Calgary Flames players admit brutal truth about last playoffs vs Oilers
Photo credit: Imagn Images
The Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames met for a highly anticipated playoff matchup in the 2021-22 season, and the Flames were beaten so badly, their roster was torn apart.
The Flames won 50 games that season with a quality roster, and looked like a true cup contender. Then they lost to the Oilers in a 5 game beatdown, and the core roster pieces began to be dismantled - and the players knew it was because of Edmonton.
NHL insider says Calgary Flames players know Edmonton Oilers sent their team to a rebuild
According to Elliotte Friedman on the most recent edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, both the Oilers and the Flames knew that Edmonton truly did dismantle their roster.
«When Calgary lost to Edmonton in that playoff Battle of Alberta, I know that the flames.
The Oilers felt that they broke the flames. They ended that group, right? And the Flames knew the Oilers felt that way.
One of the flames players from that team told me the worst thing about it is, like, we have to eat it because they're right. They beat us so badly that we were never the same team again.
Right? The team was gone. And so I think the feelings between Tkachuk and those Oilers are very real.
- Elliotte Friedman
The Oilers felt that they broke the flames. They ended that group, right? And the Flames knew the Oilers felt that way.
One of the flames players from that team told me the worst thing about it is, like, we have to eat it because they're right. They beat us so badly that we were never the same team again.
Right? The team was gone. And so I think the feelings between Tkachuk and those Oilers are very real.
- Elliotte Friedman
That offseason, the Calgary Flames traded Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers, and Johnny Gaudreau left in free agency to sign with the Columbus Blue Jackets. That was the beginning of the end for Calgary, as the following season they failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Soon after, Daryl Sutter was fired, and the Flames began the true rebuild. The roster was almost entirely dismantled, and the next time they make the playoffs, may be a whole different team.
The rivalry for Matthew Tkachuk and other former Flames, and even the current remaining Flames, is based on how brutal the playoff beatdown was. Tkachuk has been the ultimate sore winner celebrating the Cup this season, showing just how personal it was to him.
Hopefully the Edmonton Oilers can come back next season, stop the Panthers from a repeat, and finally take the Cup back to Canada.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 22 | 965 ANSWERS Calgary Flames players admit brutal truth about last playoffs vs Oilers Do you think the Oilers dismantled the Flames in 2022? | ||
| Yes | 835 | 86.5 % |
| No | 130 | 13.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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