Where do we put the dynamite?

by Bryan Wright

Following every Flames loss, the cries come on twitter, on radio call in shows and in newspaper columns, that it's time to 'blow it up.'  Never have the cries been louder than after last night's 9-0 loss to the Boston Bruins; a humiliating defeat that was the team's fifth in a row and ended a dismal seven game road trip.  My question is, what prey tell, is there to blow up?

In idea behind the 'blow it up' philosophy is that the current assets could be shed for some solid returns that would help the team improve in the future.  The only assets the Flames have right now, are Miikka Kiprusoff and Jarome Iginla.  If the Flames traded Iginla, they'd have a crappy team without any leader, without any heart and without any identity.  If the Flames traded Kiprusoff, they'd be a crappy team without a goalie.  So, the return needs to be a substantial one.

Non-Moves: Flames Strategy

Courtesy: CP

I go to Idaho for three days and the entire NHL loses it freaking mind.


James Wisniewski 6 yrs, $33 million? Erik Cole 4 yrs, $18 million? Ville Leino, 6 yrs, $27 million?

Is everyone taking crazy pills? And that’s not even half of the outrageous deals that have been handed out over the past couple of days,

What about the “Pick up as many players as possible and sign them to 4 year contracts” strategy that Dale Tallon has employed in Sunrise, Florida?

Flames sign Glencross and make Feaster GM

The Calgary Flames signed Curtis Glencross to a four year $10.2 million deal today. Following this signing, the Flames made it official by finally stripping the “Acting” tag off of Jay Feaster’s GM role, and officially giving him the keys to the car.


This officially marks the beginning of the Jay Feaster era in Calgary.

First off: the Glencross signing. I was on record as saying that anything over $2.3 million a season for Glencross would be a bad signing for two reasons. One: I truly believed he would test he free agent market and receive well over that and I was worried the Flames would try and match some ridiculous offer to keep him and subsequently get trapped in another bad contract. And two, because I really didn’t think the Flames could actually afford anything over that number given their strenuous cap situation.

I guess I was a little off in my assumptions.

The deal also includes a no-movement clause – something the Flames give out like mini Twix bars on all hallows eve, or so it would seem.

Calgary Flames Post Mortem

The Calgary Flames missed the playoffs. Again. That’s two in a row for people that are keeping track.


After spending five straight seasons in the post-season the Flames have now fallen on tough times in the competitive Western Conference.

The question on most people’s minds for the better part of the last 2 weeks is, simply put, why?

Why did this team not make the playoffs? Why did it take so long for this team to come together? What exactly went wrong, and is the current direction of the team the right one?

Well, here are my two cents on the season that was, whether you want to hear them or not.

On July 1st, 2010, the Flames signed Olli Jokinen and Alex Tanguay. I applauded the signing of Tanguay, given the dollar figure and his history with Iginla. Darryl Sutter bought on a low, and cashed in big time when Tanguay immediately put up numbers, finishing top 30 in league scoring, and helping Iginla finish 7th in scoring, which included 43 goals.

Sea of Tranquility on Deadline Day

So the trade deadline has come and gone and nothing much happened.  Some will say the Flames didn't do enough to bolster their lineup, some will say they didn't shed enough assets to start the rebuilding process.  Myself, I found it kind of comforting that nothing much happened.  After all, the team's been playing quite well the past two months, and I didn't really see any reason to change things.

Looking back, I remember thinking in November, or rather fearing in November, massive changes to the team.  It wasn't so much the fact that there might be changes, instead it was who would be making those changes.  I am, of course, talking about Darryl Sutter.

Last year's bizarre trades had me fearing for the Flames.  If Sutter was still in charge, I shudder to think what crazy moves he might have pulled off, like sending Dustin Boyd to Nashville for a fourth round pick, or Aaron Johnson and a pick to Edmonton for Steve freakin' Staois.  But with Jay Feaster at the helm, there wasn't any fear of that.

Darryl Sutter is No More

Goosebumps can be caused by many things. Being scared, excited, nervous, cold, anxious, etc.


So is it wrong that I had them running down my arms when I heard the news that Darryl Sutter was no longer the General Manager of the Calgary Flames today?

To say I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time would be an understatement. It all happened so fast. One minute I’m strapping on my own skates to take part in a Canadian winter tradition of playing hockey outdoors. The next thing I know my phone is erupting with text messages and phone calls informing me that Darryl Sutter resigned/was forcefully told that his services were no longer needed.

I didn’t know whether to keep playing, go into full celebration mode or rush home to my keyboard.

It’s exciting, is what it is. It’s a step in the right direction for a franchise that desperately needs a direction other than a downward spiral.

Flames Add Depth in 'Office' Positions

With the addition Wednesday of Michel Goulet as their Western Professional Scout, the Calgary Flames have slowly surrounded Darryl Sutter with some much needed help for the upcoming season.

Sutter has been on the hot seat with many fans, including myself, since the end of the season due to the Flames disappointing finish in last years regular season. With the addition of Jay Feaster as an Assistant GM and now Goulet as one of their top professional scouts, the Flames have surrounded Sutter with not only good hockey people, but winners, in every sense of the word.

“You win, you always do!”

Goulet has been with the Colorado Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques franchise for the better part of 25 years, both as a player and in the front office. He was being touted to take over as the Avalanche GM for many years now, but that rumour never came to pass. So now, his new address is north of the border; figuratively speaking as he still reports out of Denver. He was the Director of Player Personnel for the Avs. He helped stock the cupboards full in Colorado for their two cup victories in 1996 and 2001. He is a winner and knows good talent when he sees it. And although he is reporting directly to Feaster, hopefully he can persuade Darryl to look at something other than western farm boys and players that used to play for the Flames. It’s time to think outside the box.