CalgaryFlames.net
I came across this site when trying to figure out what went wrong with the 2007/08 season. Check it out!

Neon Dion stays a-Flame
Six years, 39 million dollars. $6.5M/season. That's a lot of dough for a 22-year-old. But this is the cornerstone of your team, and it's quite likely that he'll win the Norris at least once within that period. Probably as soon as next year, with the dawning of the post-Lidstrom era. 

Well that was embarrassing
Let's check in and see what Ville Nieminen has been up to. (Thanks to reader Francesco for the link

Huselius' mad skilz
You have to check out Kristian Huselius' goal in the 2008 Calgary Flames Superskills competition, it's fairly unique.

Holy Joseph!
So I've broken it down, CuJo will make $621,951.22 US$ this year (if my math is correct) because he will be a Flame for a total of 34 games. If he plays EVERY time the Flames have back-to-back games, he will play six times. If that's the case, he will be making $103,658.54 per game. For some perspective, Kiprusoff makes $3,600,000 US$ per year. He will start 75 games this season = $48,000 per start. Curtis Joseph = $103,658.54 per start. Just thought I'd point that out.

Does fewer goals concern you? Do you think hockey has become boring?
I’ve long been a self-proclaimed purist, a real traditionalist when it comes to hockey, and I’ve been a hardcore fan for over 25 years now. I don’t like the shootout, I don’t like the instigator rule, and I don’t like the increased calling of clutching, grabbing, hooking and tripping. However, after watching the Flames and Lightning play for the first time since the last pre-lockout game ever (Game 7 of the Cup finals) and combine for 15 goals – something needs to be done. Fifteen goals is exciting, three goals is not. (Yes, I can hear you – the 0.1% of the population that are goaltenders, and I don’t care.)

So what to do about it? I’ve been arguing against making the nets bigger since it was first proposed, but after the 9-6 Calgary/Tampa game, have completely changed my mind. I think that goalies are much better now, teams are much more defensive, and padding is lighter, bigger, and protects more than it ever has before. (Yes, I know that player are also bigger, better, and shoot harder and faster, and I don't care)

The only argument I can see for not changing the nets is goalies’ stats will be forever skewed. I think that statistics a small price to pay to make this game more exciting to watch. And aren’t stats skewed now anyway? There seems to be a new ‘modern-day’ goals against, shutout, or save percentage record set every other season! And I think that there is no shame in Broduer being second to Sawchuk in shutouts. Come on NHL and NHLPA, remember who are you playing the game for: the statisticians, or guys like me?

The silver bullet
How would one fix this team? Well it has been no surprise that defence has let this team down the past year and a bit. Kipper can only do so much, could you imagine if the defence under Sutter played on the same team as the Playfair/Keenan offence? Well, they do! Actually they are slightly better than they were then. The only issue is they cannot play together as pairings. So what is the common denominator? The defensive associate coach. I'm not sure which one that is, but the Flames have associate coaches that specialize on different aspects of the game. Forwards, defence, special teams and development. Cookson, Preston, Playfair, whoever it is... has to go now. 

New Flames fan!
Sorry I didn't update the site after the game on Thursday, I was watching the first period on Flames PPV when my wife went into labour. So as of yesterday, the Flames have another fan to try to cater to. His name is Miika Jarome Huselius. That is a lie. 

Kipper signs 6-year deal at $5.8M per year
Calgary Flames General Manager Darryl Sutter announced today the signing of Miikka Kiprusoff to a multi-year contract extension. As per club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. As per my policy, he gets an average of $5.8M/year for 6 years. Since he was looking for a 5-year, $7/year deal, this is pretty good news for Flames fans. Of course the obvious question with home-town discounts from Kipper, Iginla and Regehr, is Phaneuf likely to sign for a long-term deal as well? The answer is yes. That means that either Langkow or Huselius will be gone at the end of this year. Sorry Langkow - you're older.  

So how is the ticket scam going to work this year?
So tickets went on sale this past weekend, but individual preseason games go on sale next week. For now the only way to buy tickets is to purchase one of two packages. Either a one preseason and one crappy regular season game package; or an all four preseason games, one crappy regular season game, and one good regular season game package. Naturally I went for the latter. 

