Captain Jarome

With the season just around the corner, I thought I would run down the roster on the Flames one player at a time and prognosticate, if I may, about what lies ahead for each individual player. I would like to start this 22 part series by looking at the one, the only, Jarome Iginla.

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The Captain. The team’s life blood. The franchise.

These are some of the words used to describe what Jarome Iginla means to the Calgary Flames. Coming off of a self-proclaimed ‘bad year’ though, many people in the city of Calgary have started to second guess if it would serve the Flames best interests to ship Iginla out of town when his value is still relatively high. Trading him before he gets too old and becomes useless has been one school of thought. I, on the other hand, totally disagree with that assessment and of course, if this were to happen, the city might literally go UP in flames; no pun intended. Ok, so it was a little intended.

"Personally, last year was an off year.” –#12

Hitmen Revving up for a Repeat

Matt MacKenzie

So what do you do for encore when you have a season like the Hitmen just had?

After winning 52 games in the regular season and then running over the competition in the post-season en route to a WHL Championship, the Hitmen are faced with a daunting task.

With possibly 13 players returning from last year’s championship team, there will definitely be some new faces in the dressing room this time around.
With the likes of Brandon Kozun, Michael Stone, Joel Broda, Martin Jones and possibly Ian Schultz moving on into the professional ranks, that leaves some mighty big shoes to fill on a roster in need of some new leadership.

Back to the Future?

Marty: "Oh, this is heavy, Doc. I mean, it's like I was just here yesterday."



Doc: "You were here yesterday, Marty, you were."

Remember this? When Marty and the Doc were forced to go back to 1955 to steal back the ‘Grey’s Sports Almanac’ from young Biff so that he wouldn’t become rich and powerful and eventually kill Marty’s Dad George and marry Marty’s Mom Lorraine. Marty was experiencing a bit of deja-vu as he was back re-living November 12th, 1955 but, this time, from a different angle.

Well I have this sneaking suspicion that Olli Jokinen will probably have a very similar reaction when he touches down in Calgary for training camp in September. A guy that was, for all intensive purposes, booed out of this city for not living up to his potential has been brought back for another kick at the can.

Deja-vu? It sure feels like it.

This time though, he has a ‘no trade clause’ and is signed for two years at $3 million, not the $5.25 million he was making previously. What can we expect from him this year or better yet what SHOULD we expect of him this year?

His point totals have been falling, and falling fast since his 91 point total in 2006-07 (71 in 08’, 57 in 09’, and 50 last season).

So, should we be happy if he gets 15 goals or should we be angry until he scores 30? He scored only 15 last year, which was pretty much half of what he had the previous year. He is set to be centering the number one line again with Iginla and Tanguay, yet he does posses front line talent anymore.

He has gone from being a guy who was counted on every night to be ‘The Guy’ in south Florida to being a second rate centerman with the Flames; a team laden with second rate centermen.

They have Stajan and Langkow who are not number one guys.

Backlund is quite possibly the Flames only hope for a number one center, barring any trade that would bring one to the city.

On a side note, putting Backlund up there with the big boys might be risky, but then again it might be a way bigger risk to stick him into a 3rd line checker role where his development would sputter. Just like Boyd, just like Lombardi, just like Kobasew, we could be on the verge of watching another potential star in the Flames system get blockaded behind older washed up stars who Sutter thinks will save the franchise from yet another disappointing and frustrating season.
In the end I realize that this topic has been bandied about more times than Brett Favre has retired, yet I just still can’t believe it’s a reality.

I just feel like I am about to watch the same Olli Jokinen stick handle up the ice like a 10 year tyke player, out of control and no sense direction, and fire the puck wide or lose it in the corner.
Same Olli Jokinen. Just a slightly different angle.

This is heavy Doc.

Maybe it has something to do with the earth’s gravitational pull?


NOTE: Away from the whole Jokinen debate I would like to point out the three players at the Heritage Classic gala last Wednesday; Staios, Sarich and Glencross. Sarich has been talked about as a potential trade target given his large contract. Staios will have a tough time making this team and might be pushed into the minors. Glencross is the only player who I see actually being on the team come mid February. Maybe this is a signal from the team instilling confidence in these specific players. Then again, I am probably over thinking a very meaningless press conference where these players were simply the most accessible.

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Hitmen Nyren in Flames prospect camp

Calgary Hitmen defenceman Giffen Nyren does not belong to any National Hockey League team; not yet at least.

After being invited to the Minnesota Wild camp last summer, he finds himself in a familiar place in the summer of 2010; on Saddledome ice. The only difference is that he is wearing the flaming ‘C’ on his chest and not the menacing emblem of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen.

Nyren clearly turned some heads in Calgary during the Hitmen playoff run as he was granted the invite by the Flames soon after the WHL Champions returned home from the Memorial Cup.

He became one of the Hitmen’s most dangerous weapons from the blue line as he potted 5 goals and added 13 assists during Championship run. He was also a plus 15 during the post-season; 2nd in the league only to Captain Michael Stone.

At 6’1” and 195 lbs, Nyren plays a similar game to that of another fellow Calgarian; Norris Trophy nominee Mike Green. Nyren loves to lead the rush and create plays with his feet, much like Green does with the Washington Capitals. Nyren loves to have the puck on his stick during the power play, much like Green who quarterbacks one of the most lethal units in NHL.

So if Nyren is so good, then why did he get passed up in two straight NHL entry drafts?

Well, when Nyren broke into the junior ranks with the Moose Jaw Warriors, the Warrior brass thought it wise to try Nyren out as a forward, and then moved him back to defence, then back to forward, and around and around the carousel went.

