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Pacific Division Preview: How Ducks, Kings stack up against the rest

By Redan Lopez

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings and Troy Terry #61 of the Anaheim Ducks fight for control of the puck during the third period at Honda Center on March 10, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings and Troy Terry #61 of the Anaheim Ducks fight for control of the puck during the third period at Honda Center on March 10, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – MARCH 07: (L-R) Johnny Gaudreau #13, Mark Giordano #5 and Sean Monahan #23 of the Calgary Flames during the third period of the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on March 07, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Flames 2-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – MARCH 07: (L-R) Johnny Gaudreau #13, Mark Giordano #5 and Sean Monahan #23 of the Calgary Flames during the third period of the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on March 07, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Flames 2-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

5. Calgary Flames (1st last season)

Putting the Flames fifth may be a big surprise to many who saw the Flames run away with the Pacific Division title last season. Offensively, the Flames were outstanding scoring 289 goals, tied with the Sharks for second in the NHL.

However, look more closely and this came due to career years from their best five players – forwards Sean Monahan (34 goals, 48 assists), Johnny Gaudreau (36 goals, 63 assists), Elias Lindholm (27 goals, 51 assists), Matthew Tkachuk (34 goals, 43 assists), and Norris Trophy Winner Mike Giordano (17 goals, 57 assists).

There’s bound to be some regression from these players, especially Giordano at age 36. The Flames have also been inconsistent in making the playoffs the last 5 seasons, making the playoffs in 2015, 2017, and 2019, only to miss them in 2016 and 2018. Should this trend continue, the Flames will miss the playoffs this upcoming season.

Factor in that rising star Tkachuk and forward Andrew Mangiapane still have not signed yet with training camp days away, and the Flames may not be as potent offensively to start the season. The Flames will take a step back and can only hope they are better defensively to make the playoffs for a second straight year.

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