It’s no secret that the Calgary Flames have struggled to get consistent offense from anybody who isn’t Johnny Gaudreau or Matthew Tkachuk this season. While that may be enough to get them into the playoffs – as of this writing, they have a 89% chance of qualifying according to The Athletic’s projections – but it’s not a recipe for success in the second season.
While the Flames are likely in the market for help via trade, they may have found some help within their own organization. If young forward Adam Ruzicka can cement himself in a spot on the fourth line, suddenly the Flames become a much deeper, more dangerous hockey club.