Achi news desk-
CALGARY –
Winning more games and building a new arena will convince more NHL players that Calgary is a desirable place to play, some Flames said as they headed for the exits.
Calgary finished 17 points out of a playoff spot this season with a 38-39-5 record, missing the postseason for the second year in a row.
A slow start to the season combined with no big name agents not signing contract extensions meant that mid-season changes did not affect the club’s progress.
Other players such as Tyler Toffoli, Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau have headed for other markets in the last two years, although Nazem Kadri signed as a free agent two seasons ago.
Defenseman MacKenzie Weegar says a winning culture and making playoffs can help lift what he calls a black cloud over the Flames.
The city and the Flames have a deal in place for a new arena to replace the Saddledome, which is the oldest NHL building behind Madison Square Garden in New York, but shovels are not in the ground yet.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on April 19, 2024.
