Flames look back on season; optimistic for future

Lockers have been cleared out and exit interviews are complete for the Calgary Flames, officially closing the 2014-2015 season.

The players and management are looking back on the year with fondness, especially the post-season.

“The playoffs were unbelievable,” blueliner Rafa Diaz said and added he was overwhelmed by the C of Red. “I’ve never seen something like that before. You went onto the ice and you could see everywhere it was red.”

Diaz and fellow defenceman David Schlemko are pending unrestricted free agents. Both stated they’d like to return.

“It’s been a great ride coming here,” Schlemko explained. “I feel pretty lucky to have landed here and we’ll see what happens, but I’d love to be back.”

Captain Mark Giordano had to watch the playoffs from the sidelines. He is proud of what he saw, but also stated, they’ll have to work hard next season to replicate their success.

“We had a pretty good, pretty fun year,” he said. “After we take some time here, we have to be aware that we’d better be ready for next year, camp and coming in and pushing even harder. It’s going to be different next year.”

General manager Brad Treliving echoed those thoughts.

“When we talk about this team improving, a lot of that improvement we have to see is within,” he said. “It’s going to get harder. What we did this year means nothing in training camp.”

On the injury front, Micheal Ferland confirmed he was hurt during their first round series versus the Canucks.

“In Game One in Anaheim, I was freezing it,” he said of his torn oblique. “I just had to take a couple of days off to try to take the edge off. It was a tough injury to play through, but I did what I could.”

Jiri Hudler had issues with his neck and back in the playoffs. Joe Colborne will be visiting a specialist after trouble with his wrist all year. Paul Byron recently had sports hernia surgery, while nursing a broken toe and broken wrist. Goalie Joni Ortio is still rehabbing after he suffered a high ankle sprain in February. Lance Bouma broke his index finger late in the regular season and needed a plate with eight screws inserted during surgery. Sean Monahan had groin and back trouble. On the blueline, TJ Brodie hurt his ankle in February and it hasn’t healed yet.

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