Fuhr looks to stop shots, and postseason drought - Grant Fuhr - Calgary Flames hockey team - Brief Article

1998-99 RECORD: 30-40-12 (3rd in Northwest).

FIVE-YEAR RECORD: 146-176-54 (.460, ranks 19th in NHL in that span).

GOOD NEWS: Acquiring G Grant Fuhr gives the team a capable goaltender for the first time in years. Complementing Fuhr is a solid defense that features a blend of youth and veterans. Up front, the Flames compensate for a lack of superstar talent with a core of players who can contribute 20-30 goals. Much of the team's success rides on the ability of the young guns--Cory Stillman, Valeri Bure, Jarome Iginla and Marc Savard--to provide offense. The defense features solid offense from veteran Phil Housley and 20-year-old Derek Morris, and depth in the back could allow this team to make a trade to shore up its forwards.

BAD NEWS: The talent is dangerously thin. Injuries, particularly to Fuhr, coming off an injury-plagued season in St. Louis, or the few veterans on defense (Housley, Steve Smith, Tommy Albelin), would damage playoff aspirations. Smith played 69 games last season, but his brittle body can't be expected to hold up as well this season. There is little talent down the middle alter the loss of Andrew Cassols to free agency. Special teams were horrid last season and feature the same lineups that underachieved. The fan base is dwindling rapidly, and that has created pressure on the club to succeed early. A poor start could result in coaching and management changes.

WORKING OVERTIME: The team lost a franchise-record 19 one-goal games last season and missed the plavoffs by six points. Do the math and it's clear special teams play a huge role in turning this team around. Both the power play (19th) and penalty killing (26th) were among the league's worst. The team has to improve in those areas, and it has to be better at home. The 15-20-6 record the Flames posted at the Saddledome was the same as their road record.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Bure has emerged as the team's best offensive forward. To allow him to generate more offense, the team will play him at the point on the power play, where his playmaking and shot are expected to revitalize one of the most dismal parts of the Flames' game. The tyadeoff for having Bure on the power play is that the team is susceptible to shorthanded goals because Bure is less than adequate defending the rush. It's a gamble that will significantly influence this team's success.

AFTER 82 GAMES: The season rides heavily on the shoulders of Fuhr and his backup, probably Fred Brathwaite. They can influence the team's success on special teams and provide confidence to a young lineup that could make the difference between qualifying for the playoffs or missing for the fourth straight season. If Fuhr is healthy, this team will battle for one of the final Western Conference playoff spots. Without great goaltending, this team fails again.

GRADING OUT

COACHING        C
FORWARDS        D
DEFENSEMEN      C
GOALTENDERS     C
SPECIAL TEAMS   F
FRONT OFFICE    D

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