Nyren never had a chance to plant his roots in one position, which presumably stunted his growth as a player. This past year when he was given the increase in ice time by the Hitmen coaching staff, he proved that he can be a very effective offensive defenceman, and quite often a game-changer.

He was awarded the WHL Boston Pizza Player of the Week during the final week of the playoffs when the Hitmen beat the Tri-City Americans 4 games to 1 to win the Ed Chynoweth Cup; proving to be a key cog in the Championship victory.

He has been knocked in the past by some for having some defensive deficiencies and making the odd blunder; well his plus/minus rating in the playoffs might help silence some of those critics.

In the end, the Flames may have just found a diamond in the rough in their own backyard. Look for Giffen Nyren on the ice this week wearing the number 40 jersey.

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What if Kipper plays bad?

When the Flames gave up three or more goals, they only won 10 of 37 games; proof that scoring goals was a serious issue for the team. However, despite the inability of the Calgary Flames to put pucks into the opposing net, rarely did they have too many issues with keeping the puck out of their own net. They ranked 5th in the league in ‘goals against per game’ with 2.48; which ranked them 1st amongst non playoff teams. They ranked 7th in the league in shots against per game and they had a goaltender who defied gravity for most of the year.

Miikka Kiprusoff was a Vezina worthy goaltender last season. I know, I can be a little biased but anyone who watched Kipper in any number of games would agree. The Flames unfortunately missed the playoffs though, kyboshing any chance for such a nomination.

He was second, only to Brodeur, in games played this season. Amongst goalies who played more than 60 games he ranked in the top 5 in GAA and top 7 in save percentage. He recorded 35 plus wins for the 5th straight year.

Yet, despite all of this he was unable to carry the Flames into the post-season.

So, what am I getting at? Why now do I bring up this fact mid way through July? The reason is because over the past couple of weeks since the Jokinen/Tanguay deals, people have come up and asked me what I thought of the deals. I re-iterate how I was happy with the Tanguay risk, but then how I almost jumped off my balcony when I heard the sacrilegious concept of Olli Jokinen coming back to the Flames.

However, the thing that I come back to is the fact that Kiprusoff was an All Star last year and the Flames still fell short of playing spring hockey. The simple actuality remains that if he slips just a bit from his form of last year, then the Flames will find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture once again, but much further down the Western Conference ladder.

Reason being is that the Flames have not solved their goal scoring problems; despite what the Dark Lord Sutter has told us. Unless he believes that Tanguay can somehow put up ‘Thornton-esque’ numbers, then the Flames will, once again, be searching for ways to score goals.

Then, of course, it comes back to Miikka. He is the rudder, the sail, and the oars on this fragile vessel. If he breaks, then the Flames will free-fall into the land of obscurity.

I was just checking to see if this scared everyone else like it scares me.

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Newman on the Flames

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Sutter Speaks

“Ken came out and said that, but it wasn’t important for me to have that publicly. It’s more important what happens internally.”

Darryl Sutter made these comments in response to Ken King coming out last week and publicly endorsing the Flames GM. We all are aware of Sutter’s dealings with the media and how he, how do I say this, would rather eat hot garbage than listen to questions from television, radio or print journalists.

He constantly makes fun of the media’s knowledge of the cap or irrational question lines in news conferences. Now, I understand that the ‘Cap’ has a lot of ‘ins and outs and what-have-yous’, but does Sutter possibly consider that some of these journalists may have done their homework and seen that the Flames are in serious trouble when it comes to the cap.

It seems though, that with King’s statement the team will be more media friendly and the irritable Sutter will have to suck up his distaste for the keyboard jockeys and face the music on a more regular basis.

Endear yourself to the media D-Sutts, it might win yourself a few fans back.

“We were all disappointed that we didn’t make the playoffs,” Sutter said. “We had a better record than Philadelphia or Montreal. We could just as easily be sitting here talking and be in the same situation as Philadelphia.”

Please don’t tell me he just used the ‘East vs. West’ excuse again??????

The Flames are in the WESTERN CONFERENCE!!! The Flames could not be in the same position as Philly. If that were the case than St. Louis could be there as well. I don’t see Larry Pleau coming out and making these idiotic statements. Don’t insult the fan base any further. You are already in a deep dark hole in many fans minds, so take some advice from Homer Simpson and "Dig up stupid!"

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Sutter is staying put...for now

''What we want to do here is put an end to the death watch; to other people's speculation. We move forward.'' – Ken King, CEO and President of the Calgary Flames-

The ‘Death Watch’ he was referring to was that of Darryl Sutter’s relationship with the Calgary Flames organization and whether or not he would be the General Manager of the team for the upcoming 2010-11 campaign.

Amid much speculation that Sutter might be heading out of town following a disappointing season in which the Flames missed the playoffs for the first time in 7 years, it looks as if he will be sticking around, at least for the time being.

As it turns out, my wish of seeing Darryl in the unemployment line will not come true. Despite constructing a team full of second and third line plugs and pushing the Flames right up against the Salary Cap while missing the playoffs entirely, Sutter somehow has escaped the wrath of the employment guillotine.

King also came out and said that Sutter will be issued some much needed help when making decisions going forward. This means bringing in one or two assistant GM’s.

On the short list, according to King, is Kelly Kisio, the Calgary Hitmen GM, who just finished capturing a WHL title. The Hitmen are owned by the Flames and thus Kisio already has a very close relationship with King and the rest of the Flames organization. Kisio is deserving of the promotion as he has never missed the playoffs in the 12 years he has been at the helm of the Hitmen. He has won two championships and made the Eastern Conference Final 4 years in a row and the WHL Final the last two seasons.

