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Flames Life Support “Wild”ly Unplugged – Flames Unfiltered – Episode 238

Brad Burud/Kyle Lewis April 16, 2025


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FLAMES UNFILTERED

EPISODE 238|SEASON 6

Flames Life Support “Wild”ly Unplugged

Listen to “Flames Life Support “Wild”ly Unplugged – Flames Unfiltered – Episode 238” on Spreaker.

— EPISODE 238 —

In this episode of Flames Unfiltered, hosts Kyle Lewis and Brad Burud dive deep into a season postmortem of the Calgary Flames, tackling a wide array of topics swirling around the end of the NHL season. Despite the team falling short of a playoff spot, the hosts maintain a balanced perspective, weighing the frustrations of unmet goals against the bright spots of player development. Kyle and Brad’s discussion navigates through significant moments, player performances, and future expectations by employing a candid approach, reflective of their genuine attachment to the team.

As the episode progresses, the hosts explore the developments of young players like Matthew Coronato alongside critiques and praises of mainstays such as Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri. They delve into potential off-season moves, reflecting on Flames’ GM Craig Conroy’s trade maneuvers, and express optimism for the incoming talent from prospects like Zane Parekh. The episode finishes with a preview of the Western Conference playoffs, as both hosts predict which teams will advance.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Calgary Flames underachieved in certain critical areas but saw major improvements and promising prospects for the future.

  • Dustin Wolf proved himself as a franchise goalie, showcasing incredible performances throughout the season.

  • Future stars Matthew Coronato and Zane Parekh are highlighted as key players to watch in the coming season.

  • Reflecting on past trades, particularly those involving Sean Monahan, underscored the team’s strategic missteps.

  • Calgary Flames’ special team performance and key player contributions and challenges throughout the season were critically assessed.

Notable Quotes:

  • “Ultimately the team definitely overachieved, but still didn’t get the job done.” – Kyle Lewis

  • “We know we have a starting goalie now, but we have a franchise goalie, I think.” – Brad Burud

  • “He’s going to pot 30 to 40 next year, barring injury.” – Kyle Lewis on Matthew Coronado

  • “They overachieved all of our expectations, all of them.” – Brad Burud

  • “Flames had a lot of bright spots, even as their playoff hopes fell short.” – Kyle Lewis

Join the Flames Unfiltered podcast each week as Kyle and Brad continue to provide deep dives into Calgary Flames’ hockey, delivering honest, raw, and well-researched content, especially as the off-season promises intriguing changes and evolving narratives. Stay tuned for more episodes filled with analysis and spirited discussions on your favorite team.

About the Hosts:

Kyle Lewis and Brad Burud are the hosts of the Flames Unfiltered podcast, dedicated to providing in-depth discussions and analysis on the Calgary Flames Hockey Team. Kyle Lewis is known for his keen insights into player performance and is actively engaged with the community on social media. Brad Burud brings his extensive experience in hockey media. As avid followers and experts in Calgary Flames hockey, they blend passion with comprehensive knowledge in each episode.

Flames Unfiltered: Analyzing Calgary’s Hockey Season and the Path Ahead

Facing the end of a rigorous hockey season, Flames Unfiltered hosts Kyle Lewis and Brad Burud engage in a no-holds-barred dissection of the Calgary Flames’ performance and future prospects. Their dialogue straddles between critical assessment and cautious optimism, offering valuable insights for hockey enthusiasts and industry stakeholders alike. With a mix of strategic evaluation and candid commentary, they touch on team dynamics, player performances, and upcoming challenges.

Key Takeaways

  • The Calgary Flames showed significant promise and overachieved despite missing the playoffs, demonstrating resilience and potential.
  • Defensive shortcomings and certain player performances were identified as critical areas needing improvement for future success.
  • The development and emergence of young talent, such as Dustin Wolf, offer a promising outlook for the franchise.

