Flames GM: Team needs to be 'more emotionally engaged'

The Calgary Flames were among the NHL's biggest underachievers this season, and general manager Brad Treliving has one potential explanation for his team's disappointing performance.

Even after a four-game sweep by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the playoffs last year, the Flames were perceived as a team on the rise, and the offseason additions of Travis Hamonic and Mike Smith raised expectations even more. The changes seemed to be working, too. In the middle of January, Calgary was 25-16-4, coming off a seven-game winning streak. A second-place finish in the Pacific Division didn't seem far-fetched.

Yet a poor second half that's included two losing streaks of six or more games has left the Flames more than 10 points out of a playoff spot.

There's clearly more than one reason for the Flames' collapse, but weeks after their last game of meaningful hockey, Treliving is concerned about the team's level of emotional investment.

"There's an emotional level you have to get to to assist you in winning, and we have to look into that," Treliving told Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun. "Are we emotionally invested enough? We're missing something.

"I think we've got to find a way to be more emotionally engaged. We've got to be harder to play against. That can mean a lot of different things, but we've got to find the identity of our team."

Those comments would seem to suggest that Treliving is questioning his team's character, but he says that's not the issue.

"I don't question our character," he said. "I'm around these guys every day, and I don't buy into that. This team was praised for its character a year ago when we made the playoffs, and, all of a sudden, we lost that? I don't question whether these guys want to win. Everyone wants to win."

He admitted changes are on the way, but didn't say whether they'd include head coach Glen Gulutzan.

"I think we've got a good coach. We've got some good players, but we're all subject to scrutiny when a season goes like this," Treliving said.

Calgary has never been a hot destination for free agents, and the Flames don't pick until the third round of the draft, so Treliving could have a difficult time finding the missing pieces for his team this offseason.