Preseason prognostication painted the Calgary Flames defence as a potential weakness. A fair assessment given the complete overhaul over the past year through trades and free agency.
So far, though, that back end has been a strength.
Newcomer Kevin Bahl has been a key factor in the team’s early success and played a noticeably dominant defensive game against the Chicago Blackhawks this week. Bahl is a big-bodied blueliner who joined the Flames in a major offseason trade that saw goalie Jacob Markstrom head to the New Jersey Devils, and he has made an immediate impact in Calgary alongside Rasmus Andersson.
Bahl has lived up to expectations despite missing and has helped shut down some very capable offensive stars in wins against the Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks as the Flames launched to a 4-0-0 record out of the gates.
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Using his positioning, excellent stick work, and an ability to disrupt offensive plays with physicality were on full display, Bahl’s performance against Blackhawks phenom Connor Bedard highlighted just how effective he can be against elite talent.
“His reach is really good and he’s able to close quick on people,” Flames head coach Ryan Huska said after the Blackhawks game. “I think he’s done a really good job and (Andersson) and him are starting to find a little bit of chemistry, which was our hope when the season started. So hopefully they can continue to do that.”
The Calgary Flames blueline depth also offers Huska and his staff the flexibility to mix and match pairings as needed. In Friday’s practice, veteran Tyson Barrie skated alongside MacKenzie Weegar — a sign Barrie he may get his second start with the Flames after making his debut against his former club in Edmonton alongside Brayden Pachal.
For Barrie, being part of a defense with so many capable players is a welcome challenge.
“If you want to be a good team, you have to have depth on the backend,” Barrie said Friday. “I think we certainly have that — a lot of good guys and guys who understand the situation.”
That depth also keeps internal competition alive. No spot in the lineup is guaranteed.
“We feel like we have eight defensemen who are capable of playing,” Huska said. “It forces guys to be at their best.”
As the Flames prepare for Saturday’s matchup against the Seattle Kraken, the Calgary Flames defence has been one of the biggest surprises of a season that’s been full of them.
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