CALGARY -- Last season, the Calgary Flames returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2009 and advanced beyond the first round for the first time since going to the Stanley Cup Final in 2004.
The upstart Flames surprised many with their performance, which included a 20-point season-over-season increase from 2013-14 to finish third in the Pacific Division and a series win against the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference First Round.
With heightened expectations, Calgary is looking for a repeat performance.
"Last year, we believed we were a playoff team and we do again," Flames captain Mark Giordano said. "We're looking forward to getting better, and on paper today, if you look at our roster, we do look like a deeper, better roster. Now, as players, we have to bring that and prove it on the ice. If you ask a lot of teams, they are going to feel like they got better this offseason as well. We have to be prepared right from Day One. I think our start last year was huge. We'll go from there."