TASK AT HAND

They know they can do better.
And they're hungry to show it.
"We've all been frustrated with the lack of success we've had," Flames GM Treliving said Wednesday. "It's on us to perform

"That's the message to the fans. I totally understand their frustration. We are too.
"I believe in these players. I think there are players that are able to play at a higher level than they have recently.
"There are always questions coming into a season. When you haven't attained the level that you can, there's going to be frustration. We've got to block all of that out and it's up to us and the players and the coaches to get the job done, and that's what we've got to do starting tomorrow."
The Flames officially kicked off Training Camp Wednesday for their 42nd season with medicals and fitness testing.
We'll get our first look at the players on Thursday when 35 forwards, 21 defencemen and seven goaltenders take to the ice over three sessions at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The Flames had a busy off-season, re-signing 12 restricted free agents, one internal UFA (Michael Stone), trading for Tyler Pitlick, Nikita Zadorov and Dan Vladar, and plucking stud winger Blake Coleman, along with depth players Trevor Lewis, Brad Richardson and Erik Gudbranson off the open market.
Treliving had made it clear: The Flames "underperformed" last year, with many players dipping below their career averages. He not only expects them to rebound beginning this fall, but to achieve an even higher level of production.
The goal?
As always, it's to make the playoffs and once there, make a run at the whole thing.
But that big hurdle needs to be addressed first, after missing out on the dance last year.
"We've got to earn that right over 82 games to be a playoff team, but that's certainly the goal and the expectations for this team coming into this year," Treliving said.

The Flames will return to the Pacific Division this year, competing with Edmonton, Vegas, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose, and the newly formed Seattle Kraken for one of three spots before factoring in the wild card.
And they'll do so with a new identity.
Treliving promised "change" when he spoke at the end of the 2020-21 campaign. Four months later, the crew will have as many as seven or eight new bodies in the fold, with a host of young players pushing for spots in what the boss hopes will be a competitive camp leading into the Oct. 16 season-opener.
"When you have a tough season, you all write about how everything has got to be blown up and everybody's got to be shipped out of town and bring in 20 new players," Treliving said. "That's not reality.
"We have players that I think can play at a higher level than they did last year. It's like every other team - internal growth and internal improvement. Then, we've brought in some people to do some very specific jobs. … As you go through camp, every team has got to establish its identity, you've got to find out who plays with who. Those are the things that I think will be different as (we go). The players, for the most part, that were here last year can play and attain a higher level."
One thing that cannot be overlooked is the influence of Head Coach Darryl Sutter. Unlike last year, the Flames will now get a full camp with their new skipper at the helm.
The Cup-winning coach did some excellent work in his abbreviated spring tour last year, but considering the already condensed schedule and a seriously upward climb from the depths of the North Division standings, we didn't truly get the full effect.
Under Sutter, the Flames went 16-16-1, while surrendering an average of 2.73 goals per game - a significant uptick from the 3.04 they allowed in the 23 games prior.
It's a great start.
Now, it's about identifying the best players to come together to get the job done.
And it all starts on Thursday.
"We've had pretty much our group for the last two to three weeks," Treliving said. There's been lots of dialogue and that's really want you want to use the pre-season for - getting people that are new, getting them acclimated to the group, finding their roles and building the team.
"Job responsibilities and job descriptions. that's really what we want to see throughout camp.
"It's the best league in the world for a reason - there's competition.
"Nobody's gifted an opportunity or gifted a spot."