Kisio would give Sutter another viewpoint and another set of eyes when making decisions regarding the hockey operations. I like the fit for the Flames and Kisio is clearly cognisant of fresh young talent in the world. I just hope he can force Darryl to budge on his love of the third line grinder.

Case in point, the Flames number one priority this summer when it comes to re-signing players is Eric Nystrom. No disrespect to Nystrom, as I think he is a valuable commodity, but he is not the guy that will push the Flames to the next level. He had 11 goals this year and a third line checker for all intensive purposes.

It is the mindset of the the Flames playing style that must change. As I have stated before, this is no longer a league where ‘dumping and chasing’ and ‘grinding’ pays off. This game is about speed and skill, something the Flames drastically lack.

The Flames also announced that Jarome Iginla would not be traded. This ends months of speculation by resident imbeciles that thought the Flames would actually trade away the heart and soul of the franchise. I am glad I do not have to listen to that nonsense any longer. Iginla can not do it by himself and last year he had little to no help surrounding him which resulted in his worst year since 2005-06.

One of the last things King said today while being interviewed on the FAN960 was that, “We are going to make significant adjustments strategically.”

Let us hope he means it.

On a side note, the Flames record against the two teams in the Cup final this year was 0-4-1 and the Flames were outscored 23-8 in those five games. Once again, speed and skill beats old and slow.

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Newman on the Flames

The Season in a Nutshell

Well, the season finally comes to an end and the Calgary Flames have missed the playoffs for the first time since 2003. What is wrong? What needs to be done? What has transpired that led to this? Well to diagnose the problem we must go back to the beginning.

The season opened in early October with a much hyped match-up between the Flames and their arch rival Vancouver Canucks. The Flames jumped out to a 3-0 lead, only to white-knuckle the steering wheel and hold on for a 5-3 win; a sign of things to come maybe?

The Flames open with four straight wins, scoring four or more goals in each game.

October 12th against the Blackhawks; a game that defined the entire disappointing season. The Flames scored five goals in the first 11 minutes of the game to get some revenge on the Hawks for knocking them out of the playoffs a year earlier. However, the Flames proceeded to give up the lead and lose 6-5 on overtime, being out shot 39-20 in the process.

City of Calgary gasps, “Did that really just happen?”

The Flames shove that game into their subconscious and regain their form for the next 10 games going 8-2-1.

Road block: a 7-1 thumping on home ice to, you guessed it, the Chicago Blackhawks. They allowed four power play goals in this game alone.

The Flames bounce back again and go 5-0-1 over the next six games. Kiprusoff has re-discovered his ‘vezina like’ form and has a shutout streak of 159 minutes and 10 seconds, including a November 30th 5-0 victory over the Nashville Predators.

December 1st : the beginning of the end.

The Flames go 6-6-1 in December while only averaging two goals per game. If not for #34, the Flames possibly lose every one of these matches.

2010 arrives and the Flames dive bomb faster than a Denny’s waitress on Eldrick Woods and go through a stretch where they lose 11 of 12 games, including a 9-1 disembodiment at the hands of the San Jose Sharks.

Rock bottom is officially here.

This stretch of futility leads to Darryl Sutter reaching over to his file drawer and finding a file marked: “Use when you are out of ideas.” Sutter proceeds to give away one of the Flames best assets, Dion Phaneuf, for nothing more than spare parts and replaceable players (possibly exclude Ian White as he is a serviceable player).
Sutter is not done there, as less than 24 hours later he strikes a deal with the Rangers to send “That prized center man we’ve always wanted” away, a year after he had botched a trade to get him with the Pheonix Coyotes. Just to refresh your memory at last years trade deadline, the Flames dealt Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Prust and a 1st Round pick in this years draft for Olli Jokinen.

Lombardi: 19G, 34 A
Jokinen: 15G, 35A
First Round Pick: Something the Flames desperately need

The trades do nothing to spark the offence and they lose three of four heading into the Olympic break and sit on the edge of the playoff picture.

The Olympics end with Flames Captain Jarome Iginla setting up Sidney Crosby for the Golden goal and the country goes ballistic. Flames fans maybe figure it is a good omen for the team and their optimistic playoff aspirations.

After getting embarrassed at home by the Wild 4-0 (one of four games the Flames were shut out on home ice), the Flames run off four in a row to re-invigorate the city’s hopes of seeing playoff hockey again.

Alas, this was just a mirage and the Flames score only 32 goals in their remaining 15 games, and play some of the most un-inspirational hockey ever seen to lose four straight to close out the season.

So, clearly a common theme has arisen here; problems putting the little black piece of rubber into the 4 x 6. Apparently, this is how teams win hockey games, or so the rules are stated.

The philosophy going into the season was that the defence would be better and the offence would not slow down as a result. Well, the defence was alright but the offence disappeared.

With the trades that were made by Sutter mid-season and the moves he made last season (getting Olli and giving up Cammy), he has left the Flames searching for goal-scoring talent.

Let me show you what I mean:

Langkow
Stajan
Bourque
Kotalik
Hagman
Moss
Glencross
Dawes
Nystrom
Backlund

(I have excluded Iginla as he is the whole legitimate threat on the team.)

Can you find one legitimate top line player there? Bourque is growing into the role. Stajan is far too soft. Langkow has lost a step. Backlund has the potential but the guy has only played 20 NHL games. The rest of the Flames are grinders and checkers or soft forwards who can not have a significant impact on the game and are inter-changeable on any rosters 3rd or 4th line.

Sutter is stuck in 2004. The “New” NHL train came and Darryl was in the bathroom dropping off the kids. The game is about skill and the Flames have none, or simply not enough. This responsibility should be Darryl’s and Darryl’s alone.

The 2004 grace period has officially expired and it is time to move on if the Flames ever plan on digging themselves out of this quagmire of mediocre players and ridiculous mismanagement.

