The Calgary Flames: Mid Season Report

By Derrick Newman

40 games into the 2011-12 season the Calgary Flames are hovering in 12^th place in the Western Conference two points back of the Dallas Stars and nine points back of the Vancouver Canucks for first place in the Northwest division.

Now, the idea of winning the division at the beginning of the season was a pipe dream with the likes of defending Western Conference champion Vancouver being in the mix, and truth be told it’s about as likely to happen as Mission Impossible winning Best Picture at the Oscars.

But, the idea of the Flames making the playoffs has always been a point of contention. Will they or won’t they?

Well, if the playoffs started today, they would be on the outside looking in for the third straight season.

The good news is that the playoffs do not start today and the Flames have just over half a season to make the ascent up the standings into the top eight in the soon to be transformed Western Conference.

The bad news, as of right now, the Flames have played more games than every team they are chasing, including six more than 9^th place San Jose and three more than 8^th place Dallas – meaning that the Flames most likely sit a little further back than the current standings suggest.

But isn’t this sort of what everyone expected?

The Beginning of the End

By Nick Symon

Sometimes reality isn’t what people want to hear, it can be good at times but harsh at times. Never has it been more apparent that the Flames should re-build after their mediocre 10-12-2 start, including two losses to the last place Columbus Blue Jackets. It’s the same story over and over again: consistency, competing, playing the system etc. etc. etc. 

Quite frankly as a Flames fan I am sick and tired of watching, listening and talking about it constantly.

I really thought the Flames were in a stage a couple seasons ago much the same the Philadelphia Flyers were in, in 2006-07. That year the Flyers were horrible, much worse than the Flames have been in recent seasons.  Then, Flyers GM Paul Holmgren swung three deals (essentially two) which helped turn the franchise back into a contender as fast as you can say ‘top cheese’. 

A New Low: Flames Lose to Jackets

By Derrick Newman

Really?

It isn’t hard enough being a Calgary Flames fan right now and they go and pull a stunt like this...

Up 3-1 with less than five minutes left against the WORST team in the NHL and the Flames somehow find a way to lose.

Is this 1999 all over again? Where are the young guns? Is Todd Simpson the captain? Where’s Sasha Lakovic when you need him?

This has gone from embarrassing to downright laughable.

The Flames, who claim to be a veteran laden professional hockey team, continue to exhibit traits of an inexperienced pre-pubescent novice division-five team that can’t form a functional power play and can’t shut a team down if their life depended on it.

They haven’t scored a power play goal since last week in Detroit and haven’t scored a power play goal on home ice since, get this, October 26^th , when they managed to beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-2.  

Talk about long time no eat.

Let's be honest: The Calgary Flames Suck

By Derrick Newman

Definition of Struggling: Strive to achieve or attain something in the face of difficulty or resistance.

In a nutshell, this defines the Calgary Flames, period.

With six losses in their last eight games, the Flames are quickly falling out of the race for a playoff spot and rapidly increasing their chances of winning the draft lottery.

Now some might say, “Just look at last year and what the Flames managed to do after they fired Darryl. It can happen again.”

So what is it this time that’s going to spark this band of low scoring misfits to do a complete 180 and get the ship pointed in the right direction?

Hagman Claimed by Ducks

By Derrick Newman

It’s official.

The Niklas Hagman era in Calgary has come to an end as the much maligned winger was picked up on re-entry waivers by the Anaheim Ducks today.

Now, maybe not the most significant era in the annals of the Flaming C, but one that caused controversy from the very beginning.

Hagman came to Calgary alongside press box junkie Matt Stajan, current Red Wing Ian White and current Blackhawk Jamal Mayers for Dion Phaneuf, Keith Aulie, and Freddy Sjostrom.

In 108 games with Calgary he racked up 17 goals and 25 assists – not exactly numbers worth the $3 million price tag. 

Flames Moves: Youth Movement

By Derrick Newman

Some quick hits on the recent Flames moves...

In a flurry of activity on the Flames front Niklas Hagman was placed on waiver today and if, when, he clears he will be sent to Abbotsford. This move was made because Mikael Backlund will be activated from the IR tomorrow morning after sitting out the first 14 games with a broken pinky.

Also, Paul Byron was recalled from the Heat because Brendan Morrison was placed on the IR with what is basically being deemed as a failure to recover from knee surgery properly – or in English terms, he came back too soon.

Further to all this was the activity yesterday with Anton Babchuk being placed on the IR with a broken hand and TJ Brodie being recalled.

So with all this the team just got significantly younger and quicker with the likes of Brodie on the back end, and Backlund and Byron up the middle.

Seeing Hagman sends a serious message from ownership in that the dollar figure beside a players name means little to nothing as Hagman’s $3 million cap hit will be buried in the AHL.

The team is in need of a serious energy boost after starting the season a very mediocre 6-7-1 record and having recently scored only three goals in their past three games.

The team holds almost an identical record to 2010-11 version of Flames at this point in the season. 

The Flames are a league worst 2-for-34 on the powerplay at home this season, thanks large in part to Tuesday’s 0-for-7 outing, which included a five minute powerplay.

Sutter called out Alex Tanguay, saying he is too “soft” on the power play and very easy to play against because everyone knows what he is going to do. You can’t really disagree with that assessment as everyone in the Dome knows he is looking for #12 at all times.

They need to instil some much needed creativity into the man advantage unit and maybe with the addition of Backlund and possibly Brodie, you see that. Both guys will be chomping at the bit to make an early impact.

The Flames play the Blackhawks tomorrow night. The season series last year was 2-2 with the home team winning each time.  The Flames had great success on the PP versus the Hawks last year going 6-for-20 over the four game span. Maybe the Hawks are just what the doctor ordered.

The Flames are 3-3 on the road this season.

JERSEY FOULS!!!!


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The Path Less Travelled

Backlund is one of only two players playing for the Flames
that was drafted by the team.

By Guest Blogger Greger Buer

When you hit a fork in the road, you must choose a path. Left. Right. The Calgary Flames have been sitting at the crossroads for the past five seasons. At the end of each year, the Flames either came off a crippling first round defeat or missed the playoffs entirely. After each of these disappointments fans, media, and folks in the organizations themselves would try to explain what they thought the team needed to do to improve. Most of the time the problems these groups found were definitely viable, but the fundamental problem is this was a veteran team that gets older every year.

The Calgary Flames are so desperate for youth that everyone around them reacts in utter shock on those few occasions when a young player cracks the roster. Look at the hype when Mikael Backlund broke through, when T.J. Brodie had a solid training camp, or when youngster Roman Horak was named to the season opening squad. 

For most other teams an injection of youth is expected and at least one or two rookies make the jump each season. A quarter of the Nashville Predators seem to turn over each year, yet that team consistently makes the playoffs despite a payroll that is dwarfed by Calgary.

Flames Bury Avalanche

By Derrick Newman

Dominate for two periods and then white knuckle the steering wheel and hold on for dear life.

That was the story of the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night in a 4-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche, who suffered their first defeat away from home after starting the season with six straight wins in opposing barns.

The Flames were led by rookie Roman Horak, who scored his first as a Flame tonight while adding one assist, and Rene Bourque, who potted his team leading fourth and fifth goals of the season.

Despite outshooting the Avs 12-1 in the first 10 minutes of the game, it was Colorado who struck first on the power play putting the Flames behind the 8-ball early.

But, the Flames didn’t panic, which is a good sign, and stuck to their game answering right back less than three minutes later when Horak took a pass from Tanguay, moved it to his backhand and put it upstairs all while falling to the ground.

One he’ll remember for a while I’m guessing.

30 Teams 30 Thoughts

By Nick Symon, Guest Blogger
Twitter: @NickSymon

1.     Anaheim Ducks- The return of age-less 41 year old Teemu Selanne has Ducks management breathing a sigh of relief, providing them with secondary scoring after their big three of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan. The bigger return to the Ducks could possibly be goaltender Jonas Hiller who has said he is full recovered from his bout with vertigo. Hiller can be an elite goalie when healthy and could be the x-factor for the Ducks to compete with the Sharks & Kings for the Pacific division.

2.     Boston Bruins- There is always the concern of a Stanley Cup hangover but the Bruins have more than enough depth to overcome that. Sophomore Tyler Seguin could be the breakout player in 2011-12 after his dazzling performance in the latter half of last year’s playoffs. Seguin will probably stay on the wing this season which should see him get top-six minutes.  

3.     Buffalo Sabres- No one made a bigger impact in the off-season then the Sabres did. Sabres owner, Terry Pegula has brought the passion and more importantly the money to Buffalo – a perpetual small market team where players develop and then leave for the bigger pay day. New faces around the Sabres locker room include, Ville Leino, former Flame Robyn Regehr and Christian Ehrhoff, who join a healthy Derek Roy, up and coming Tyler Ennis and arguably the best goalie in the league, Ryan Miller. The Sabres should compete for the top spot in the east and possibly Lord Stanley’s mug in the spring.  

4.     Calgary Flames- I hate to be a broken record but the burning question in Calgary is, will the Flames be able to continue their success they enjoyed late last season, which saw them fall just short of the playoffs? Or was it just a team on a hot streak that is continuing to age? Personally I look more at the latter, hoping they prove me wrong. Captain Jarome Iginla continues to carry the team on his back as he approaches 500 career goals (484). Mikael Backlund was in line for a breakout year as he was slotted to play in between Iggy and Alex Tanguay on the Flames top line, but now with his recent injury he won’t likely see action until sometime in November – a big loss for the team, but possibly a bigger loss for Backlund’s development. 

Langk You Very Much: Daymond Langkow Traded

By Derrick Newman

Following Robyn Regehr and Ales Kotalik out the Scotiabank Saddledome door this summer is yet another high priced contract in Daymond Langkow.

Langkow is set to make $4.5 million this season and coming off a near career ending injury, the 35-year-old wasn’t getting any younger.

Sure, Langkow is a serviceable, reliable veteran who can play anywhere from the first to the third line without ever hearing a peep or complaint from him.(The Flames have another player like that in Brendan Morrison)

But simply put, he was not in the long term plans of the team and GM Jay Feaster most likely saw a chance to shed some more salary to give the Flames added flexibility this coming season, while at the same time keeping the team competitive.

Scott Hannan: New Flame but same old strategy

Bringing his talents to cowtown

Written by Newman

I remember a time not too long ago when Scott Hannan was considered one of the premier shut down defenceman in the NHL.

I even remember him being constantly compared to another shut down defenceman – Robyn Regehr.

Where did the time go?

Regehr is gone and Hannan is now a Flame. Not traded for one another, but you can’t help but think that one is replacing the other – even if Hannan is not on the same level as a Regehr at this point in his career.

Hannan had his best days as a San Jose Shark and most of them before the lockout.

Calgary Flames in July

By D. Newman

Well now that the two-week party known as 2011 Calgary Stampede is over, I can get back to writing.

By the way, if you have never been to the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, I would highly recommend it. It’s...a lot of fun.

Anyways, enough bull bustin’, let’s talk some puck.

The Flames have been busy of late making a couple of signings and a small trade.

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?

Regehr Traded and Tanguay Signs

Exhibit A: Regehr on Hemsky

The Robyn Regehr era in Calgary has come to an end.


After spending 11 seasons donning the flaming C, Regehr will have a new address in Buffalo, NY.

The durable defenceman (he has only missed 15 games in the last 5 seasons) was one of the Flames true leaders, and the second longest tenured player behind the one, the only, Jarome Iginla.

He will be missed in these parts.

I think the happiest person in Alberta right now has to be Ales Hemsky though. Hemsky will no longer have to endure getting tossed around like a Raggedy Ann doll in the corners by the hulking Regehr. For so many years, Regehr has made it his top priority to ensure that Hemsky can’t even peel himself off the end boards.

This is my fondest memory of Rocket Robyn and I will miss him.

But in saying that, I understand the need to trade him.

The Missing Word in C-Town

P-R-O-S-P-E-C-T : anticipation; expectation; a looking forward.

It’s been a tough go for our Calgary Flames when the word prospect comes up, words like disappointment and phrases like, ‘how’d we let him go’, are usually front and centre. The trend continued this summer, when top prospect, Tim Erixon, who the Flames selected 23rd overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, refused to sign his entry level contract with the Flames, handcuffing GM Jay Feaster and forcing him to deal Erixon to the New York Rangers. Erixon was by far and away the Flames top prospect. Rated 15th in the Hockey News’ top 50 prospects in the NHL, Erixon is a steady two-way defenseman who should have challenged for a spot on the Flames’ blue line next season. In my eyes, the Flames, or I should say Feester, could really only do so much in this situation and I do give him credit for getting two 2nd round draft picks (45th and 57th overall) and prospect Roman Horak in return. I question the Flames scouting staff and then GM Darryl Sutter on drafting Erixon in the first place. How, with all the testing, scouting, interviewing etc, would something so important (not wanting to play in the organization) slip through is beyond me. Never the less, Darryl is gone but there is even more pressure on this scouting staff to make sure this year’s draft produces some excitement when the word prospect is brought up around Calgary.

Mock Draft: Picks 11-20

Continuing from yesterday's look at the possible top 10 picks in this weekend's draft. TSR Guest blogger Nick Symon looks at the middle of the first round and what the Flames might do with their 13th overall pick.


11. COLORADO AVALANCHE (via STL) - Christopher Gibson, G, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)


Analysis: With the Avalanche’s second pick in the top 12, they need to address their other glaring hole, goaltending. The Avalanche did select Calvin Pickard, 49th overall in last June’s draft but with the slow development of goaltenders, it’s never bad to have more than one. Gibson, who is half-Finnish, half-British, has said to be a big game goalie. He led an offensive weak Chicoutimi team into the playoffs. Gibson has good size and is projected to be a starting goaltender.



12. CAROLINA HURRICANES - Joel Armina, RW, Assat (FIN)

Analysis: The Draft was very good to the Hurricanes last year, as 18-year old Jeff Skinner was a phenom in his first season and led all rookies in scoring. What can Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford do for an encore? That’s a tough question but I have heard he doesn’t like selecting defensemen with a high pick, so Armina could be his guy. Armina, a big (6-3, 191) right winger has the makings of a pure goal scorer. Armina uses his size well and throws a lot of pucks on net. He could complement the 3 S’s down the middle, Skinner, Staal and Sutter, very well in the Hurricanes future.

Mark McNeill the next Flame?

13. CALGARY FLAMES - Mark McNeill, C, Prince Albert (WHL)

Analysis: Our home town Flames have been filled with disappointment when it comes to the Entry Draft in recent seasons (beside Backlund). It continued this summer as top prospect, Tim Erixon refused to sign with the Flames, handcuffing GM Jay Feaster and forcing him to trade Erixon to the Rangers. It was a tough spot for the organization but I will hold my opinion back about that for now. In my eyes, this draft becomes even more important for the Flames. The Flames need to add some size and offensive potential up front. McNeill has been compared to Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan. He can play either centre or wing and from watching him play in P.A, he is what the Flames need.

Flames Have Hart: Hire Craig Hartsburg as Associate Coach

The Calgary Flames were busy today.

Not only were they playing their annual alumni golf tournament but they also made some hires in Craig Hartsburg and Jamie Pringle.

Hartsburg was hired as the team's new Associate Coach and comes in with a wealth of experience having Head Coaching exerience in Anaheim, Ottawa and Chicago, while assisting in Minnesota and Philly twice. He also was the head coach of the Canada's world junior team in 07' and 08' -- winning gold both times. Additionally, he was Brent Sutter's assistant in 2006 for Canada, winning gold as well.

Last season he was the GM and Head Coach of the Everett Silvertips of the WHL.

He has loads of experience and Sutter is extremely familiar with him. Hartsburg said in an interview on the radio today that he won't be just a "Yes Man" and if he disagrees with what Sutter is saying, he will let him know and not just stand idly by.

Never a bad thing to have a couple of sollid opinions. Hopefully discussion doesn't result in infighting.

The Flames now have a wealth of experienced junior level coaches in Sutter (Red Deer), Lowry (Hitmen), and Hartsburg.

Maybe now they won't be so reluctant to bring up the young prospects and give them a chance to play. In the past, under Darryl Sutter, the team has been very reluctant to bring anyone younger than 35 years of age up to play on this team.  Ok, maybe not that old, but they have been reluctant to move prospects along and I hope this means the younger guys get a fighting chance.

Jamie Pringle is the new Senior Video analyst for the Flames. This guy is aspiring to be the best video analyst in the game, which bodes well for the Flames. He has no asipirations, or so we've heard, of doing anything else, which should mean he will be solely focused on helping the players extract an edge of their opponents.

This seems like a good hire and will probably be a welcome change from Rob Cookson, who was with the team for the last decade.

Two spots still remain vacant with the Flames -- goaltending coach and assistant GM. The AGM most likely won't be hired until after the draft, while the goaltending coach could come any day now.

Sutter made the hires -- something he has always wanted. This is his team, and this will be THE year to put his stamp on the team.

Is it September yet? Have the Canucks lost yet?

Newman

JERSEY FOULS!

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Flames Deal Erixon to Rangers

The Flames have dealt Tim Erixon and their 5th Round selection in this years draft to the new York Rangers for Roman Horak and two 2nd round picks (projected to be 43rd and 57th overall) in the 2011 draft.

Feaster and the Flames were unable to come to terms with Erixon, the Flames 1st round pick in 2009, and instead of sending him back into the draft they were able to get something in return.

First thought is that it's a shame the Flames will lose Erixon. This guy has a ton of potential and probably would have gone Top 10 if he had been put back into the draft this year. On the other hand, they do salvage something out of him and stockpile some much needed draft picks.

Apparently Feaster's hands were tied on this one and Erixon never had any intention on playing in Calgary. He wanted to play for the Rangers like his papa and nothing was going to stop him. It's tough luck for the Flames as they lose arguably their best young talented player and probably the one closest to being able to play in the NHL.

So what do you do when you are given a lemon?

You make lemonade, or some variation of it. That's what Feaster did. He managed to get draft picks and another less touted prospect back. Sure, none of them might turn out as well as Erixon, but then again you are trading potential for potential and nothing is certain. Heck, look at Alexandre Daigle or Patrick Stefan.

Ok, maybe a little extreme but the Flames lost the best player in the deal yet again, and it stings.

Horak, who hails from the Czech Republic, can score as he put up 26 goals and 52 assists in 64 games with Chilliwack last season. He played with another Flames prospect LW Ryan Howse all year long, so the Flames were very familiar with young Czech. Howse put up 51 goals and 32 assists.  Horak is 20 years old, while Howse will turn 20 this summer. Both should be slated to play in Abbostford next fall and hopefully inject some offence into the lowest scoring team in the AHL.
Some numbers on Horak: http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=112706

Newman

Jersey Fouls!

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Flames have run out of time



Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports

 Heading into tonight’s battle of Alberta the Flames have simply run out of options. They either win out, or they start the golf season early, and even then it probably won't be enough.


How did it all come to this?

On March 9th, after a 4-3 shootout win over the Dallas Stars, the Flames were sitting in a tie for fourth place and everyone in Calgary was talking about possibly getting home ice advantage in the first round, and not missing the dance entirely.

The team was playing great. Spirits were high. It was a double-rainbow-across-the-sky kind of moment.

Then, it all came crashing down four times faster than it took to begin.

Flames Win: Iginla and Special Teams Shining Bright

Courtesy boston.com

How’s that for a weekend of hockey for your Calgary Flames?
3 for 9 on the PP. 6 for 6 on the PK. Jarome Iginla scores his 30thgoal of the season on, no less, a penalty shot. Kipper’s save percentage was 92.06% over those two games, including 37 stops Friday night against the Jackets. But more important than any of these stats is the fact that the Flames won both of these tightly contested games against both teams that are in the perennial dog fight for a spot in the Western elite eight.

The win Sunday night means the Flames sweep the Predators in the season series, and improves their record against Central division teams to 12-5-2.