Patrick Powell
Salary Cap Analyst 

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File: David_Booth.jpg

In analyzing this deal , the proverbial “elephant in the room” is the disparity in age and potential upside of the players involved. Booth is 26, Reinprecht is 35, Samuelsson is 34, and Sturm is 33. The latter two seem on the downsides of their respective careers whereas Reinprecht, who has probably peaked as well, will remain dead weight in the AHL. Booth clearly has the highest potential of any player in the deal, but he arguably also carries the greatest health risk due to his 54 game campaign in 2009-2010 after suffering multiple concussions.

Reinprecht had been playing in the AHL, and recently reported to Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. As a result, his full season cap hit of $2.05 million will not adversely affect the Canucks, who are now within $87,000 of the cap. Booth carries a full year cap hit of $4.25 million versus $2.5 million for Samuelsson and $2.25 million for Sturm.

The Panthers still have over $9 million in salary cap space, and they now have the maximum of 23 players on their active roster. GM Dale Tallon added experience to a young roster with this move but moreover cleared future cap space. He was not afraid to make a move that sends away potential in return for flexibility, which begs the question: Will we see more deals like this?

Booth is currently signed through 2015 as he previously committed himself to the Panthers just one season before Tallon took over the team. He was traded before his production severely dropped off, which makes the deal somewhat unique. A similar deal in length, like Shawn Horcoff‘s pact with the Edmonton Oilers, certainly would not relate since the pivot lost most of his trade value when he signed his new deal. The same should be said for Scott Gomez, whose contract extends through 2014 but is already the most discussed topic in Montreal.

A similar deal to the Booth trade could be the Calgary Flames moving players like Curtis Glencross, Rene Bourque or less likely Olli Jokinen, David Moss and Niklas Hagman. GM Jay Feaster would be willing to sacrifice potential (let’s face it outside of Roman Horak, Mikael Backlund and T.J. Brodie there are no young options) for added salary flexibility for the future. Building around their younger players looks like the right way to go as the front office in Calgary finally understands cap efficiency.

Another interesting option is left wing Blake Comeau, who may have permanently found coach Jack Capuano’s doghouse. The former 47th overall pick scored more than Booth last season and as Chris Botta of The New York Times hinted, via Twitter, Comeau’s value is severely decreasing with decreased playing time. This scenario may perfectly mirror that of Booth’s as Comeau could help a contender in need of secondary scoring while preventing GM Garth Snow from investing further resources on a depreciating asset down the line.

The next option for another blockbuster could involve the currently held out Kyle Turris. We know he wants to be traded and GM Don Maloney may be forced to trade him at below his market value in order to get some usable assets for him this season. Furthermore, his subtraction would clear salary cap space for the future as the team would not have to pay him in excess of $4 million this year and likely more down the road — especially when considering his unproven talents.

Then again, the Panthers and Canucks could hook up once more. In fact, one would be foolish to rule out Mikael Samuelsson getting sent back to Vancouver once healthy as he did work in coach Alain Vigneault‘s system. Of course, this trade would not be the second, or the third even between these teams in recent years.

This deal marks the second blockbuster involving these clubs but fourth transaction in recent memory. In 2006, the Canucks acquired starting goalie Roberto Luongo, defenseman Lukas Krajicek, and sixth round draft choice (Canucks drafted Sergei Shirokov) in exchange for forward Todd Bertuzzi, goaltender Alex Auld, and defenseman Bryan Allen. Other players like Keith Ballard, Michael Grabner and Christopher Higgins have also switched jerseys over the last couple of seasons.

As Bill pointed out in his piece, Tallon sought to send a message to his young Panthers’ club with this move: you need to perform to stay. Will this message reverberate to other teams in the league? For example, the Blue Jackets (0-7-1) Sharks (3-3-0), Flames (2-4-1), Canadiens (1-4-2), and Bruins (3-5-0) have all performed below expectations in the early going. Players with these teams, particularly those earning over $4 million per season, may feel the heat from Tallon’s move. Perhaps GMs from these teams will ensure to cite David Booth as an example to demonstrate that subpar efforts will not be tolerated, and that no player is safe.

Alexander Monaghan also contributed to this article.

Bruce Garrioch at Slam Sports (who happens to actually cover the Ottawa Senators) has recently suggested that the Flames are willing to move Olli Jokinen, Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman and David Moss. According to the article, this news was made privy to QMI agency by ‘league sources’.