Sutter called the Flames a “Good team” on in his press conference on Monday.

I disagree. The Flames have a great goaltender and a decent defence, but far from a good hockey team. A good hockey team averages more than 2.45 goals per game (29th in league) and 2.32 GPG on home ice (Last in NHL). You can not call a team that does not know how to do the most important thing in hockey, a ‘good’ team. A team that can not score is actually a ‘bad’ team, and that is what the Flames have become.

Sutter also used lame excuses like “The East vs. West”, in saying that if the Flames were in the East they would be in the playoffs. Are you kidding? You actually expect fans to buy that bull$%&#? The Flames are in the West and are not going anywhere and what the East does should not concern the Flames. That insults the fan base if anything else.

Basically, the decision lies with Ownership and whether they decide or not to stay the course with Sutter. If they give him one more year, Flames fans can expect a similar fate next year and will be calling for his head again.

I looked back on the blog I wrote talking about the season that was and it read:

“My guess would be is that another mediocre season results in the same drivel us die hard Flames fans have come to expect come spring time. And unless the Flames crash and burn and miss the playoffs then we are stuck with the Viking Flames for some time to come.”

Well I was right on the first point and hopefully now the Flames owners do the right thing and give this team a chance to breathe. ‘Sutter-style hockey’ is way past its due date and must be thrown out immediately.

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Newman on the Flames

Flames Lose; Hitmen Win!

The Flames crippled their playoff chances on Thursday night losing to the New York Islanders 3-2. More to come in a bit.

Calgary's other team, the Calgary Hitmen, won game 5 of their series with the Moose Jaw Warriors. Read my game summary here: http://www.examiner.com/x-42438-Calgary-Hitmen-Examiner~y2010m3d25-Hitmen-force-a-sixth-game

Stay tuned...

Hagman Lifts Flames to Victory

The Flames did what they had to do tonight beating the Anaheim Ducks 3-1. In the process they once again pulled within two points of the Detroit Red Wings for 8th place in the West.

Driving the Flames to victory was Niklas Hagman who had his coming out party wearing the red, yellow and black. Calgary also had two point nights from Iginla and Bouwmeester for the Flames who have now won three of four.

For Hagman, it was his second goal as a Flame and his first in 13 games. However, it wasn’t just the goal that made Hagman stick out tonight. He was all over the ice outworking the Ducks players on every shift. There was one shift, late in the third, where he single-handedly created three or four scoring chances simply by churning his legs. This was the Hagman everyone expected to see when the Flames acquired him from Toronto and helps justify the clearance sale that Sutter had in late January. That is of course if Nikky continues his strong play.

Bouwmeester, who has gone pointless in his last seven games, notched two assists for only the fourth time this season. Clearly struggling to find points this year, he turned his game around and looked much better tonight. Not sure if it’s the system that Jay is having a hard time adjusting to, but this season’s version of Jay Bouwmeester isn’t what most Flames fans expected when the Flames acquired him last summer.

Looking into the past, he played his entire career in Florida where he was given the chance to ‘free-wheel’ most of the time and structure was not so much of a concern. Now, under Brent Sutter, his game has taken a step back as he adjusts to the system, or at least that is what it seems like. I was looking forward to seeing him lead the rush up the ice on most nights, yet fans have rarely seen that this year. Tonight was the Jay we all thought he was and it was a breath of fresh air for many disgruntled Flames fans.

With nine games remaining the Flames travel out East for a three game road trip against the Islanders, Bruins and Capitals.

The Flames know what they have to do; win or don’t bother coming home.

On a side note, this past Sunday was the first day of Spring and a sure sign to tell it is Spring is if the ‘Leafs’ are out, and they certainly are this year.

Unfortunately, that line won’t be as funny if Iginla and Kipper are joining Kessel and Kaberle on the first tee this year.

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Newman on the Flames

Source of Photo: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/23/AR2010032304835.html

Fatal Error

There are 11 games left in the season. The Flames are playing one of the four opponents that they definitely should beat. Miikka Kiprusoff is the Flames MVP and starting goalie. Vesa Toskala, the Flames back-up, starts in between the pipes.

Can someone please explain this to me?

I don’t care about Brent Sutter’s hunches that Miikka can’t play the Wild and that Toskala played well against them last week.

Why would you even want to ‘rest’ Kipper during the stretch run if there isn’t anything to ‘stretch’ for?

Did Sutter over think the decision on his starting netminder? Yes.

Did he make a horrible gaffe and possibly, finally, cement the Flames in the 9th position? I believe so.

That is a atrocious coaching error and there is no excuse for it.

Kipper should be playing every single game until the Flames are eliminated from playoff contention. He is the best player on the team and the only reason the Flames have a chance to begin with.

Toskala allowed three questionable goals and that just can not happen. He showed his true “Leaf” colours today.

“The Bears are who we thought they were!”

Ten games remain for the Flames, who sit two points back of Detroit, and time is running out. I do not think the Red Wings are even the team to catch either. The team that is the most susceptible to being caught is either the Avalanche or the Kings.

Both teams are young and both teams haven’t been in a playoff chase for some time. They play each other three times over the course of the rest of the season, including back-to-back games this Monday and Wednesday. If one team were to sweep that series, than this could possibly open the door for the Flames, given the Flames take care of their own business. Still, the walls are closing in on them at an alarming rate.

The Flames have 81 points with a possible 20 still available to get.

The room for error, as I see it, is two games. If they lose two games or more then they are finished. Lose just two, and win the rest and you give yourself a shot.

Like my good friend once told me though, “Hope is a horrible thing.”

