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Where: Opening night at the Scotiabank Saddledome
The Flames take the ice for the first time in a new season full of questions and hope. One season removed from falling totally off the Western Conference radar and into hockey oblivion, the Flames are looking to be re-born.
They are led onto the ice not by Miikka Kiprusoff, but by Leland Irving, their first round pick from 2006. Kipper was dealt in mid August back to San Jose, who faltered last season without the services of a reliable number one net minder. It will be strange without Kipper between the pipes, but the Flames received Joe Pavelski, Jason Demers, and a 2nd and 3rd round pick in 2012, which should help with the healing process. Irving, for his part, had his breakout season last year in Abbotsford and after a strong pre-season, he beat out 2nd year man Henrik Karlsson for the starting job. However, it’s assumed that they will enjoy a 60/40 ice time split through most of the season.
Up front, for the first time since 1996-97 season, the Flames will start a campaign without Jarome Iginla on their roster. In late July, Flames GM Jay Feaster dealt Iginla, along with a 3rd round pick in 2012, for top flight prospect Brayden Schenn, forward and former Calgary Hitmen Brandon Kozun, a 1st round pick in 2012 and a 2nd round pick in 2013. The city was heartbroken, as was Iginla during his tear filled press conference, but it was something that needed to be done in order to fully re-charge and re-invigorate this franchise.
Schenn will make his Flames debut tonight on the second line alongside Rene Bourque and Niklas Hagman. Backlund will center the top line with Tanguay and Pavelski, who gave up his natural position of center to play right wing on the top unit.
Due to their poor finish last season, the Flames were able to land a top tier prospect in 6’1” Jonathan Huberdeau out of the QMJHL. A big center, Huberdeau cracked the 90 point plateau last season with the Saint John Sea Dogs. Jonathan had a strong training camp and surprised a lot of people by cracking the line-up -- he will center the third line. Along with Huberdeau, the Flames also start Tim Erixon on defence. Erixon was the Flames 1st round pick in 2009, and will be on the second unit alongside veteran Robyn Regehr.
Newly named captain Mark Giordano will try and help lead this NEW look Flames team in a completely new direction. They may be lacking the big name on their roster like in years past but this Flames team is built for today’s game, which is something Calgary fans haven’t been able to say for many years.
They will endure some growing pains, but, in time, this team will grow into the steady force it used to be.
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Newman
twitter.com/TSRNewman
thesportsroundup@gmail.com
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13 comments:
very interesting thoughts... well done!
I think your kidding yourself if you think that you would get that much for Kiprusoff. San Jose would be stupid to give up two solid players and a couple of draft picks for an aging goaltender, dont get me wrong, I think Kipper is a good goalie, just not that good to get what your thinking. I honestly thing your dreaming if you could get all of that for Iginla...maybe a 1st and 2nd round pick, but there is no way that you would get Brayden Schenn thrown in. I'm sorry but this article is completely out to lunch on the potential trades that you could get for your "superstars". lol!!
Agree with the return for Kipper would be optimistic at best but Iggy will be an overpayment to a team who wants to win today. If LA dont come to the plate they may be watching the playoffs this year. No overpayment, no Iggy, simple as that we'll keep him. Is Boumeester in a Flames uni in this scenario?
If that is the "overpayment" that the kings would have to make to get Iginla then I assure you that he will be staying in Calgary.
I think a more realistic trade if he were going to LA would be something like Wayne Simmonds and a 1st round pick. Calgary would get a player with boatloads of potential and something they havent had in a long time thanks to sutter (a 1st round pick). LA would get the "better" player (at this point in time) but I think this trade would help out both clubs by giving LA a player to help them win now and by giving calgary players that they can use to build around and win later.
Just remember Jokinen is a Flame for 1 more yr w/NTC. SJS does not need another Goalie they are just playing the wrong system and adding Kipper into that mix will just mess it up even more so. I love how the Flames and their fans over price their players so much. Sorry to say but you are stuck with the suck for another year or more. This may fit a little better come the 2012/2013 season but not happening next year.
Time to wake up and realize that 13th - 15th place is a reality for the next while.
Maybe I should have said that it was an imaginative scenario, not necessarily what would happen. Wishful thinking thinking lets just say. just tired of talking about the same crap over and over
Are you kidding me. Simmonds has done nothing this year & LA's first wont make an impact in this years draft.Thats OK, LA can miss the playoffs & count all the potential they want. You are right we have crappy contracts until the end of next year, thats fine, end of next year we will have 25M. LA isnt the only team to deal with that wont give joke offers what you suggest & may seriously want to go far in the playoffs. Beauty of a 30 team league. Good thing you're not a GM Feaster has to deal with.
I dont know how you cant see that the Simmonds & a 1st for Iginla isnt a solid trade....Simmonds is only 22 and he has already had a 40 point season and is on pace to the same. He will be at least a 50-60 point guy in a couple of years plus he still is still on his entry level contract (he is under $900,000) which means a lot of salary cap relief for the flames to add someone in the off season. If the season were to end today then LA would have the 13th overall pick in the draft....here are a few players that were drafted 13th overall.....Ales Hemsky, Alexander Semin, Dustin Brown, Lars Eller, Colten Teubert, Zack Kassian....so can you tell me know why you dont think this would be a good trade for the flames.....keep in mind that Iginla is 33 years old and still has a 7 million dollar cap hit for the next 2 years...(big money!!)
Schenn & a 1st & you wont get an arguement from me, otherwise we can get better offers from the likes of Montreal who are starving for a top 3 forward & possible reigniting Camaleri. Iggy could push LA to be a contender not just trying to get to the playoffs. I would take Simmonds but Schenn would be the deal breaker. Iggy still signed for 2 more years & he has at least 3-4 good years in him to take a run for Gold. Just saying, you dont sweeten you probably wont get him & you'll be a bridesmaid & have to settle for the likes of Sturm.
i hope this doesnt happen.
I like it, dreams are good. Like most, I think Iggy and Kipper are great but it's time to move on with new blood. Need to also get rid of Staios, Sarich, Stajan, Kotalik, and Jokinen. Maybe for some new pucks or rolls of stick tape. Let's give some of our so-called prospects a chance to develop in the NHL.
IF Iggy said he would waive his NTC he would command a large return. 33 but one of the fittest guys in the league. 2 time Richard trophy winner, 2 tome 90+points, decent numbers this year. All of this with never a center. If they would have kept Marc Savard (too soft for Sutter?) Iggy would have had at least 1 60 goal season. He was the highest goal scoring player in last yeats olympics when playing against allstars. Not to mention he is a well respected leader. If the price for Kessel was 2 1st, 1 2nd and a $5.5 mill a year. Iggy is worth Schenn and a first (probably no more).
Also, being a goalie and watching Kipper every night i can tell you he is one of the best in the league, especially when the game is on the line. He has been off his game recently.
i like your fictional scenario however i would much rather get a young prospect goalie from LA seein as how they have an abundance of them, maybe johnathan bernier, if iggy was part of that deal i would much rather pick up schenn + kozun/moller and a first in 2011.
to la is iggy+hag/stajan+ matt pelech+ second round pick 2011
to cry is bernier+schenn+kozun/moller+first 2011
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