Deen’s Daily: Calgary Dominates Battle of Alberta; Knight Makes NHL Return

The Avalanche aren’t the only Western Conference juggernaut dealing with a disappointing start. The Edmonton Oilers, who are healthy (except for Evander Kane), are 0-3 after suffering a brutal 4-1 loss to the Calgary Flames.

The Oilers have been outscored 15-3 and all three of their losses came on home ice. It’s almost like they’re trying to repeat their 2023-24 season, where they struggled to start, fired their coach, and then went on a run. I don’t know if it’ll work quite the same this time around, but they need to figure out some things in Alberta.

While we’re at it, shout out to the Flames. They are now 3-0 to start the season and are playing good hockey. Do I think they’re going to finish the year better than Edmonton? Of course not. Will they even make the playoffs? Probably not — unless they sneak in as a wildcard. But I do love the way they’ve started. There are way too many respected veterans in that dressing room for them to just roll over and lose right away.

In the words of the great Nazem Kadri, “pump the brakes a little bit.”

Colorado Hockey Now

It’s been great to have Colleen Flynn as part of the Colorado Hockey Now team. On Saturday, she wrote a follow-up to the Avs’ home opener loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Around The NHL

San Jose Hockey Now: One of San Jose’s long-time veterans is close to returning from an injury that kept him out the first week of the season.

Detroit Hockey Now: The Red Wings need cap space to call up a forward, so they’ve placed one of their three veteran goaltenders on waivers. 

Florida Hockey Now: Young goalie Spencer Knight made his first NHL start in almost two years on Saturday. The result wasn’t quite what he had hoped.

I will never forget the weeks leading up to the 2019 NHL draft, where Colorado selected Bowen Byram at No. 4 overall and Alex Newhook at No. 16. Had Florida not surprisingly selected Knight at No. 13, I was told at the time that the goalie was the Avalanche’s preferred choice at No. 16. I always love hearing stories about which teams wanted which players in the draft. The ‘what if’ game stretches far and wide in situations like this.

Newhook is no longer on the Avs but he was obviously part of the 2022 Stanely Cup championship team so I think the Avs don’t regret that. But, given the way goaltending has shaken out to start the season, having Knight wouldn’t be a bad thing.