The Calgary Flames allowed a Western Conference-high 23 goals in their first six games of the season, securing five points in the process. According to at least one Flames player, the sluggish start is because the team, or at least the defensive unit, is not playing together.

“The main thing is we're just not working as a unit,” Flames defenceman Nikita Zadorov said, via Kayla Douglas. “We have too many individuals playing as themselves. We have to figure out if we wanna play as a team or play as our own guy. We're only six games into the season and we're trying to figure out who wants to be here, who wants to play for who.”

Zadorov already has a -6 rating in six games. He has two assists but has been on the ice for several goals, bringing his personal stats down a notch. He was a +21-rated player in 156 games with the Flames over the last two seasons.

Calgary winning some games as it figures out its defense is a good sign, especially for a team trying to get back to the postseason after missing the playoffs last season. Things need to change soon though if the Flames want to get there.

Perhaps Nikita Zadorov's comments will fuel the Flames to get back on track and hopefully isn’t received poorly by some of his Calgary teammates. Chances are Zadorov, a seasoned veteran with over 500 NHL games under his belt, would not say something like that publicly if he didn’t have the respect of the locker room.