So just going through the Ticketmaster process, I selected the 'best available seats' option - which is default. I hit search (and FYI this is for six games, and two seats per game). The cost? $1300!!! For six games, four of which are preseason! Nucking futs.

So redefining my parameters I selected the second-cheapest option to all preseason games, and a regular season game. The premium regular season game (home opener - if anyone is interested) I went all in. Still, the cost is $600. For nosebleeds to five games, and one night of great seats. Doesn't this team remember when they pleaded to us to buy season tickets or they'd have to move to another city? Remember? I thought not.

You say yes... I say no... you stay stop... and I say go, go go!
Here are the things you need to know about your Calgary Flames and the free agent market...

Hello:

Goodbye:

Hello again (naturally):

Current line combinations

Bringin' in Backlund
The Calgary Flames selected five players (three forwards and two defencemen) at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus... more on the five picked on draft day.

Moss signed
The Flames have signed power-forward and young gun David Moss on Wednesday to a deal worth $575K per year. There are conflicting reports as to whether it is a one- or a two-year deal. Let's say two. Moss had 18 points in 41 games last season and showed some real promise in being that guy that could park himself in front of the net. He was drafted 220th overall in 2001.

Krahn, are you still playing hockey?
So repeat cut-at-training-camp goalie Brent Krahn has been signed. This either means he is trade bait on July 1 at the draft, or he will back up Kipper this year. Probably back up Kiprusoff. He is started to get older, and probably will become another journeyman backup like Noodles is.

Carsen Germyn seems like someone who could make this team, but not this year. Perhaps he is trade bait as well, as he led the Omaha Ak-sar-ben Knights in scoring with 28 goals and 32 assists for 60 points in 77 games.

The third signing of the day is Warren Peters, and I haven't heard of him before so I don't care about that.
Amendment:
"Mark, I must stand up to your dissing of Warren Peters. He is, perhaps, the greatest captain in the history of the Saskatoon Blades. I'm not even joking. As far as leadership goes, he was unmatched. He played for the Flames' Ak-sar-ben team last season. He's not a scorer, but I bet Sutter loves him."

Sorry. Who knew?

I heard that Krahn is one of the highest picks ever (6th overall in 2000) to never play in an an NHL game. And since he has lost the starting goalie job down in Omaha, chances are he'll never be a starter in the NHL. Sorry Brent!

Keenan one of the few coaches who can 'Sutter' these boys into shape!
Finally, Sutter must be listening to me, my continuous calls to get rid of Playfair have not gone unnoticed. So Jimmy Playfair has been fired to make way for notorious ass-clown Mike Keenan. I think this is fantastic. He is the fifth winningest coach in NHL history. He has worked with Darryl Sutter before (in Chicago). Playfair and the rest of the former coaching staff will all remain. Personal feelings do not make a difference, this is hockey.

This is a clear message that the time to win is now, and Sutter (like most of us) does not have the time to wait for a rookie coach to get his feet wet while the seasons slip by with probably the most talent the Flames have had on a roster since the 80s. The time to win is now.

The only thing that I worry about is Keenan's relationship with Huselius, they didn't get along at all, and Kristian is a 34 goal scorer. We don't have many of those. I worry a little about the relationship with Kiprusoff, but think Kennan is smart enough to listen to the people around him (including his new boss Sutter) that Kipper is best coached by being left alone.

Hey, that's no cockroach! That's my coach!

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Finally, the Internet pays off...

What is the greatest Internet video ever to pass through cyberspace you ask? Well, if you like the Flames, or if you hate the Flames, or if you watch hockey for any reason whatsoever, this video will make you laugh. And then cry. It is truly spectacular. If anyone has the emails of Neil Sheehy, Gary Roberts or Mike Vernon, please... PLEASE let me know.

Click to watch the greatest video of all time.

Click here to download your free Molson Canadian Calgary Flames Screensaver. The cool part about this screensaver is that it counts down the time until the puck drops for the next Flames game.

Remember this?

Media: (Right-click and "Save Target As")
Calgary vs. Detroit - Game 6 - 2004 Playoffs 
In Da Dome (Original) 
In Da Dome (Final Version)
In Da Dome (Video) 
In Da Dome Commentary