Fireside Chat Season 9 (2021 Season) - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

FiresideChat · 02-03-2021, 09:00 AM

As the Flames hit the ice for this short season, we return for our 9th season.

We'll post new episodes for this season in this thread. You can follow this thread to get the newest podcast every week (usually a little delayed from the main feed) but the fastest way to make sure you get the show when it's posted is to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, Twitter, Facebook or favourite podcast application.

If you like the show, we'd really appreciate it if you could leave a review on one of the links above, or your favourite podcast listening service.

FiresideChat · 02-03-2021, 09:02 AM

Episode 247: Optimism Is High After Two Games

Two games into the season, and the Flames have 3 of a possible 4 points. The powerplay is clicking, Markstrom is giving the team excellent goaltending, Tanev is blocking shots, Mangiapane and Dube are playing hard…there is a lot to like about the Flames right now. Is it too good to be true? We break down the first two games for the Flames and look ahead to what the team needs to do to stay the course with this good start.

Listen to Episode 247 >

FiresideChat · 02-03-2021, 09:03 AM

Episode 248: Too Early To Worry?

The Flames are four games into the season and have been handed their first regulation loss at the hands of the Maple Leafs. There are a lot of good things going on with the team right now, but we’re starting to notice a few weaknesses, including the RW depth and Milan Lucic and the fourth line. Is it too early in the season to worry? As well the guys respond to a Tweet and discuss the rumours that the Stockton Heat could play in Canada this season.

Listen To Episode 248 >

FiresideChat · 02-03-2021, 09:04 AM

Episode 249: Re-calibrating Expectations?

Frustration with the team’s disappointing week leads to debating how to fix the flaws with this team and if it is time to make major changes to the Flames roster before their window of opportunity closes on the current core roster. The guys have different ideas of how to handle the Sam Bennett request for a ‘change of scenery’ and debate how they’d handle the scenario and what a reasonable return might be.

Listen to Episode 249 >

FiresideChat · 02-08-2021, 08:59 PM

Episode 250: Blasting on Blasty

If the Flames stay playing at less than .500, what changes need to be made? Is it time to change the coach? GM? Or make major roster moves? The guys answer these questions as well as discuss the Sam Bennett situation and some possible ways to change the forward lines without making major mid-season acquisitions.

Listen to Episode 250 >

FiresideChat · 02-15-2021, 09:15 PM

Episode 251: The Quarter Mark Of The Season

We're now 14 games into the season, and the Flames are out of the top 4 in the Scotia North division. Consistency is still an issue for the Flames that will have to be remedied for them to make the playoffs. On this week's podcast we take a look at where the Flames are at after 14 games and two "playoff rounds" and if the Flames favourable February schedule can help them gain points on their rivals.

Listen to Episode 251 >

FiresideChat · 03-01-2021, 10:42 PM

Episode 252: Is The Sky Falling?

It’s been a rough week for the Flames to say the least. As we try to dissect the Flames challenges the guys try to answer the hard questions such as if management is the issue, what the Flames on-ice identity is (and should be), if we fire Geoff Ward who replaces him and if Mark Giordano is still the right guy to be Captain for this team.

Listen to Episode 252 >

FiresideChat · 03-01-2021, 10:43 PM

Episode 253: What's Old Is New Again

After a embarassing 6-1 loss against the Senators the Flames shuffle their lines up and go with the top 3 forward lines that they had last year, which leads to a 6-3 win over the Senators. This week we discuss if the Elias Lindholm is better for the Flames as a Right Winger, or a Centre this season and which version of the lineup we think will hide some of the team's weaknesses and give them the best chance of success for the next week of games.

Listen to Episode 253 >

FiresideChat · 03-08-2021, 08:29 PM

Episode 254: Darryl Is Back!

The Calgary Flames have re-hired Darryl Sutter as the team's Head Coach. What does this mean for the Flames and will Darryl finally be the one to break the Flames out of their rut and get the team performing to their potential?

Episode 254 >

FiresideChat · 03-22-2021, 07:03 PM

Episode 256: Old Habits, Same Results

The Flames started the "second era of Darryl Sutter" on a high but this week seem to have slipped back into hold habits, and with that brought the same old results. We once again try to figure out what's going on with the Flames and why this team just can't put things together. Johnny Gaudreau trade talk is a big part of this week's discussion as we also ponder why Matthew Tkachuk hasn't excelled under Sutter and just how many games the Flames will need to win to make the postseason. If they do make the playoffs, how far can they really be expected to go?

Listen to Episode 256 >

FiresideChat · 03-31-2021, 08:06 AM

Episode 257: The Good And Bad Of Our Remaining Schedule

Sitting 2 points out of the final playoff spot in the Scotia North division but having played 5 more games than Montreal, the Flames are running out of time to make the playoffs. The guys discuss what has to go right for the Flames to make the playoffs, and how the team has looked adapting to the Darryl Sutter system in the last week.