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Newman on the Flames

Flames Ride #34 to 4th Straight Win

The Calgary Flames won their 4th game in a row tonight for the first time since early January when they strung together 5 straight victories.

Mikka Kiprusoff blanked the Ottawa Senators 2-0, for his 4th shutout of the season and his first since November 30th; when he shutout the Nashville Predators 5-0. Kiprusoff was sharp all night long as he blocked all 33 shots the Sens through at him. Not to mention the 5 different power-plays that Kipper helped shoo away.

It was vintage Kipper, and in a way, vintage (vintage being 2004) Flames hockey.

The Flames were on the board early with Jamal Mayers’ first career goal as a Flame; a nice short-side-cheese snipe show. Due in part to a savvy dump-in and some nice fore-checking from Curtis Glencross, the Flames managed to get ahead early in the first period.

From there, the Flames sort of just hung on and relied on Kipper to make the timely save, or so it seemed. Much like the hockey Flames fans watched in 2004, the Flames clung to the one goal lead like the lives depended on it; and in a way it did. With the Red Wings posting a win earlier in the night, the Flames were aware they needed to hold serve and they did just that in beating the team from the nation’s capital.

It is amazing how much one week can change things. Last Thursday this Flames team was left for dead by almost everybody, including me, and being ripped apart for the moves they made at the trade deadline. Fast forward to tonight and the Flames have reeled off 4 straight victories and sit in a tie for 7th place in the Western Conference standings. After being harped on for not scoring any goals, they go out and pot sixteen goals in four games; something they have not done since October.

It is not as if they beat up on bad teams either. They took down the Devils (4th in the East), the Wild (21-9-3 at home), the Wings (Fighting with the Flames for 8th) and now the Senators (5th in the East).

I am still not convinced that this team is good enough to make any sort of elongated deep run, but they are making believers out of me that the Playoffs might be on the horizon.

Side notes: Kotalik has become invisible since coming over from the Rangers. 1 goal, 1 assist, and a -1. Not exactly getting what we paid for. He also is no longer on the point on the powerplay. This could have been due to the tightness of the game tonight, but maybe someone can help me on this one as I have missed the last couple of games.

Higgins on the other hand has come alive offensively, sort of. He has 3 points in his last 4 games, including 2 goals.

The top line of Iginla, Stajan and Bourque were shutdown tonight for the first time since being brought together. Before tonight, each player had individual 3 games point streaks going.

The Flames travel to Vancouver for a Sunday night tilt against the division leaders before flying home to face the Red Wings on Monday night. Like I have said in previous blogs, each game becomes the biggest game of the year and these two are no exception.

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Newman on the Flames

Bubnick Continues Family Legacy

This article was published on hitmenhockey.com. Playoffs begin next Thursday. Get your tickets now!

By Derrick Newman
hitmenhockey.com

Jimmy Bubnick is not the first member of his family to play in the Western Hockey League, but he is carrying the family torch with ease.

Bubnick, a 6’2” 195 pound center, had a lot of people to show him the way in the WHL, including both of his brothers, who both toiled in the league for various teams. “They kind of paved the way for me and made it a lot easier.”

Starting in the 1997-98 season, older brother Michael led the way for the Bubnick family when he also showcased his talent for the Calgary Hitmen. Next in line was Jonathan who went on to play for three different teams including Kamloops, Regina, and Portland. Now Jimmy has been given the family reigns and is helping the Calgary Hitmen stride forward towards a long playoff run.

“I think we are going to make a good run in the playoffs.” Bubnick has only played in two playoff series prior to this year; both first round exits while playing for the Kamloops Blazers.

He arrived in Calgary only two months ago and while getting traded is never easy, Jimmy Bubnick has found a new home in a very short time playing for the Calgary Hitmen.

“Obviously it was a bit shocking at the start but once you got over the initial shock, it was pretty exciting to get traded to a place like Calgary.” Bubnick had played in Kamloops for the past two and half seasons. “The fans here are great; it’s a real nice city.”

Jimmy was traded alongside forward Tyler Shattock and defenceman Zak Stebner, and said that sharing the experience with some familiar faces made the transition a lot easier.

Bubnick brings a bit of everything to the ice. He considers himself a jack of all trades who can score, pass and assert his physical stature when given the opportunity.

Hitmen Head Coach Mike Williamson wholeheartedly agrees with Jimmy’s self assessment. “He is a good all around player and he kills penalties. He is a good leader and going forward he is going to be a big part of this team.”

Being a junior hockey player brings about many distractions that can lead any hopeful Professional hockey player off the road to success. Back in his hometown of Saskatoon, Bubnick dabbles in every sport imaginable to make sure he stays busy. He is an avid golfer and wake-boarder and used to play a little baseball too. “I guess whatever keeps you occupied and off the streets and away from the distractions that you can find off the ice.”

This strong work ethic led Jimmy to being drafted by the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers in the 6th round of last year’s entry draft.

Although playing for the Thrashers next fall would be a stretch, Jimmy is not ruling out the chance. “I will most likely be back here. I would have to make the NHL team which is a long shot, but I will keep on working hard and plugging away.”

Scoring Goals turns into Wins

Maybe they were listening when everyone in the hockey world was laying into them for the horrible moves they made at the trade deadline and the atrocious game they followed with that night. The Calgary Flames (32-24-9) were a team that could not score. They have suddenly turned on the afterburners with ten goals in 2 games.

Leading the way is Jarome Iginla who recorded his tenth career hat trick in today’s game and added as assist. Rene Bourque is so far earning that giant contract extension recording 5 points in the last two games. Matt Stajan has 3 points in the last two as well. The newly formed top line of Bourque-Stajan-Iginla combined for 10 points in today’s afternoon tilt. Hey Brent, keep this line together!

