The Calgary Flames have left a lot to be desired in the first quarter of the 23/24 season. There have been quite a few bright spots as well, but now they find themselves right back in that dirty mucky middle. The Flames have a .460 points percentage as it sits on December 7 (before playing against Carolina) and sit 4 points back of the St. Louis Blues for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference, while still having to jump over the Nashville Predators. Possible? Yes. Probable? I'd say the odds are stacked against them.

One of the flames biggest bright spots this season has been the improved play of their second highest paid player, Nazem Kadri. After a very slow start, Kadri had an incredible month of November playing with the "kids" Martin Pospisil, and Connor Zary. Speaking of Zary, he potted 10 points in the month of November, which is the first time a Flames player has done that since Matthew Tkachuk in the 16-17 season. Meanwhile Tkachuk is struggling to find his groove this season in Florida. Pospisil came out of the gate on fire but has slowed down since, and found himself as a healthy scratch recently. Jonathan Huberdeau and Jacob Markstrom also look noticeably better than they were last season, although both players still need to improve their play if they want to make the post season.