Calgary Flames Mid-Season Report Card Grades

As the title simply states, our writers got together in the last few days to each submit our individual grades for each Flame who has played a minimum of 10 games so far this season.

Note: All grades and stats were from all games BEFORE Sunday’s win over Vancouver.

Each player’s grade was done individually based on how well each writer thought the player had met their expectations so far this season.

We’ll provide a simple table with grades here and then stats and reasoning below.

Forwards:

#11 – Mikael Backlund (41 GP, 12 G, 15A, 27 PTS, 14 PIM, +5, CF% 54.79)

Backlund leads the Flames in points after 41 games this season and has been stellar in all aspects of his game.

OUR GRADE: A

#93 – Sam Bennett (41GP, 9G, 9A, 18 PTS, 43 PIM, -7, CF% 47.88)

Bennett still seems like he needs to take the next step this year but has shown flashes of brilliance at times too.

OUR GRADE: C+

#17 – Lance Bouma (23 GP, 2G, 2A, 4 PTS, 15 PIM, -1, CF% 45.83)

Bouma suffered another injury this season which resulted in him missing time, and some younger faces seem to have taken his place.

OUR GRADE: D

#36 – Troy Brouwer (36 GP, 8G, 9A, 17 PTS, 18 PIM, -11, CF% 44.46)

Brouwer’s contract already looks like an albatross as he’s struggled this season. What’s more worrisome is that the Flames aren’t worse without him in the lineup.

OUR GRADE: D+

#39 – Alex Chiasson (41 GP, 6G, 7A, 13 PTS, 23 PIM, +1, CF% 51.69)

He would be a suitable forward to play a bottom six wing position, but he finds himself on the top line with Monahan and Gaudreau more often than not. And that’s not good.

OUR GRADE: C

#79 – Micheal Ferland (41 GP, 5G, 6A, 11 PTS, 19 PIM, -6, CF% 49.80)

Seems to have struck a good balance between being a physical force and making plays.

OUR GRADE: B+

#67 – Michael Frolik (41 GP, 9G 14A, 23 PTS, 18 PIM, +4, CF% 55.83)

Started off his season red-hot points wise but cooled off after, however he does pretty much everything else very well and seems to be finding his scoring touch again.

OUR GRADE: A-

#13 – Johnny Gaudreau (31 GP, 10G, 16A, 26 PTS, 0 PIM, -13, CF% 49.82)

Whatever mentally or physically happened after his finger injury changed him and now he looks as dangerous as ever once again. Could close in on a point per game soon.

OUR GRADE: A-

#25 – Freddie Hamilton (18 GP, 1G, 0A, 1 PT, 6 PIM, -1, CF% 48.06)

Freddie is in a weird spot where he isn’t suited for a energy line role as he’s more offensively minded, but he doesn’t quite possess enough skill to move into a top six spot.

OUR GRADE: D-

#64 – Garnet Hathaway (19 GP, 1G, 3A, 4 PTS, 37 PIM, +1, CF% 44.37)

Despite having the worst advanced stats among regulars, Hathaway always seems to find a way to make an impact in games and help the Flames win with his energy.

OUR GRADE: C+

#23 – Sean Monahan (41 GP, 10G, 12A, 22 PTS, 12 PIM, -16, CF% 48.93)

Monahan struggled early in the season until a long point streak and but still hasn’t quite made as much of an impact as we’d like to see from a #1 centre.

OUR GRADE: C+

#18 – Matt Stajan (41 GP, 3G, 12A, 15 PTS, 14 PIM, +7, CF% 51.80)

Has quietly and effectively done his job as a fourth line shutdown centre regardless of his linemates. Definitely an unsung hero thus far in the season.

OUR GRADE: B+

#19 – Matthew Tkachuk (37 GP, 7G, 17A, 24 PTS, 72 PIM, +9, CF% 57.86)

Okay, hands up if you predicted Tkachuk would be this good, this early in his career. If your hand is up, you’re lying. He has exceeded even the wildest expectations, leads the Flames in many stats, but I just would like to see him cut down the penalties.

OUR GRADE: A+

#10 – Kris Versteeg (29 GP, 7G, 11A, 18 PTS, 8 PIM, +1, CF% 45.36)

When Versteeg isn’t injured, he has shown the offensive potential to be a game changer this season. He has backed a defensive spot admirably on the powerplay and done a great job to help elevate the PP.

OUR GRADE: B+

DEFENCEMEN:

#7 – T.J. Brodie (41 GP, 3G, 13A, 16 PTS, 12 PIM, -16, CF% 49.57)

Brodie is an interesting case as his -16 stands out but it doesn’t seem justified because he hasn’t seemed outright bad at any point this season. Needs a better partner.

OUR GRADE: C+

#29 – Deryk Engelland (41 GP, 1G, 7A, 50 PIM, +7, CF% 46.71)

Was the Flames most consistent defenceman early in the season and quietly goes about and does his job well. More than deserves the A he has on his jersey right now.

OUR GRADE: B-

#5 – Mark Giordano (41 GP, 5G, 13A, 18 PTS, 34 PIM, +6, CF% 52.86)

All season Gio has done what he’s supposed to do and been a solid defenceman on the Flames top pairing. His scoring is down but his defence has improved, only on the ice for 19 GA during 5 on 5 compared to 89 GA last year in 82 games.

OUR GRADE: B

#27 – Dougie Hamilton (40 GP, 6G, 16A, 22 PTS, 38 PIM, -2, CF% 54.69)

After shaking off some early season struggles and trade rumours, Hamilton was paired with Gio and the two haven’t looked back becoming a very strong top pairing.

OUR GRADE: A-

#3 – Jyrki Jokipakka (27 GP, 1G, 4A, 5 PTS, 8 PIM, -3, CF% 44.40)

Hasn’t progressed much and has become an expendable 7th defencemen, often subbing around with whoever is in the press box. Will be passed on depth charts soon.

OUR GRADE: D-

#61 – Brett Kulak (15 GP, 0G, 3A, 3 PTS, 10 PIM, +1, CF% 52.59)

After making the team out of camp, Kulak slowly played more and more games and looked good. Was sent to Stockton to possibly protect him from the expansion draft.

OUR GRADE: C+

#6 – Dennis Wideman (34 GP, 3G, 9A, 12 PTS, 22 PIM, +3, CF% 49.85)

Let’s just wait for his contract expire and then we’re free.

OUR GRADE: D-

GOALTENDERS

#1 – Brian Elliott (20 GP, 19 GS, 8-10-1, 2.95 GAA, .889 SV%)

Started the season very poorly and had been turning it around before a stinker against the Canucks. Needs to be better if he wants to be the #1.

OUR GRADE: C+

#31 – Chad Johnson (22 GP, 22 GS, 13-8-1, 2.34 GAA, .920 SV%)

Almost single-handedly turned around the Flames season with his hot stretch of play in November-December. Has cooled down a bit but has been the better goalie thus far.

OUR GRADE: B+

So there’s our grades for the first half of the 2016-17 season, do you agree or disagree with any of our grades? Let us know in the comments section! Go Flames Go!

by Michael MacGillivray