Vesa Toskala, the Flames new back-up goaltender, recorded his first win in his first game wearing the red, yellow and black. It took the former back-up a little longer to record his first ‘W’; then again the Flames rarely hung 5 goals on an opponent while he was in net. Nevertheless, Vesa must be applauded for today’s performance as he played well in relief of his Finnish buddy Miikka. I know I laid into the Flames for making this move and I am still not a huge fan, due to Vesa’s horrible numbers, but hopefully that was simply the Leafs and not Toskala himself. One can hope, right?

This is a welcome sign for the Flames who have not had a reliable back-up goalie since…well, it has been a while. And no, Cujo was not reliable even though he stole that game versus the Sharks. He was quite possibly the most awkward and nerve-racking goalie to watch in the history of the game.

Iginla recorded his 30th goal of the season in this game. It marked the 9th straight season in which he has had thirty or more goals in a season. He now has 62 points this campaign and moves into 20th in the league in scoring. The Flames will need ‘Olympic’ Jarome to keep up his strong play if they have any chance of spring time success.

This Flames team has turned into a social chemistry experiment in a manner of speaking. Much like in the Olympics where teams were given little to no time to gel as a team, this Flames team, which includes 8 fresh faces (9 if you include Backlund), has been given the monumental task of climbing out of a non-playoff seed into the elite eight in less than a month. Not to mention the colossal pressure that Calgary has on them if and when they make the playoffs.

The Flames have now won 3 of their last 4 games and are playing better. Each and every game becomes the biggest game of the season; not to sound to cliché.

Tuesday’s game against the Red Wings is, well, one of those ‘big’ games. The Flames are 1-1 against the Wings this season and have out-scored them 4-3 in those two games. Kiprusoff recorded one of his 3 shutouts he has this season against the Wings back in November when he faced 40 shots on goal.

I am sure the Flames will try their best, but as Sean Connery so elegantly put it,

“Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and fuck the prom queen.”

The Flames have tried their best all year and maybe that has been the problem.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

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Two for the Money

The Calgary Flames signed Matt Stajan and Rene Bourque to long contract extensions. In my opinion, both do not make a lot of sense.

As much as I like him as a player, Rene Bourque has been injury riddled since he started his NHL career. Only once has he played over 70 games in a season; his rookie campaign in Chicago when he played 77 games and recorded 34 points. The following seasons he has played 44, 62 and 58 respectively. He is on pace to play roughly 70 games this season, as he has already missed 9 contests earlier in the season. I understand the 6-year contract is front loaded, but it still doesn’t make sense.

Why would you take such a risk on a guy who is prone to getting injured? Also, how does he garner that kind of salary? He has eclipsed the 40 point plateau now twice in his career; this season being his second. Yes, his points per game numbers are high, but if he only plays 60 games a season what good is he? I would have way rather have seen a 3 year deal.

The salary cap is only due to come down in the next couple years and this deal could handcuff the Flames for a while if Bourque continues his annual visits to the infirmary.

I would have loved to have seen Stajan’s face when he saw that contract offer. I am sure he could not touch pen to paper any faster.

Similar to Bourque, Matt Stajan has not exactly been an offensive powerhouse as he has had only one season in which he scored over 50 points; that being last season. The difference between the two is that Stajan has been playing in Leaf Land for his entire career and the offensive output on that team has never been anything to marvel at.

Still, you can not grant him that kind of money for the 7 games he has played in a Flames jersey (2G, 2A, 7GP). He is a number two center who is being forced into the number one spot. Does this sound familiar? Langkow, Lombardi and Conroy have all been forced into this role, yet none of them have encompassed enough skill to compliment #12 properly.

Is Matt Stajan really the answer? The simple answer is no.

I guess developers build on ‘spec’ sometimes and I presume that is what Sutter has done here. I am just not sure that either of these two will be worth the cost in the long run.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Source of Photos: http://www.thehockeynews.com/imgs/dynamique/photos/300/h030125A.jpg

Iginla Leads Flames into Break

The Flames not only won, but they dominated for most of the game tonight beating the Anaheim Ducks 3-1. Jarome Iginla led the way scoring back to back goals in the 2nd period; his 26th and 27th goals of the season. Iginla is now rolling with 5 points in his past 3 contests. He rose to the occasion the way a Captain should. He was skating hard, he was shooting the puck with confidence, and he was shooting the puck a lot more. He has averaged just over 5 shots per game in his past 5 games; the main reason for his recent surge. He has led by example as the Flames have out shot their opponents in 5 of their last 6 outings. Jarome now ranks in the top 20 in the league in scoring with his 2 goal performance tonight.

This was the first time in 5 games that the Flames managed to score more than 2 goals. Tonight also broke a 5 game losing streak against the Pacific division; losses coming against the Ducks, Sharks, Stars, Coyotes and Stars again.

The Flames are 11-2-1 when the game is played on Saturday, which is by far there best winning % on a given day. Sundays are their worst as they are 0-3.

The Flames go into the Olympic break 4-3-3 in their last 10 games. You can look at that in two ways: either they have been able to gain points in 7 of a possible 10 games, which isn’t too bad, or they have lost 6 of 10 games going into the break which is below .500 hockey, and simply not acceptable.

The Flames have the ability to be a good hockey team and I believed it showed in tonight’s performance. The key for them is to fore-check hard and pressure the opposing defence into making mistakes. They need to skate as a team or they will fail miserably. They do not have the talent to take shifts off and win games.

Kiprusoff goes into Vancouver starting the last 13 games; lasting the duration in all but the 9-1 Shark massacre. This, due in part to the Flames trying to lurch their way out of a tailspin and the fact that Kiprusoff has been nothing short of amazing. He has a GAA of 2.08 in the last 12 and a Save % of .923. He has deserved a better record but has not received the offensive support that he has desperately been craving.

