The Calgary Flames have been one of Canada's hopes for the Stanley Cup since their move from Atlanta in 1980 and their Cup win in 1989. Known for a robust style of play, the Flames have continued to burnish that image. Captain Jarome Iginla is seen as being not only of the best players in the game, but one of its true warriors.
However, the reality is that the Flames have less than fiery in the playoffs in recent years, being bounced in the Quarterfinals in the past four seasons.
So, now what?
Yahoo Sports' team profile surveys the landscape:
Inside Shots: Calgary Flames Team Report
Yahoo Sports, June 3, 2009
It took longer than expected, almost to the point where Flames fans were starting to think Mike Keenan’s stint as head coach would stretch into a third season.
But the axe finally fell and Keenan, after two seasons that ended in first-round playoff ousters, was fired.
There is no rush to find Keenan’s replacement, said general manager Darryl Sutter. He said the soft deadline he’s staring at is the NHL draft in late June.
It’s widely expected Sutter himself will step back behind the bench after three seasons spent solely in the GM’s chair. It makes sense.
Sutter, who coached the club for 2 1/2 seasons—two while also holding down the GM role—was behind the bench when the team made it all the way to the 2004 Stanley Cup final. He also helped guide the Flames to the Northwest Division’s regular-season title in the 2005-06 season, but at that point he kicked himself upstairs because he decided he couldn’t devote enough time to both jobs.
What’s the difference now? For starters, the Flames have their core players in place for the next few seasons, so the GM duties mainly consist of finding and moving around the supporting cast.
Plus, it’s become evident the Flames’ leadership group needs the man with the hammer on them on a daily basis.
Under Jim Playfair, a rookie head coach, as well as Keenan, the defensive discipline instilled by Sutter when he was coaching dissipated—to the point the team that was the league’s stingiest club in 2005-06 was 23rd in goals against this season.
Season Highlight: A mid-November thrashing at the hands of the San Jose Sharks sparked a turnaround. For 2 1/2 months, the Flames were among the best teams in the league, with a 21-6-3 run. They were strong defensively, received balanced scoring and were outstanding on their special teams.
Turning Point: Two wins over Detroit and another over Dallas in a five-game stretch in mid-March made it appear that the Flames were going to pull out of their doldrums. However, back-to-back shutout losses at Pittsburgh and Columbus began a final skid to the end of the regular season. As the injuries and losses piled up, they eventually lost hold of the Northwest Division title and didn’t recover.
Notes, Quotes
• Mike Keenan wasn’t the only coach fired. Associate coach Jim Playfair and assistants Rich Preston, Rob Cookson and David Marcoux were all let go after their contracts expired. GM Darryl Sutter said he intends to let the new head coach—be it himself or somebody else—built his own staff. It’s a good move, because the team needs some new and fresh ideas in the future.
• Calgary’s newly moved AHL affiliate—which will play in Abbotsford, B.C., next season upon leaving Moline, Ill.,—will be called the Heat. No word whether the team’s sweaters will be a variation of the current Flames jersey but incorporating the Flaming “A” from the franchise’s days in Atlanta.
Quote To Note: “Right now, I’m the best one. If I find out at the end of the search that I’m the best candidate, then I am the coach. I can do it, easy.” —GM Darryl Sutter on his initial thoughts on candidates to be the new head coach.
Roster Report
Most Valuable Player: LW Rene Bourque played in only 58 games but in that time scored a career-best 21 goals and was a plus-18. None of his goals were on the power play, which gave the Flames the much needed secondary scoring, and was a top penalty killer. When he was hurt, it was the beginning of the team’s fall.
Most Disappointing Player: A year ago, D Dion Phaneuf was runner-up for the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman. This season, he failed to come close to expectations. His goal (11) and point (47) totals were a career worst. Phaneuf was also a minus-11. The defenseman is only 24 years old, so it’s not time to give up on him, but he needs a bounce-back season.
Free Agent Focus: The biggest name to likely leave is leading goal-scorer Michael Cammalleri, but the Flames are looking at a retooled defense corps next season. Adrian Aucoin, Jordan Leopold, Anders Eriksson and Rhett Warrener are all expected to leave. Young blueliner Adam Pardy is an unrestricted free agent but is likely to be re-signed.
