Barn Burner: Boomer & Pinder with Rhett Warrener - Are The Calgary Flames READY For The Next Step?? | BB Clips

Episode Date: July 14, 2026

Boomer, Pinder and Rhett discuss what next season could look like for the Calgary Flames and why the win-loss record might not tell the whole story. While there could be some tough nights as a young roster continues to grow, the guys explain why this season is all about development and giving players like Zayne Parekh, Matvei Gridin and the next wave of prospects every opportunity to take the next step. What are your expectations for the Flames this season?Video Link: https://youtu.be/vx41y5Va6i0#nhl #nhlshorts #nhlplayoffs #nhlpredictions #nhlhockey #nhlpicks #stanleycup #stanleycupfinal #calgaryflames CHECK OUT OUR STUFF ⬇️BARN BURNER MERCHhttps://nationgear.ca/collections/shirts/FlamesnationBARN BURNER SHORTS https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj_bcGtvvo-cW2DHEDZ6dEO5ePDmlhZc9&si=jo8iNGxT4ImhS2Y8📲 Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fnbarnburner/X (Twitter): https://x.com/barnburnerfn?lang=en🎧 Listen on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/barn-burner-boomer-pinder-with-rhett-warrener/id1648562889Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mc6Qd5U22R2zbMlQ7RxIiProducer: Jack Haverstock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I like what they're doing. It's going to be a year of growth and potentially some tough watches. But if we learned anything this year, they're probably going to fight tooth and nail. And they'll give whatever they got, they're going to give it to you most nights. And their goaltending and that might give them, keep them in some fights that they maybe wouldn't be. We better pray that that guy's good or there's no. Which goalie? Mm-hmm.

Yeah. The sophomore. slouch, let's call it, maybe not a slump. Like it was an okay year after an excellent rookie year. I, yeah. And Cooley was sensational and he's probably due to regress the other way. I wouldn't be surprised if they both sort of slide back to the closer to the center. That would be up for Wolf down for Cooley a bit.

I would think just settle in. And this is going to be a year again, where we're going to be anticipating a nice draft pick. Do you think that like you think about this year, what's pericester? going to do. Well, he could have 70 points or he could have 10. I don't know. I don't know. But I don't care either because I think probably you're going to

by the end of the year you'll have a better idea of what the reality is. I think what you saw from Zane in the last month and a half of the year was very encouraging and what that means for next year. We'll see. Yeah. I'll put up one just finger to pause.

What's Huska's allowance for is correct to play the way he wants to play? And Nemitz as well. He's a rover, man. And I'm not judging one or the other and who's right, who's wrong? And maybe it's kumbaya and everyone gets along. But that's going to be an interesting thing that you bring it up that way. You as a guy who feel like the defensive defenseman is a bit of a lost art, it's kind of fading into the background for high octane offense and exciting puck movers on the back end.

what will be what will be the appetite or I guess the tolerance level from the coach with both of those guys because they're like you know they're both kind of rovers they want to get in the play they want the puck they're making plays where's that line between okay I'm happy I want them to do what they do best but also they're young and they do need to learn still how to play the position because you talk I still remember what you would talk to what Jim playfair was one of the first coaches that actually taught me how to do some things on defense. defense. You were in your late 20s or in your 30s. You're not a finished product when you come out of the draft and what, well, you've made the NHL team. So you're done learning. But these guys. Yes, have a lot to learn yet. The problem. Well, it's not a problem.

The issue being it's hard to learn that side. Although, but on the other side, I'm talking about both sides of my mouth. Sure. Teaching D is difficult. You can't hook and hold and it's not, you know what I mean? you are exposed as a defenseman in today's game. Rightfully so. And that's,

it's sped up the game and it's made the skill way better and the plays are better. And it's more entertaining and fun to watch. But it's very difficult to teach. Then on the other hand, it's just about commitment to playing defense. You got to work. You just, it's work. It can't be just, well,

I could just poke at this or I could get in there and take the hit. That's a choice. He just talked about San Jose and the size and the type of defensemen they have. They're going to make it hard. for you. Yeah, yeah. They're going to make it hard on you in the offensive. So they're going to grind on it.

And you mentioned Nemich and Perak, who are absolutely getting north and want to have the puck on their sticks. It means that you're going to be really good years for ball and white cloud because those are going to be their partners. Like, well, and the other, those pairs have to work and we don't know if they're going to work because we've

hardly seen, we haven't seen Nemich with anyone, although he did get a tiny amount of time with ball in New Jersey before they both left. and we saw a little bit of white club per rec, but they're both righties, and now one of them's going to play the left. This is where the Huska conversation comes in.

