from Eric Francis of Sportsnet,

Mike Smith insists his team’s mojo had to change, while Brad Treliving speaks of the new vibe his moves have helped create.

But leave it to Matthew Tkachuk to detail as frankly as possible what the Calgary Flames really needed this off-season.

“I think that the main thing I took out of it is we needed kind of a kick in the ass,” said the third-year winger of a team that fell miserably short of a playoff spot last season.

“We need to realize how bad we were and how that’s not acceptable with management and players.”

No one on the team agrees with the suggestion a shortage of character or leadership led to the team’s stunning tumble from a February playoff spot.

On the ice, goaltending woes and injuries helped spell doom. Everyone agrees significant changes were in order.

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