The Flames have a handful of other forwards—Todd Bertuzzi, Andre Roy and Jamie Lundmark—likely to walk, although it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see Lundmark stay in the fold, and even Bertuzzi if he’s willing to remain with a short-term deal and low enough salary.
Player News:
• RW Jarome Iginla appears focused on having a strong bounce-back season. Despite a solid year in which the Flames captain scored 35 goals and finished with 89 points, he was inconsistent offensively and below his standards defensively.
“I looked at the stats. I didn’t know this, but I think there (were) 36 or 37 games I didn’t have a point this season. That’s just not consistent enough. It was good I was able to get what I did in the other games, but I have to work on being consistent because it would help the team a lot.”
• D Robyn Regehr came out swinging when Mike Keenan was fired as head coach, saying he believed the coach had to be let go because he didn’t preach a defensive game enough. Regehr even went on to say Keenan’s style was outdated, pointing out his success had come in the 1980s and early 1990s. “Probably the biggest issue we’re dealing with right now is philosophies,” Regehr said. “(Keenan’s) a coach who had most of his success in the ’80s when the strategy was so much different. I think a lot of coaches from that time, the game has sort of moved past them. I think that was holding us back as a team.”
• C Greg Nemisz, Calgary’s 2008 first-round draft choice, was part of the 2009 Memorial Cup winning Windsor Spitfires. The Spitfires late last season lost Mickey Renaud, a Flames draft choice, when he died of a heart ailment, and rebounded to win the Ontario Hockey League championship and then regrouped after losing their first two games at the Memorial Cup tournament to beat the three other squads in succession. Nemisz and the Spitfires beat a Kelowna Rockets team that featured Flames 2007 first-round draft choice Mikael Backlund.
Medical Watch:
• D Dion Phaneuf was rumored to be dealing with hip problems also season, back problems late in the season and then a cracked rib/sternum and separated shoulder in the playoffs. He said a couple of months of rest is all he needs.
• D Robyn Regehr was planned to resume skating once the second round began, in the hopes he’d be back in action within a week from a strained knee ligament. He insisted it’s not torn and will be fine within a couple of months.
---
Are changes coming to Calgary? Will 2009-10 be a year where the Flames sizzle, or fizzle? What do they need to stoke the fire and quench their Stanley Cup desire?
Over to you, GM Hockey Members...
However, the reality is that the Flames have less than fiery in the playoffs in recent years, being bounced in the Quarterfinals in the past four seasons.
So, now what?
Yahoo Sports' team profile surveys the landscape:
Inside Shots: Calgary Flames Team Report
Yahoo Sports, June 3, 2009
It took longer than expected, almost to the point where Flames fans were starting to think Mike Keenan’s stint as head coach would stretch into a third season.
But the axe finally fell and Keenan, after two seasons that ended in first-round playoff ousters, was fired.
There is no rush to find Keenan’s replacement, said general manager Darryl Sutter. He said the soft deadline he’s staring at is the NHL draft in late June.
It’s widely expected Sutter himself will step back behind the bench after three seasons spent solely in the GM’s chair. It makes sense.
Sutter, who coached the club for 2 1/2 seasons—two while also holding down the GM role—was behind the bench when the team made it all the way to the 2004 Stanley Cup final. He also helped guide the Flames to the Northwest Division’s regular-season title in the 2005-06 season, but at that point he kicked himself upstairs because he decided he couldn’t devote enough time to both jobs.
What’s the difference now? For starters, the Flames have their core players in place for the next few seasons, so the GM duties mainly consist of finding and moving around the supporting cast.
Plus, it’s become evident the Flames’ leadership group needs the man with the hammer on them on a daily basis.
Under Jim Playfair, a rookie head coach, as well as Keenan, the defensive discipline instilled by Sutter when he was coaching dissipated—to the point the team that was the league’s stingiest club in 2005-06 was 23rd in goals against this season.
Season Highlight: A mid-November thrashing at the hands of the San Jose Sharks sparked a turnaround. For 2 1/2 months, the Flames were among the best teams in the league, with a 21-6-3 run. They were strong defensively, received balanced scoring and were outstanding on their special teams.
Turning Point: Two wins over Detroit and another over Dallas in a five-game stretch in mid-March made it appear that the Flames were going to pull out of their doldrums. However, back-to-back shutout losses at Pittsburgh and Columbus began a final skid to the end of the regular season. As the injuries and losses piled up, they eventually lost hold of the Northwest Division title and didn’t recover.