I was secretly hoping that Jari Kurri would somehow name Backstrom the starter for Finland just to give Miikka some much needed rest.

Every Flames fan knows that the season starts and ends with #34 and if he goes down the Flames can kiss whatever hope might be left straight down the toilet.

On a non-hockey note: Congrats to Jennifer Heil for winning Canada’s first medal of the games. It’s too bad it was not gold. It’s also too bad those Americans couldn’t be more gracious in victory; arrogant pricks.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

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Same Old Same Old

I feel like I am in the F$%&ing twilight zone every time I watch this Flames team play hockey. Every game is the same, regardless of who the opponent is. Every goalie is a Vezina trophy winner and every defence is the second coming of the 1995 New Jersey Devils. This Flames team has such ineptitude to scoring goals; you have to wonder if they could find the net against a ‘shooter tooter’. It is so frustrating and boring, I might add, to watch this team try and play hockey. Flames fans must understand where I am coming from on this.

The last time the Flames won a game when the opposing team scored more than one goal was January 9th against the Vancouver Canucks; a span of 17 games. You want to hear something insane? The last time the Flames won a game on home ice when the opposing team scored more than one goal was October 24th against the Edmonton Oilers! Does that give you a sense of how incapable this team is of putting the puck into the net? Struggling is one word I might use…pathetic is another.

Tonight, the Flames came out and absolutely dominated the Dallas Stars for the first 20 minutes of the game. They out shot the Stars 11-4 and apparently out chanced them 10-0. The Flames should have potted at least 2 or 3 goals in the period but finishing a play is not their style. Marty Turco is a good goalie, I will admit that, but so are 90% of the goaltenders in this league. The Flames have to find a way to score goals regardless of who is in the opposing net.

Tonight, a Flames player did not actually get to the feel the gratification of putting the puck into the net, as Stars Captain Brendan Morrow did Iginla the favour on the Flames lone goal by shovelling it past Marty Turco. I am sure Iginla will thank Morrow next week, yet now, Morrow has the last laugh.

There was one positive that I saw out of tonight’s game. Jay Bouwmeester actually did what I assumed he was brought in to do; jump into the play offensively. On more than one occasion he led the rush into the zone and showed that unique ability to use his speed to create some offence. It is a shame he has only started doing this now; possibly a side effect of that Phaneuf guy leaving town.

The play of Miikka Kiprusoff can not go unnoticed either. I feel like I mention his play a lot in my blogs, but then again, I feel like it is never enough. Without #34 between the pipes this pathetic excuse for a hockey team is ‘bumping uglies’ with the mullets up north. He makes numerous jaw-dropping saves in each and every game. If I were him, I would be giving the rest of my team a serious pep talk. I am surprised he has not taken the puck up ice himself at certain points in games.

I am frustrated. I am annoyed, and I think the majority of Flames fans can agree with me when I say this team is going nowhere fast.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Source of Photo: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/recap?gid=2010021103&prov=ap

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Flames Can't Contain Sens

The Flames ran into a very hot team and two very hot players tonight in a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Jason Spezza and Brian Elliott led the way for the Sens who have now won 11 of their past 12 games.

Spezza, for his part, has 12 points in those last 12 games; 10 of them being goals. Brian Elliott, who has won 9 in a row himself before losing to the Leafs on Saturday, shut the door on the Flames when called upon and helped the Sens climb into a tie for first place in the Northeast division with the Buffalo Sabres.

The Ottawa Senators have to be the surprise team of the Eastern Conference this year as most experts had them pegged them for early golf this season. Not only are they in the playoff picture in the second half of the season, but they are flourishing and climbing higher in the standings each and every day. They are getting steady goaltending from Elliott, and Spezza along with Captain Alffy, have really stepped up since coming back from injury.

The Flames, tonight, suffered the fate of a one dimensional unit; something thought to be a thing of the past when they made the trades this past week. The line of Hagman-Stajan-Iginla played very well collecting all six points for the Flames. Jarome picked up two helpers while the former Leafs provided the clean-up. Hagman fired a laser to the top shelf to open the scoring late in the first, while Stajan, on a beauty pass from Iginla, made a nice move on Elliott to put the Flames back on top early in the second.

It seems this year, more than any other, the Flames have more goals bank in off of their own players than ever before. Case in point: Ottawa’s first tally. The goal, which came 21 seconds after Hagman opened the scoring, banked off of both Jay Bouwmeester and Daymond Langkow to find the back of the net. A powerplay marker on a very unlucky ‘pinball-esque’ goal. Bad luck? Maybe. Yet, the Flames still gave up a goal mere moments after scoring one themselves, which is unacceptable for a team trying to gain ground in the standings.

On the pre-game show on the Fan960, the guys (Rob Kerr, Mike Rogers and Peter Maher) were really talking up Mark Giordano and his great play of late, and who could blame them as he has been playing lights out. Peter Maher went even as far to say that he has an outside shot at being a replacement player for Team Canada should a defenseman go down in the next week; something I do not agree with, but that is for another time. I could not help but notice the instant ‘hex’ or ‘curse’ that this put on him. He made some very poor decisions tonight in his own zone, was a -1, and suffered an injury to boot. Tonight was probably his worst game of the season. I guess Dion did teach him something after all…

The good news for the Flames is that both Detroit and Nashville only gained a point each on the Flames, as both teams lost in extra time. The Flames sit in a tie for 7th still but are stuck in a quagmire in the bottom of the Western Conference playoff picture.