The good news? Almost half of Calgary’s remaining schedule is against the two teams they’ve had the most success against: Montreal (3-1-0) and Vancouver (4-2-0). The bad news? The Flames have just nine wins combined against the other four teams in the North who they play for the 11 other games on the schedule.

Listen to Episode 257 >

FiresideChat · 04-05-2021, 06:07 PM

Episode 258: It's Official...We're Trade Deadline Sellers

As the Flames season continues to slowly slip away from them, we look at what went wrong this year and what the best moves are going forward, which brings more questions than answers. Should Milan Lucic be our next captain? Is Sean Monahan a viable #1 or #2 Centre moving forward? Where will the scoring come from next year if Gaudreau is traded? And is it time to re-tool or re-build?

And of course, we preview the Trade Deadline and the Flames in a very different position than usual being sellers come April 12. What players have value? What can we get? How can we start the re-tooling at this deadline? The guys answer all these questions.

Listen to Episode 258 >

FiresideChat · 04-23-2021, 09:14 AM

Episode 259: A Successful Trade Deadline

The NHL Trade Deadline has come and gone, and the Calgary Flames moved two of their three most valuable assets – Sam Bennett and David Rittich. The guys discuss the Flames’ return on these deals and how successful they think the deadline was, as well as some of the young guys we may see filling NHL roster spots for the remainder of the season and what comes next for the Flames after their big 5-0 win, the line shakeups and today’s trades.

Listen to Episode 259 >

FiresideChat · 04-23-2021, 09:14 AM

Episode 260: A Glimmer Of Playoff Hope?

The Flames took to the ice with new look lines against Edmonton which started an unexpected three-game win streak where the team looked a lot better and brought them closer to the final playoff spot. Is there still a realistic hope the Flames can make the post-season? The guys try to answer that question and preview what lies ahead for the remaining 12 games of the season.

Listen to Episode 260 >

FiresideChat · 04-29-2021, 09:15 PM

Episode 261: Hanging On By A Thread

Of the three “must-win” games this week against the Habs, the Flames only managed to win two wins. There is still mathematically a change the team can make the post-season, but realistically they’re out. So we start to discuss what roster changes might happen in the off-season and what the team’s weaknesses are what can be filled internally, versus bringing in free agents. The guys also discuss Hanifin’s season-ending injury and what defencemen need to step up to fill that spot, and how Michael Stone has been a surprise this season.

Listen to Episode 261 >

FiresideChat · 05-20-2021, 08:39 AM

Episode 262: Examining The Unsigned Prospects

This week the guys discuss some big questions including if Elias Lindholm is the Flames best trade chip, and if they’ll be able to fix their issues via free agency, or trade roster players for what is needed – and is it time to really rebuild this team for next year or not? As well we look at each of the Flames unsigned prospects and where we expect each one to be next season.

Next week FlamesNation.ca’s Mike Gould will join us to discuss the Stockton Heat. Feel free to submit your questions for Mike as a comment on the website, via Twitter, Facebook or email.

Listen to Episode 262 >

FiresideChat · 05-20-2021, 08:40 AM

Episode 263: The Stockton Heat (In Celsius)

We’re joined this week by Mike Gould of The Heat Beat to talk about all things Stockton Heat. Mike recaps the Heat’s up-and-down season and what players have taken a step forward in their development, and who has taken a step back. Then we discuss the Flames development pipeline and how the team’s future looks in terms of young player development and what the team’s strengths and weaknesses are for the foreseeable future.

Listen to Episode 263 >

FiresideChat · 05-20-2021, 08:41 AM

Episode 264: Milan Lucic For Captain!

The Calgary Flames are down to the last three games of their season, and Dan and Matt spend this discussing what they think the team needs to do in the off-season including looking at if the #1 and #2 Right Wingers the team needs can be filled internally, what UFA candidates exist this summer, or if we’ll need to trade for that position – and how each of those would impact the roster. The guys also discuss if it is time for the Flames to change their leadership as part of a culture shift, and why Milan Lucic is the right guy to be the next Captain.

Listen to Episode 264 >

FiresideChat · 05-27-2021, 02:31 PM

Episode 265: Blame It On Blasty!

The Flames season is over, and we recap the player's exit interviews and comments made by hockey media about the team's current status. We also look back at our season predictions to see how well we did predicting this odd season for the Calgary Flames.

Listen to Episode 265 >

FiresideChat · 07-20-2021, 10:42 AM

Episode 266: Two Drafts In Three Days

The Stanley Cup has been awarded which means it is time for two of the biggest events of the off-season – the Entry Draft and Expansion Draft, both within 72 hours of each other. This week we talk about the most likely scenario for the expansion in leaving Mark Giordano unprotected, and what other options the team has to try and keep their captain. We also discuss what the Flames need in this year’s Entry Draft overall, what the prospect pool looks like and profile 12 players as possible draft selections for the Flames with their #12 pick.

Listen To Episode 266 >