What’s going on with the Flames blueline is really incredible. For context, this could be the first time in 35 years that Calgary will get at least 50 games each from two rookie defencemen aged 22 or younger. The last time? Al MacInnis, 20, and Jamie Macoun, 22, back in 1983-84. Before that, it was Charlie Bourgeois, 22, and Steve Konroyd, 20, in 1981-82.
This not-seen-in-a-long-time embracing of youth began when Rasmus Andersson, 22, and Juuso Valimaki, 20 opened the season as the third pairing. They were both fixtures in the lineup until Valimaki suffered a lower-body injury. No problem. In stepped Oliver Kylington, 21, who has taken over for Valimaki and has already played 10 games alongside Andersson and played well.
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The days of old, slow guys on the third pairing are behind us.
There is a youth movement going on and it’s working. The young guys are proving capable and are providing Calgary with quality minutes, while at the same time growing and developing their games to make them even more formidable in the future.