Because I think you have to actually have a slightly different system in place if you're going to allow these guys to go. And I don't know if he wants to do that. I wonder what they do with Pristevich, and maybe these things solve themselves with something that happens in camp or whatever, but because Natsov is a defensive first guy

that needs waivers, you'll lose if you try to get him to the minors. He's not going in. anywhere. Is you're seven or six? We'll see. For Stevich, you can park in the miners and not lose them and bring them back when you need them, whatever. I think Paul and Hanley, it's like, thanks for your service, but there's no room at the inn anymore. So whether you're claimed on waivers or we trade you or you're just an extra body in the rafters, that's kind of what it looks like for them. And Middleton's a big physical de-first guy. So really, you've got

four guys that aren't sexy, but are good defenders and two thoroughbreds that want to run. It, I mean, it sure does shape up. I don't mind that for Dostevich, unfortunately for him. And that does suck. But you know what? Every kid's had to do it. Remember Manjapani? Not every kid.

Like, no, not every kid. But when you're, he's not the top 10 pick next star, the team pedigree guy that gets the benefit of the doubt. You know what I mean? Yeah. He's got two of those guys in front of them on the right in Namichip. I wonder, like, the shinny part. And I said, remember when Jan Kowski actually showed up and had an awesome camp and they send them to the frickin' liars.

I lost by marbles. I was like, this is what you want. The guy finally shows up and starts contributing and that's your reward. Yeah. Great job. Yeah. And you know what?

That this regime's done things differently, I will say. Like who had a really good camp this year? Gridden. They kept them up for a little bit. And then they said, okay, you've had your taste. Now we're seeing you're in the deep end. We'll bring you back after some time in the A. And Gritton is, I don't know if there's a guy you're more excited to see it

forward all year than Gridden. But on that back end, given that the names, because I agree with you with Hanley and Pahal. But if you get to the end of camp, and if Brasdavich has held his own, what do you do? What do you do? You have a tough conversation

because you have to asset management or manage at that point. And what you could do is just say, look, because Natsov and Brestevich, you're going to alternate until we get a huge separation. And they're very different styles of player, but they're both young guys that probably would rather do half time in the NHL than be either elsewhere.

The other part of it, I don't know. If he comes in, and plays really good. I think he's Bernie still going to be very good. Trade with the other White Club. I am not

feel, I like Zach White Cloud. Came in, played awesome. Seems like he's got the right attitude. He likes the city. Wonderful. If I'm asset managing,

then that's what I'm doing. They are going to do that. It's just, is it going to be, he's got two years left at a really nice number, and he's a massive trade asset at any point. you got a really high ask for him right now, I'm guessing, and it probably isn't going down unless he plays really poorly.

So when do you pull the trigger? Is it a Bristevich training camp thing? Or is it a, it's when another team decides to pay the price. I think that's it probably what it is. And it's like, do you want a first for Zach? And you're like, wow, that's a lot.

But the more you look at the cap hit, I mean, if he's on the open market and you just saw Truva get eight and a quarter, they're not the same player, but like, do you might make a two and a half or something? it's a steal. White Cloud two more years, 2.75. That's crazy. Yeah, it is.

Very cheap. Yeah. And it would be, you almost wish you were in a different, obviously you wish you were in a different spot. But if you were a team that's up against the cap, but you're a contender. Thank God for White Cloud and that cap hit.

It allows us to do all these other things. But right now they're not that and they don't have a worry about. And that's why he's the trade ship. So if you see the emergence from all these young guys and Middleton is a steady force that you can use. Maybe if somebody wants Middleton, I don't share. Yeah.

Talk to me. I think if you're Connie, you've got a very high ask for him because you love him and he's an asset, but for the same reason that a contender would love him. And when someone meets your price, you say, this is where we're at. We would love to, you be the captain here for a while or wear a letter or whatever it is, but we have so many D and you're going to get us a haul and you were a throw in piece on the Anderson deal. the other part of it is too

you can't you're not married to any of these guys no that's that's what I'm trying to get across is that right you want bristavits all right what do you give me no one's going to and it's not going to be what you're trying to accomplish but i don't give a shit if i get good return and good value for what i'm sending out the doors are open and maybe it's kuznetsov in a weird way

where it's like look we got a second or a third this guy no one thought he was going to make it to begin with. And now you got a Middleton Bristavich third pair. I really like that. Whatever. Like Kevin Ball. If somebody's got a bone on for Kevin Ball, okay.

You're, there just isn't untouchable. You're a middle, middle pairing guy on a, whatever. Yeah, you can cherry pick that there's certain guys you think that are going to be more valid.

But if another team wants someone, yeah. I know Conroy's got his feet up, but I don't think his phone is completely off. It's on silent, but it's not off. It's on divided every hour.