As we are now officially past the midway mark of the Calgary Flames’ 2023–24 season, it’s time to hand out some midseason Calgary Flames awards. As always in Calgary, this season has been quite the roller coaster as the Flames went from talks of rebuilding to now just two points out of a playoff spot and right back into go-for-it mode.
So far this season, there’s certainly been some standout players both in good and bad ways. I’ll be handing out awards for MVP, best defenceman, best forward, most improved, biggest disappointment, and biggest surprise.
MVP – Jacob Markstrom
Runner up: Blake Coleman
I feel like there hasn’t been nearly enough talk about how good Jacob Markstrom has been this season when healthy. He’s bounced back from his disastrous 2022–23 season in a big way and once again looks like a $6 million goalie. Without him, the Flames are almost certainly sitting closer to a top-five pick instead of a playoff spot.
Through the Flames 47 games, Markstrom has suited up for 27 contests and sits with a 13–12–2 record, a .910 save percentage and a 2.64 GAA. He currently ranks 19th in the NHL for wins, 9th for save percentage and 13th for GAA (among goalies with at least 20 games played).
His most impressive number however is the fact he’s currently second league-wide for goals saved above expected (GSAx) at 25.05. The only goaltender who has saved more goals above expected than him is Vezina frontrunner Connor Hellebuyck. That alone should earn him some votes for the Vezina by season’s end. The Flames are far from a defensive juggernaut and more often than not Markstrom is standing on his head and keeping the Flames in games. Without him, who knows where they’d be right now.
Best forward – Blake Coleman
Runner up: Nazem Kadri
My runner-up for MVP is also my top forward at the midway mark in Blake Coleman. Coleman has been a revelation for the Flames this year as he’s gone from a third line shutdown winger to the team’s leading scorer and one of the highest scorers in the entire NHL.
Coleman is currently tied for the team lead in goals, leads the team in points and is fourth for assists among forwards. He also leads the team in game-winning goals with four, double the next-highest forward. His 31 even strength points are also first, as are his four shorthanded goals and six shorthanded points. On top of his point production, his defensive numbers are also strong as he’s played a key role on Calgary’s shutdown third line. His CA/60 and HDCA/60 both rank third on the team.
Coleman has quite literally done it all for the Flames this year and is the obvious choice as their best forward at the halfway mark of the season.
Best defenceman – MacKenzie Weegar
Runner up: Rasmus Andersson
After a rather quiet debut season in Calgary last year, MacKenzie Weegar has taken over as Calgary’s number one defenceman in 2023–24. Weegar has led the way from the blueline in Calgary this year and has undoubtedly been their best defenceman at the midway mark.
Through 47 games, Weegar sits with 11 goals, 17 assists, and 28 points. He leads all Flames defenders in goals and points and is tied for second in assists. His 11 goals are tied for third league wide among defencemen. He’s also been playing on both sides of special teams as he leads Flames blueliners in both power play points with six and shorthanded points with two.
Among the Flames’ top-four group, Weegar leads in CF%, CF/60 and xGF/60 and is second for HDCF/60. He’s done it all for the Flames so far and is the easy pick here.
Breakout player – Yegor Sharangovich
Runner up: Connor Zary
The Flames have had two clear-cut breakout stars so far this season, but for me, the nod goes to Yegor Sharangovich. Acquired in the summer in the Tyler Toffoli trade, Sharangovich has been a huge hit in Calgary this year and is in the midst of the best season of his career.
After posting just two points in his first 10 games to start the year, Sharangovich has been red-hot with 32 points in his last 37 games. His 20 goals are tied for first on the team with Coleman, and his 34 points are third. Through 47 games he’s only 12 points off his career high of 46 set back in 2021–22 with the Devils. He currently sits at a 35-goal, 59-point pace which would both be career-highs by a wide margin.
Sharangovich has surpassed everyone’s expectations this season and has been the breakout offensive threat that the Flames so desperately needed.
Biggest disappointment – Jonathan Huberdeau
Runner up: Elias Lindholm
In a year like this one, there are a plethora of options but one stood out in particular for obvious reasons. After a coaching change and a summer to reset, Jonathan Huberdeau has failed to improve on his disastrous debut season in Calgary. Instead, he’s currently on pace for even fewer points in the first year of his massive eight-year extension.
As it stands, Huberdeau ranks eighth on the Flames in points, 12th for goals, and third for assists. His current pace places him at just 46 points, the second-lowest full-season total of his entire career. Giant contract aside, 46 points is an incredibly disappointing output from a player who had 115 points just two years ago and is expected to lead the Flames offence.
Even with his recent turnaround with 11 points in his last 11 games, there’s no way around it, Huberdeau has been a massive disappointment this season.
The early frontrunners
With three months still left to go in the 2023–24 season, there’s still plenty of time for new names to make a statement as we enter the stretch drive of the season. However so far this season the above names have been the clear standouts on the Flames, for better or for worse.
