the benefit of the doubt in terms of their offensive capabilities. Turns out Calgary isn't always where offense goes to die.

Hop off the pedestal man. The group last year looked very similar and couldn't score. Added Hudler? Took away Olli who had more points. Added Cervenka? Fabian Brunstrom anyone? And Baertschi hasn't helped the team at all this year. In reality, the scoring seems to be from a different style. While that may be coaching or players, it was not a prediction worth laughing your ass off at. Pretty much everyone outside this board predicted it