Calgary Flames’ Season Performance: Overachievement Amidst Challenges

The Flames’ hosts open their discussion by marveling at the team’s surprising resilience. Kyle Lewis mentions, “the team definitely overachieved, but still didn’t get the job done.” Brad Burud concurs, reflecting that despite the Flames falling short of playoff contention, they shattered initial expectations. The Flames’ endeavor wasn’t just about tallying points but showcasing grit and determination, setting a strong foundation for coming seasons.

What set the Flames apart was a consistent display of potential that often belied their league rank. However, as Brad pointed out, “They took care of business, so it’s there; it’s hard to be mad then, but they didn’t take care of business.” This phrase essentially underscores a season fraught with near successes yet punctuated by self-inflicted wounds that derailed crucial moments.

The broader implication here is a classic tale of ‘so close, yet so far.’ The Flames emerged as a team that could compete against the best, yet lacked the final push to clinch a decisive playoff berth. This experience, though bittersweet, provides critical learning insights for both management and players to strategize and enhance cohesiveness for future campaigns.

Defensive Critiques: Analysis of Missed Opportunities

Rasmus Andersson’s performance attracted significant scrutiny, featuring a gap between expectations and execution. As noted by Kyle, “Anderson had a terrible, terrible season.” Despite a promising start, his performance lagged, punctuated by defensive mishaps and positioning errors. The contrast between MacKenzie Wegeer’s statistic of +18 versus Andersson’s -38 underlines a troubling inconsistency.

The discussion pivots onto how defensive vulnerabilities cost the Flames several winnable games. Brad’s analysis goes further: “The St. Louis games…defining moments in the season.” Defensive lapses were not isolated incidents, with critical games transforming from potential victories into avoidable losses. The recurring theme here is an urgent call to bolster defensive disciplines and schemes, ensuring the team capitalizes on their offensive prowess without negating it through defensive pitfalls.

On a strategic front, these insights emphasize the need for robust defensive upgrades. The Flames cannot afford another season where leads are squandered, particularly in a Western Conference that consistently showcases high-caliber offensive threats.

Emerging Talent: The Flames’ Bright Spots and Future Prospects

A marked highlight from the Flames’ season draws from the emergence of promising talent, presenting a hopeful horizon for fans and stakeholders. Dustin Wolf’s spectacular performance, which Brad frames as “a huge win, right? That’s a check mark in a positive way,” represents a significant coup for the Flames. His ascendancy provides a steady backbone and vital assurance between the posts as the Flames prepare to navigate their future.

Matthew Coronato also garners praise for demonstrating strong goal-scoring potential, with Lewis predicting, “he’s going to pot 30 to 40 next year, barring injury.” This anticipation extends into a comprehensive evaluation of potential lineup reinforcements via young skaters who add dynamism and vitality imperative for sustained competitiveness.

Transitioning from individual commendations to systemic strategy, Calgary’s approach to player development surfaces as an emerging strong suit. Whether grooming through junior ranks or the collegiate system, nurturing talent like Wolf and Coronato fortifies the Flames’ commitments to a sustainably competitive franchise.

In summation, the Flames Unfiltered hosts meld critical assessment with a nuanced appreciation of the Flames’ current standing. As a team blending experience with energetic youth, the Flames possess the foundational tools needed to pivot into championship contention — provided they reinforce defensive systems and harness developmental strengths. Lewis and Burud’s analysis offers more than a recap; it serves as a guideline for building an ironclad team capable of turning potential into playoff performances.

 

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Brad Burud/Kyle Lewis

Flames Unfiltered features two passionate and opinionated hosts. Brad Burud has been with the show since the beginning and was the creator of the show. A Flames fan since 1986 he brings the old school approach to the show. As a Theoren Fleury and Mikka Kiprusoff fan he longs for the playoff runs he watched decades ago. Kyle Lewis joined the show for the start of season four. A Flames fan since the 90’s, Kyle is a huge collector of Calgary game-worn jerseys. Jarome Iginla was the hero for the Flames when Kyle started this journey and Iginla will always be a favorite. Kyle hopes this year’s version of the Flames can bring him the happiness he felt when Gelinas scored the overtime game winner over Detroit. Thanks for joining us. Sit back and enjoy some Flames hockey talk.

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