from Craig Custance of ESPN,

Before the season, if you were to handicap the Connor McDavid sweepstakes, the Flames would have been right near the top of the favorites on that list along with the Buffalo Sabres. Well, somebody seems to have forgotten to alert the Flames that you need to lose a bunch of games to enhance your chances of picking No. 1 overall and getting McDavid. Calgary continues to play hard for coach Bob Hartley, who has more than earned a new contract. With T.J. Brodie's deal all but done, that should be the next item on GM Brad Treliving's to-do list. Calgary is now 4-3 on the season despite playing just one home game.

more on the Flames plus the Burnside, LeBrun and Strang with their weekend thoughts...