Notes, Quotes
• Mike Keenan wasn’t the only coach fired. Associate coach Jim Playfair and assistants Rich Preston, Rob Cookson and David Marcoux were all let go after their contracts expired. GM Darryl Sutter said he intends to let the new head coach—be it himself or somebody else—built his own staff. It’s a good move, because the team needs some new and fresh ideas in the future.
• Calgary’s newly moved AHL affiliate—which will play in Abbotsford, B.C., next season upon leaving Moline, Ill.,—will be called the Heat. No word whether the team’s sweaters will be a variation of the current Flames jersey but incorporating the Flaming “A” from the franchise’s days in Atlanta.
Quote To Note: “Right now, I’m the best one. If I find out at the end of the search that I’m the best candidate, then I am the coach. I can do it, easy.” —GM Darryl Sutter on his initial thoughts on candidates to be the new head coach.
Roster Report
Most Valuable Player: LW Rene Bourque played in only 58 games but in that time scored a career-best 21 goals and was a plus-18. None of his goals were on the power play, which gave the Flames the much needed secondary scoring, and was a top penalty killer. When he was hurt, it was the beginning of the team’s fall.
Most Disappointing Player: A year ago, D Dion Phaneuf was runner-up for the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman. This season, he failed to come close to expectations. His goal (11) and point (47) totals were a career worst. Phaneuf was also a minus-11. The defenseman is only 24 years old, so it’s not time to give up on him, but he needs a bounce-back season.
Free Agent Focus: The biggest name to likely leave is leading goal-scorer Michael Cammalleri, but the Flames are looking at a retooled defense corps next season. Adrian Aucoin, Jordan Leopold, Anders Eriksson and Rhett Warrener are all expected to leave. Young blueliner Adam Pardy is an unrestricted free agent but is likely to be re-signed.
The Flames have a handful of other forwards—Todd Bertuzzi, Andre Roy and Jamie Lundmark—likely to walk, although it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see Lundmark stay in the fold, and even Bertuzzi if he’s willing to remain with a short-term deal and low enough salary.
Player News:
• RW Jarome Iginla appears focused on having a strong bounce-back season. Despite a solid year in which the Flames captain scored 35 goals and finished with 89 points, he was inconsistent offensively and below his standards defensively.
“I looked at the stats. I didn’t know this, but I think there (were) 36 or 37 games I didn’t have a point this season. That’s just not consistent enough. It was good I was able to get what I did in the other games, but I have to work on being consistent because it would help the team a lot.”
• D Robyn Regehr came out swinging when Mike Keenan was fired as head coach, saying he believed the coach had to be let go because he didn’t preach a defensive game enough. Regehr even went on to say Keenan’s style was outdated, pointing out his success had come in the 1980s and early 1990s. “Probably the biggest issue we’re dealing with right now is philosophies,” Regehr said. “(Keenan’s) a coach who had most of his success in the ’80s when the strategy was so much different. I think a lot of coaches from that time, the game has sort of moved past them. I think that was holding us back as a team.”
• C Greg Nemisz, Calgary’s 2008 first-round draft choice, was part of the 2009 Memorial Cup winning Windsor Spitfires. The Spitfires late last season lost Mickey Renaud, a Flames draft choice, when he died of a heart ailment, and rebounded to win the Ontario Hockey League championship and then regrouped after losing their first two games at the Memorial Cup tournament to beat the three other squads in succession. Nemisz and the Spitfires beat a Kelowna Rockets team that featured Flames 2007 first-round draft choice Mikael Backlund.
Medical Watch:
• D Dion Phaneuf was rumored to be dealing with hip problems also season, back problems late in the season and then a cracked rib/sternum and separated shoulder in the playoffs. He said a couple of months of rest is all he needs.
• D Robyn Regehr was planned to resume skating once the second round began, in the hopes he’d be back in action within a week from a strained knee ligament. He insisted it’s not torn and will be fine within a couple of months.
---
Are changes coming to Calgary? Will 2009-10 be a year where the Flames sizzle, or fizzle? What do they need to stoke the fire and quench their Stanley Cup desire?
Over to you, GM Hockey Members...
Last edited by davetherave on Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:58 pm; edited 4 times in total