We're a month in and a couple of things have come to light: Bertuzzi is who I thought he was and the Flames are lousy at ES (so far).
The first feeds into the second, given the way the lines have been assembled over the initial four weeks. Bert has enjoyed some primo time up front with Jarome and the returns have been uninspiring. Add in Conroy as Iginla's center and you have an ineffective superstar.
The good news is - the Flames aren't wholly reliant on Iginla to outscore the bad guys anymore. With the steps forward by Moss, Boyd and Glencross, Calgary has some nice options elsewhere on the roster that can beat up on the oppositions lesser lights. Meaning, if Keenan can figure out a configuration in the top 6 that helps Iginla succeed and Bertuzzi not to suck, this might actually be a better than 8th hockey team.
There's the rub, however. Current experimentation has Boyd up with Jarome and Cammalleri, which moves Bourque to play with Langkow and Bertuzzi (and Conroy down with Glencross and Moss). Those look like nice lines in theory (Iginla gets more offensively capable linemates)...the question remains: who takes the tough match-ups? I love Boyd so far, but is he capable of skating against the big boys (even with Iginla on his wing)? I think Bourque and Langkow can keep their heads above water in rough waters, but Sore Thumb will likely sink that trio. And if Conroy can't get the job done with Iginla and Bourque, what chance does he have with Moss and Glencross (not to take anything away from the latter two - they've played great. But they've been doing it against other 3rd lines)?
Things will look better once Lombo returns Im sure, but until then Keenan is going to have a hell of a time finding the right combination to spur Iginla and not have at least one forward line get bludgeoned at ES by the other guys heavy lifters.
As such, it'll be interesting to see what happens this evening versus the Preds. I think it's heartening that Keenan has moved Bert away from Iginla and Conroy down to the third line (even if it's just in practice for now) because it means he's recognizing the deficiencies and - hopefully - acting to correct them. Of course, a bad shift or two with Boyd between Iginla and Cammalleri tonight might just result in a return to the comfortable and the familiar for Iron Mike. He loves him his favorites and a bump in the road will likely be met with a compulsive reformation back to the Conroy/Bertuzzi/Iginla unit. On the other hand, maybe something will click and Conroy and Bert will stay where they belong.
I have no idea who will face Arnott/Dumont tonight though. With the practice lines as they are, Keenan has spread his three favorite heavy lifters (Iginla, Bourque, Conroy) across three separate units. It may just come down to own-zone and offensive-zone draws - Iginla getting the latter, Conroy getting the former, with Langkow getting the scraps.
Finally, a question - does Curtis McElhinney FINALLY get the start tonight? Will he ever start again? He's fast becoming the Snuffleupagus of the Calgary Flames - he supposedly exists, but no one ever sees him.
Prediction - Preds 2, Flames 3. Boyd, Iginla and Moss for Calgary. Arnott and Weber for Nashville.
PS - with all this roster intrigue, this might be a good game for the first liveblog of the year. I'd like have an active comments section for all my misspellings and invective though. Yay or nay readers?
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On another note, Matt and I have decided to get together a month from now when the Flames meet the Blues. We're sending out an open invitation to anyone who wants to join us at Schanks North in Calgary. Swing by if you want to laugh, cry, drink, vomit, or tell me how much my writing stinks. We're giving you a months warning, so no excuses people. Be there or be square.