Both Dallas and Anaheim are teams that are chasing down the Flames for that spot. The Flames better be ready.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

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Source of Photo: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/02/09/sp-flames-senators-preview.html

Lightning Strikes Twice

The Flames fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in overtime tonight by a score of 2-1. A hurtful reminder of the last time Calgary lost 2-1 in the St. Pete Times Forum. For those who do not know, it was game 7 of the 2004 Stanley Cup Final, a loss that Flames fans will not soon forget.

Two goals by Ruslan Fedotenko was all the Lightning needed that night, as the Flames ran out of gas in their 26th postseason game. Six years have passed since that memorable spring run and you look down the line of the Flames bench and there are very few that can even recall that fateful game. Jarome Iginla, Robyn Regehr, Craig Conroy, and Miikka Kiprusoff are the only Flames left from that run. Cory Sarich, however, was in Tampa, but he was celebrating as a part of the Lightning. Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier are the only Lightning players still in Tampa since their inaugural championship. It is amazing how two teams can look so different in only six years. A definite sign of how the salary cap era has forced teams to shuffle the deck more often than not.

Back to the game.

The Flames have now managed to grab points in six of their last seven games. They have climbed back into 7th place in the Western Conference. The powerplay is 3 for its last 7 attempts. Kiprusoff has a .938 SP% over the past three games; alright, so some things have not changed. Following the trading bonanza that took place a week ago and discounting the bizarre circumstances that surrounded the Flyers game, the Flames have looked much improved. They are not out of the woods yet, but most Flames fans might agree that the team looks better, which is a good thing.

Giordano has fully embraced his expanded role, since the Dion departure, as the go-to offensive threat from the back-end recording two of the Flames three goals on the weekend. Jay Bouwmeester has also looked better playing close to 30 minutes in both Florida games and recording points in two of the last three.

The Flames actually dominated a team in the face-off dot, winning 28 of 46 draws in the Florida. They also more than doubled the Panthers in shots and despite the heroics of Tommy Vokoun the score would have been much worse.

The Flames are clearly still trying to figure everything out and with the injury to Rene Bourque, and the absence of Dawes, Moss, and a lesser extent Conroy, they will be hoping for the new additions to start finding the net a bit more.

Speaking of new additions, who knew Ales Kotalik was brought into fight? What a goon! The reason he did not have his jersey tied down was clearly because he never expects to scrap; possibly a savvy move by Lightning forward Stephane Veilleux.

The Flames fly to Ottawa for a game against the Sens, than back home for a match-up with the Stars and Ducks before the Olympic break. The Flames, who have played 2 more games than Colorado, Nashville and Vancouver, simply need points in every game this week to position themselves well for the long Olympic hiatus.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Source of Photo: http://espn.go.com/media/nhl/2004/0607/photo/a_miikka_il.jpg


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More Newbie's and a Trick

In a game the Calgary Flames desperately needed to win, they actually came through and delivered beating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1. Curtis Glencross had a hat-trick and former Maple Flake Matt Stajan scored the other goal as the Flames dominated from start to finish despite loads of penalty trouble. Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff was again on top of his game, helping lead the Flames back into a tie for the 8th playoff spot in the Western Conference.

After one of the most jaw-dropping half-week periods Flames history in which 4 roster players were shipped to different addresses and 6 new players were brought on board, the Flames looked composed, energetic and looked, if I can say it, good. Mind you, it was against the Hurricanes who occupy 15th place in the Eastern standings and 29th place in the overall ledger. All debates aside though, a win is a win, and the Flames terribly needed one.

Looking back at Monday’s game I have a feeling like that might have been the most awkward contest to play in for anyone in a Flames jersey. Amid immense speculation that two of their roster players had already been dealt, the team laced up and took the ice as a team (Or so it looked). Jokinen and Prust were told immediately following the game that they were no longer apart of the Calgary Flames; big shocker.

So tonight’s game, against Carolina, might have been a little easier to prepare for as two of the forwards were not mentally in New York already. The Flames came out strong and were all over the Canes for most of the game. They out shot Carolina 39-28 despite conducting a parade route to penalty box, including a 5 on 3 to finish off the first period.

Overall, the Flames played a lot better and the new additions did not look to bad.

Matt Stajan scored a highlight reel goal on a give and go play with Iginla. Iggy’s return pass went into Stajan’s skates, but was able to kick it up to his stick and pot the goal all in one fluid motion. Possibly the start of some much needed chemistry? Maybe, but I did not hear chants of “Mat-thew, Mat-thew” resonating throughout the Dome walls.

Jamal Mayers, who I figured to be window dressing in the ‘Dion Deal,’ was actually quite impressive tonight as he inserted himself in a good dust-up (although he did take the instigator) and proved effective on the penalty kill.

Ian White had a couple of decent shot blocks and played composed throughout the game. It was strange watching a #3 not make so many mistakes; a nice change.

Hagman did not do a whole lot, but he showed spurts of energy and I am sure his offensive prowess will come out soon.

Kotalik, in his first game as a Flame, was immediately inserted into Phaneuf’s spot on the powerplay. He never really was able to release a great shot as the Hurricanes aggressive penalty kill was all over him every time he was loading his cannon. He had 5 shots on net and I had no qualms with the way he played and he gives the powerplay a little more creativity despite the fact it went 0-4.

Chris Higgins was given a lot of time on the penalty kill unit (4:44) including time when the team was 2 men down. He played smart and fit right in with the team.

All in all, it was a good start to the new era of Flames as 6 new players, including 5 new forwards (6 if you count Backlund), played for the team tonight. This was the most energy this team has shown in a long time.

They go into Florida this weekend for back to back games with the Panthers and Lightning. I am sure these games will be the number one sports story down in Florida this weekend as I do not believe there is any other event going on down there…but I could be wrong.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

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