Kraken dismantle the Flames

It was supposed to be an evening of celebration, but it turned into something remarkably different.

The Seattle Kraken rolled into town as the first opponents for the Flames this season. It was the last season opener that the Flames will have at the Saddledome, and it couldn’t have gone worse for Ryan Huska’s men.

Over the last few years, all of the key players have left the Dome via trade. What’s left in its place are veterans who’ve underproduced for years, and a young core that is still a few years away from being ready for the Playoffs. That’s not a good combination, and Seattle took full advantage on Thursday evening, winning 6–1.

It’s the start of what many predict will be a long, hard season for the Flames. Those on Team Tank, however, will be delighted with the start, and based on evidence, a first-ever top-three draft pick for the Flames seems very likely next summer.

So, what can we take from that performance, which I, being a UK-based Flames fan, watched back, even knowing the scoreline in advance? What can I say? I’m a glutton for punishment.

Should the Flames have given Suniev his chance?

The Flames only achieved 25 shots against the Kraken, scoring once. Ryan Strome and defenceman Simon Nemec led the shots counter, with four attempts each

Whilst it’s good for Strome to get off the mark with his first of the season, and early assists for Sharangovich and Zary, a defenceman outshooting all but one forward is a worry. Even Matvei Gridin, one of the few bright spots of last season, was quiet, not managing a single shot all game.

This has led many to question why Aydar Suniev wasn’t given a chance after his impressive preseason. He led the Flames during preseason, especially compared to his more experienced teammates.

Many have praised the Flames for being patient with Suniev. However, the Flames have often said that they’re going to do everything they can to win as many games as possible. This makes the decision not to give him even a chance a bit odd. Don’t get me wrong, patience is important, but you can’t claim that you’re going to do everything you can to win a game, only to then refuse to give a potential goalscorer a chance

Not Wolf’s best night

Dustin Wolf is .813 after game one. He conceded six of the thirty-two shots against him, and whilst it’s only game one, that’s not an encouraging sign. In his first season as a full-time member of the Flames in 2024–25, he recorded a .910. Last year, his numbers fell slightly, going to a .899.

The defence didn’t do him any favours, though. None of the three defensive pairings offered adequate protection of Wolf. That being said, conceding just under a goal every six shots isn’t great.

While Wolf is viewed as one of the untouchables, his downward trend in save percentages is worrying. This is something worth watching, especially with an arguably more dependable goaltender waiting for a chance.

Devin Cooley had the same defence in front of him as Wolf last year, and achieved a much higher save percentage. There are many who believe that Cooley is the more reliable goalkeeper of the two. The numbers do back it up too.

Could we see a similar situation this season?

More importantly, is Wolf really that untouchable?

Slow Starters and Low Concentration

As alluded to in a recent article about penalty kills, the Flames struggled, conceding their first one of the season early on.

Jordan Eberle scored on the 9:10 mark of the first period, and Vince Dunn doubled it thirty-two seconds later. It was three before the end of the first period as Frederick Gaudreau hit a wrist shot with thirty seconds left.

If you’re determined to do well this season, which everyone at the Flames had said they are, you need to start games better.

Underlying Numbers

Even if you ignore the score, the underlying numbers weren’t that great for the Flames.

The Flames gave the puck away eighteen times throughout the game. Compare that to just the two takeaways. At best, the Flames were sloppy on the puck and lacking concentration. At worst, it points towards a team struggling to handle the pressure and possession required to compete.

Seattle had a third of the penalty minutes that the Flames had (four vs. twelve). You will struggle to take anything out of games if you’re regularly on the penalty kill.

Summary

It’s never ideal to start the season with a defeat, but there’s a manner of defeat.

Seattle, who aren’t a standout team, easily handled arguably the weakest Flames side in recent memory. Whilst this is a good thing for those on Team Tank, it’s not a fitting start to the last year at the Saddledome.

Can it get better? Yes, absolutely. Can it get worse? I suspect we’ll soon find out!