Calgary Flames MEGA THREAD 2010-2011 Edition

[Kirbs17]

Well guys. I realize the season is barely over, but for us Flames Fans we'll have to cheer for another team during the current playoff run. After numerous years of playoff hockey in Calgary, I'll admit it feels a little odd watching someone else in the big dance, right from the onset.

If some of the pundits are right, we may be about to experience some rebuilding years in Calgary. We had our issues scoring, there were troubles buying into Brent Sutter's coaching style, and we're a bit aging. That being said, what do you think will happen this coming off-season? Who will stay? Who will go? I for one think big changes are incoming in Calgary, with a few big names being traded before/on RFA signing day. I have a feeling the owners are fed up with Daryl Sutter's knee-jerk player transactions, and will show him the door. I like Brent Sutter's style of hockey, and would like to see him around for one more year before making a decision. Conroy will most likely be out the door, and I'm still undecided as to Iginla staying. Kotalik, Mayers, and Higgins will most likely be used as trade bait.

Now that I'm done school in BC, I'll have a chance to see more games and I hope to see all the regulars back in this thread like prior years. And thanks Mac_82 for allowing me the honours


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[mac_82]

Woohoo

[mac_82]

Well I just got home from the Heat/Marlies games. Couple of notes:

-Irving played solid. Looked very confident, and almost snagged a shutout.

-Wahl looked dangerous at times. The kid needs some more speed and strength, but should challenge for a spot on the Flames in 1-2 years. Solid second round draft pick last year.

-Pelech was our best dman by far. Although Kronwall, Negrin, Seabrook were all hurt.

-Our future D prospects are HUGE. They looked pretty intimidating out on the ice.
Breen 6.7 - 224
Kronwall 6.5 - 225
Baldwin 6.5 - 205
Pelech 6.3 - 220
Negrin 6.3 - 200
Palin 6.2 - 203

It would be nice to see 1 or 2 of these guys crack the line up and bump Pardy up to #6 in depth.

[Kirbs17]

Although they were intimidating, did they have some speed about them? Or where they like mammoth pylons? Do you think Irving will replace Toskala if we dont bring him back?

Here's a list of our Flames contract for next year
Ian White Defence RFA
Jay Bouwmeester Defence 2013-14
Mark Giordano Defence 2010-11
Cory Sarich Defence 2011-12
Adam Pardy Defence 2010-11
Brian McGrattan Forward UFA
Niklas Hagman Forward 2011-12
Jarome Iginla Forward 2012-13
Nigel Dawes Forward 2010-11
Rene Bourque Forward 2015-16
Matt Stajan Forward 2013-14
Jamal Mayers Forward UFA
Curtis Glencross Forward 2010-11
Christopher Higgins Forward UFA
Daymond Langkow Forward 2011-12
Eric Nystrom Forward UFA
Craig Conroy Forward UFA
David Moss Forward 2010-11
Ales Kotalik Forward 2011-12
Steve Staios Defence 2010-11
Robyn Regehr Defence 2012-13
Miikka Kiprusoff Goaltender 2013-14
Vesa Toskala Goaltender UFA
Mikael Backlund Forward 2011-12

[mac_82]

King and Dutter are addressing the media today at 1pm.

Should be interesting.

[SilverGS]

My guess is Dutter is staying.

[Ajay]

I would like to see Dutter go. Like you said he's had too many knee jerk trades and it's not good for chemistry.

I think Butter will probably stay for at least another year. His system isn't bad but I don't think it's necessarily the best for the Western Conference. In the East when he coached the Devil's he led them to their most amount of wins playing a defense first system but that's the East. In the West it's a whole different ball game.

Players that I think will be gone/used for trade bait;

Sarich - Trade
Langkow - Trade
Hagman - Trade

Conroy, McGratton, and Mayers will be left to walk. I would really like to see them re-sign Nystrom though. He had a great year as a fourth line grinder.

If Dutter is let go whoever is the incoming GM is going to have a tough time finagling some trades. With all the no movement clauses Dutter gave out it might be tough to get rid of some players.

Regardless....... in 2010/2011

[Ajay]

Originally posted by mac_82
King and Dutter are addressing the media today at 1pm.

Should be interesting.

Does anyone know if this will be broadcast online?

[Kirbs17]

Originally posted by mac_82
King and Dutter are addressing the media today at 1pm.

Should be interesting.

Im stuck at work; if you get a chance to watch it, can you cole's notes anything important for us?

Thanks Mac

[mac_82]

Originally posted by Ajay


Does anyone know if this will be broadcast online?

The fan960 will prob play it live I assume. There might be a link on the Flames site as well, but as of right now it's not listed.

Originally posted by Kirbs17


Im stuck at work; if you get a chance to watch it, can you cole's notes anything important for us?

Thanks Mac

I am stuck in a meeting when this starts. I'll do my best.

[mac_82]

And to add more fuel to the fire, most people saw this the other day posted in last year's thread.

“Darryl and Brent don’t even talk,” said the staffer.

“It’s so dysfunctional. Darryl has been in the league as a respected player, coach and GM forever, and he knows more about the NHL than anyone in the organization. He saved this franchise. But his ego, or lack of social graces or whatever, has reached a point where the people who can help him find him totally unapproachable. That includes Brent. He doesn’t listen. It’s a reign of terror. Everyone is scared of him.”

http://www.calgarysun.com/sports/col.../13539306.html

Well Randy Sportak, a fellow Sun columnist, has been posting over on Calgarypuck defending Francis. Here are some of his comments:

Trust me on this, Eric wouldn't write that story with those quotes if they weren't legit. It's not easy to get people who will something like that, even unnamed.
Would you commit career suicide?

In regards to sources:

In this case, I know Eric talked to more than one person.

[mac_82]

Sound like nothing major will happen. More of a state of the union address and answering questions. Its about to start.

[SilverGS]

97% Renewal rate

[Ajay]

Sounds like fodder for the most part.

[Quizzes]

Listened for a few minutes... sounds like apologies and excuses for what happened in the season by Darryl.

[Neil4Speed]

Originally posted by Quizzes
Listened for a few minutes... sounds like apologies and excuses for what happened in the season by Darryl.

Essentially, quite boring really lol, you can't really hear the questions either.

Darryl seems to think it is strictly a playing at home thing. I think its obvious that he doesn't want to address the lack of scoring.

[cdnsir]

Hmmm... He mentioned locker room issues, and GM's fail of not getting on top of it with the existing relationships with the older players. Then when a guy asked if that was a reason why the trades took place. Dutter said yea, it was part of it. Interesting... wonder if it was Phaneuf, Ollie, or both?

[kenny]

Basically blaming the fans for the lack of home wins, which caused us to miss the playoffs.

Keep it classy Dutter.

[88CRX]

Originally posted by kenny
Basically blaming the fans for the lack of home wins, which caused us to miss the playoffs.

Keep it classy Dutter.

I didn't get that from what he said

Maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention.

[The_Rural_Juror]

I missed the conference. Is it saved anywhere?