Quarter Pole Q&A with Flames GM Brad Treliving

walterpalladNovember 27, 2022

Calgary Flames General Manager Brad Treliving speaks Wednesday March 16, 2022 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary. Darren McCowick/Postmedia

The Calgary Flames went just over another key mileage as they reached the finish line in a tough six-game getaway. They are now at a quarter of their regular season schedule.

The Flames returned home as the .500 Hockey Club. So far they have his record of 9-9-3.

Postmedia’s Wes Gilbertson caught up with Flames General Manager Brad Treliving at the final stop of the marathon road trip, Carolina, to recap the first part of the 2022-23 campaign. This Q&A comes ahead of his 3-2 loss to the Hurricanes on Saturday, with Flames unpacking his suitcase and looking forward to Tuesday’s showdown with his Florida Panthers at the Saddledome. and has three skids left.

Q: How do you measure your team’s accomplishments so far at the quarter pole?

Treliving: “I think we’ve had issues with scoring lately. So it’s hard to see through. We’ll address what’s going on right away…and looking at this road trip, more contributors All in all, I think we played pretty good hockey, we found ways to go short when we needed goals, and we conceded in a lot of close games. , I haven’t been doing bad hockey for long.I think there’s been a lot of good things in our game, but these days we need to make a little more.

Q: From your perspective, what’s the brightest spot so far?

Treliving: “The biggest bright spot for me is that I think we have a style of game that we know how to play. That said, we need to get more out of some individuals and it’s not just scoring, there’s more that we can offer through our line-up .”

Q: Other than recent bad scoring, do you wake up in the middle of the night?

Treliving: “Well, we still get pucks in the net a little too often. And like I said, we have to find a little more across the lineup. We’re focused on one player and scoring goals. We’re not a team like that.We need donations from you guys.Go down the list and check production now.There are people who are more capable and we need them.Personal to the level possible, and that’s what we’re trying to do now.”

Q: Are there any particular games or stretches that stand out to you as a real testament to this team’s ability?

Treliving: “There was a long play that I liked…For the most part, when you go through the game, we beat people. We control the play. We’ve got to find out.Our power play started really well.It got cold.In that 5-1 stretch (opener of the season) we were playing really good hockey. We outplayed a lot of good teams, and we were in a bit of a recession, and I thought the Seattle-Nashville game at home was a game we didn’t play well. Islanders game, we probably deserve a little better fate. . Everyone says, ‘I played bad because I lost the game’ or ‘I played well because I won the game.’ it doesn’t work like that. But it’s as easy as having to find a way to keep one more out of the net and he now has to find a way to get one into the net. “

Q: Your coach, Darryl Sutter, said in Washington that he feels Jonathan Huberdeau’s game “has come a long way” lately. what are you looking at from

Treliving: “I think he’s playing well. Watching Jonathan play, over the years, I think he’s created a lot. His game creates opportunities for others. It’s true that it hurt, he picked up an injury early in the season and was battling a few injuries that he couldn’t do any more and then missed a few games. I feel a little healthier and a little better, and I think that has contributed.

Jonathan Huberdeau #10 of the Calgary Flames waves to fans during a warmup as he returns to South Florida to face his former team, the Florida Panthers, at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, November 19, 2022 . Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Q: The .889 save percentage isn’t what you’re used to seeing from Jacob Markstrom. Nor is it what we saw last season when he was a finalist in his Vezina Trophy. That particular stat, what do you attribute it to?

Treliving: “The goalkeeper is the last line they see. Marquee will be the first to say that he can play better the longer he plays, but I also like what’s going on in front of him.” If you’re not giving up a lot of grade A’s it’s a lot easier to reach your goal. I’ll be the first to tell you that there’s another level in his game, but I think I need to make his life easier by cleaning up a bit in front of him.

Q: For the last quarter of the year, Andrew Mangiapane was one of the NHL’s best breakout stories. He’s only scored three goals so far this season, but do you think he’s feeling the weight of following up with his career-best season and his new contract and all that comes with it?

Treliving: “There might be something to it, but every player needs to go back to what made him successful, right? For Andrew, it’s a little dirty under his fingernails. Like I told him, I want to see him play like a battered Honda Civic. It’s what we’re used to: You can’t focus on “OK, I gotta score, I gotta score.” You need to focus on “What are the steps to success?” With Andrew, the pack becomes difficult, riding on top of the pack and entering areas that are not comfortable to enter. He has to stand up with the helmet facing sideways looking through his ear holes. That’s when he’s on the paint and doing all sorts of things we’re used to. But he is one of many we need more of. “

Q: Last question…you mentioned the recent scoring struggles, there’s a minor guy named Matthew Phillips who currently leads the AHL with 13 goals.

Treliving: “Well, we see it every day. Ultimately, he’s producing over there and we’re not producing here, so it’s something. , we’ll see where it goes from there.”