Calgary Flames Experiencing Setbacks

The Calgary Flames are already experiencing enormous setbacks – and the regular season hasn’t even begun yet!

In the past few weeks, the Flames have watched their carefully laid plans become nullified due to injury after injury. So far, centre Mikael Backlund, right winger David Jones, and left winger Mason Raymond have all suffered with recent injuries of varying severity. Jones endured a lower-body injury, whereas Raymond suffered from a groin injury. Meanwhile Backlund, who tied for third in the NHL in short-handed goals last season, experienced a particularly terrible abdominal strain that resulted from his off-season training in Sweden. This is not the first time that an injury has impaired Backlund, as he missed out on five games last season due to a thumb injury.

In addition, 18-year-old centre Sam Bennett is currently experiencing immense discomfort because of a harrowing and agonizing upper-body injury. Bennett was ranked by the league’s Central Scouting Bureau as the top North American prospect for the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Bennett was the team’s fourth-overall selection, and his career is now hanging in the balance. Bennett boasts incredible talent, and is more than capable of revitalizing the team, especially during these turbulent times. However, if his journey to recovery conflicts with the Flames’ season, we may see Bennett’s NHL career come to a conclusion before it even begins.

Finally, with the NHL regular season right around the corner, a plethora of questions regarding the Flames may soon be answered. Can the team finally become a playoff contender? Can Sven Baertschi transcend disappointment and doubt, and make a significant contribution to the Flames? Who will make the final cut?

Tune in to the regular season opener on October 8^th to find out, and watch as the Flames battle it out with the Vancouver Canucks at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary!