Calgary Flames

Flames Thoughts

January 6, 2011

41 games down, 41 games to go – and they are going to be long 41 games at that. Sitting 14th in the Western Conference, six points back of 8th place, hopes for a miracle run are fading in a hurry. It doesn’t help the situation when a majority of teams ahead of the Flames have played fewer games than them, making it doubly hard to gain any sort of ground. Did I mention that you have to actually win games to gain ground as well? Right. Another stopping point in their quest for legitimacy. Jay Feaster is apparently conjuring up two separate master plans for the future of the Flames organization: one if they are out of contention and one if they are in contention. Well, Jay, you ...

Darryl Sutter is no more

December 29, 2010

Derrick Newman

4 Comments

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 pla...

Breaking News: Darryl Sutter Steps Down as Flames GM

December 28, 2010

George Prax

5 Comments

TSN is reporting that Darryl Sutter has stepped down as the Calgary Flames executive Vice President and General Manager, after seven years with the organization. Assistant GM and former manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning Jay Feaster will take over his duties on an interim basis, effective immediately. More on this story as it develops. Updated Story from TSN: [quote]A shakeup in Calgary is underway as the Flames announced Tuesday that Executive Vice-President and general manager Darryl Sutter is stepping down effective immediately. Jay Feaster has been appointed Acting General Manager and will assume full and complete responsibilities for day-to-day hockey operations. ...

Flames like the holiday season

December 28, 2010

Derrick Newman

1 Comment

The Flames are on a roll – sort of. Winners of their last two games, and four of their last five under the Dome, the Flames climbed to within six points of 8th spot in the western conference. Let’s just ignore the fact that the Flames have played more games than pretty well everyone else in the conference save the Ducks. Olli Jokinen has six goals in his last nine forcing most people to hide their distaste for the Finnish centerman. He’s playing how he should be playing, and that’s what the Flames him to do. Let’s hope he keeps it up. Jarome Iginla has points in 13 of his last 14 contests – six goals and ten assists. He looks good and as was evident in that fight again...

Flames Infomercial a Real Winner

December 21, 2010

Derrick Newman

2 Comments

“Do you struggle to save the puck? Are you having trouble stopping that little black piece of rubber from going in the net? Do you find yourself riding the pine more than you think you should? If so, we believe we have the answer for you. Come on over to Calgary where the Flames will show you what true hospitality is all about. Their under-achieving band of overpaid hockey players will shoot it right into your logo. They will miss the net when you are out of position. They will even fire nice softball perimeter blasts with no screen, just so you can boost your confidence. It’s that easy. So give them a call at: 403-777-SUCK. Multiple visits encouraged if you are REALLY struggling. W...

Flames options moving forward

December 16, 2010

Derrick Newman

7 Comments

In light of the Flames facing off against Toronto tonight, the team they partnered off with to make last year's blockbuster deal, I thought it would be interesting to look at some of the Flames options moving forward. The Flames have issues. That’s clearly apparent. But fixing those issues -- therein lies the true work of art. How do you get yourself out from under this mess? A mess that includes but is not restricted to: Locked in contracts to over rated players (cough...Stajan); no-trade/movement clauses to anyone and everyone (Iginla, Langkow, Stajan, Bourque, Kotalik, Jokinen, Tanguay, Bouwmeester, Regehr, Sarich, Kiprusoff). These problems, among others, are reasons why the ...

The Return of Dion

December 15, 2010

Derrick Newman

3 Comments

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames will face off on Thursday night at the Dome. You would think a game between the 22nd and 26th ranked team in the league wouldn’t exactly be a must see affair, but this upcoming tilt between two cellar dwellers has a little more oomph than your run of the mill basement clash. Did I mention Dion Phaneuf will be making his much anticipated return to where it all began? Well he is, and it’s become quite a big deal. Drafted 9th overall by the Flames in 2003, Dion was the most anticipated Flames prospect since the hay day of the late 80’s. This wasn’t Rico Fata, or Daniel Tkaczuk, or even Chris Dingman, this was a player who played for...

Flames get single point in California

December 11, 2010

Derrick Newman

1 Comment

California dreamin’ or California nightmare? I’d say the latter was a more apt description of the result of the two game road trip. Two games, one point – simply put, it’s just not good enough. Despite late charges in both games, the Flames fell short in each game – stretching it to the shootout in Anaheim while falling in regulation in LA. They fall behind early only to fight back and fall short in the end. The story is all too familiar, and so are the cast of characters, both on the ice and off of it. The Flames powerplay went a surprising 2 for 9, which is at least respectable. But, given the fact the Flames had five chances before Jokinen finally broke the impenet...

Lightning go up in Flames

December 8, 2010

Derrick Newman

0 Comments

On a day in which Sylvester Stallone got elected into the boxing hall of fame (huh?) and Graham James gets out on bail(you have to be kidding me right?), the Calgary Flames climbed out of last place – at least for the time being. With the Oilers shootout loss, the Flames sit one point ahead of the junior high school misfits, but unfortunately the Flames have played one more game. Really, Flames fans should’ve known this was coming, what with the seven, now eight, game string in which the Flames have yet to record two of the same result in back-to-back games. Inconsistent. Where do they hide periods like the opening frame of tonight’s game? A dominating 20 minutes where ...

Flames goals against not the problem

December 4, 2010

Derrick Newman

2 Comments

Just a few things I wanted to touch upon following the Flames 3-2 shootout win over the Minnesota Wild. Thing #1: Darryl Sutter and his claim that goals against are the Flames big problem Yes, the Flames rank 24th in the league in goals against per game. But, if you dig a little deeper you will see that these numbers are quickly skewed due to a couple blow out games. The recent 7-2 loss to the Canucks where the Flames basically gave up following the Canucks 4th goal, coupled with the Caps dismantling of the Flames on Halloween night, also a 7-2 beat down, are the two cases I speak of. Subtract those two bizarre outings and the Flames sit tied for 11th in GA. The Flames problems have n...