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By Resolute (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-sa/3.0)

In the final two months of last season, and early into this season Jokinen has been one of Calgary’s best players. He seems to have found, and adapted to his role on the second line. With five points in 6 games this season (and 54 points last season), the center is certainly earning his place on the team. Lately, the Finish forward has been working hard, playing well in his zone, and creating excellent scoring chances. His value to this team is much higher than his value off this team. For that reason it hardly seems reasonable that Feaster would consider trading the forward. So while many outside of hockey may consider that Jokinen is “struggling”, that is last year’s news. The new-look Jokinen has been a revelation to the Flames, and a valuable asset this season.

Lets move on; Stajan is on the trading block. To be entirely honest, I’m surprised that is even news. It is well known that Calgary fans are disappointed with Stajan’s play over the last year. They are particularly upset about the $14 million/4 year salary he has been getting. But hey – that was in the past. It was both well known, and assumed that GM Jay Feaster would love to unload Matt’s contract. A better question is: Who is going to take it? There seemed to be little interest in Stajan last year, and I think the same holds for this year. If Feaster is able to unload this contract, he will be regarded as a hero in Calgary.  But for now, it is likely Stajan stays.

Hagman is another that the Flames were obviously shopping last year; but there were no takers, and so the Flames had to keep the winger. This season, however, Hagman seems like he has something to prove. Regardless of how he is playing, he works hard, he battles for pucks and tries to create opportunities. This season, already, that has translated into three points in six games, and a plus-2 rating. Not bad for a player that most considered were done. Credit is deserved for the 31 year old, who is battling hard for his spot on this team. The next month or two will really dictate how his season goes, but it is unlikely that there would be many takers for this UFA unless he begins to have a breakout season.

Moss tends to have his name pop up in rumors every year. It is certainly feasible that the Flames would move Moss, particularly as part of a bigger deal. Currently he is playing on the first line with Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay while Mikael Backlund is injured, and has to show any real magic. Known more as a winger, he typically plays on the third-line. His market value would be limited, so don’t expect him to be the focal point of a trade.

By Resolute (Own work)

There seems to be lots of interest for Curtis Glencross around the league, similar to the trade deadline last year. At that time, Feaster said he had many offers for Glencross – but none made the team any better. The 28-year-old had a career year last season with 24 goals, and already has three this season. He plays well in his zone, kills penalty, and provides a great spark. Further to that – this off season he took the ‘home team discount’ at $10.2 million/4 season. At that price, it is unlikely the Flames are going to get another player to make the team better – unless something highly rewarding is sent back the other way. So while the interest is there it would have to take a fairly significant deal to make Feaster think about it.Another hot-topic name coming up in trade rumors has been Rene Bourque. The streaky winger has three goals in six games this season, and put up 27 goals in the two previous seasons. He has the potential to have a 30-goal season, but inconsistency tends to plague the forward. His plus/minus has reflected his poor defensive play in his zone. That being said, he is a big, strong player, with an excellent shot – and a knack for the net. It is quite possible that the Flames would entertain trading the winger if the right deal were to present itself. You can certainly expect him to put up more than 20 goals this season, and asset that some teams may be searching for now, or down the stretch.

Finally – lets talk about Jay Bouwmeester. The fast-skating defenseman has been receiving much criticism lately from fans and the media. At $6.6 million per season, one would expect a greater offensive numbers in his 2 seasons in Calgary. However, playing over 25 minutes a night – he still maintains an excellent plus/minus, continues to move the puck well, and plays well in his zone (most of the time). This season, he has demonstrated flashes of old – jumping up into the play more, and attempting to contribute offensively. Many teams around the league would love to have a solid puck moving defenseman who can play more than 25 minutes a night. Sure he isn’t putting up the offensive numbers he was previously, but he is also playing a more defensively minded game in Calgary. Other than a fatal mistake in the New York game on Thursday – his play this year has been stellar. Having already lost Robyn Regehr, the Flames would certainly be a worse team without Bouwmeester in the lineup. So therefore, it would take a fairly significant deal to force Feaster to play his hand.

Feaster certainly wants his club to be excellent on the ice, but it is a little bit premature to be pulling the trigger – especially with the recent return of Brendan Morrison, and the anticipated return of Backlund in November.

The Flames have been playing improved hockey in the last few days, hopefully the trend can continue. Remember – that this is essentially the same team that went on a tear in the later half of last season. If they are to find that magic again – don’t expect Feaster to act rashly.

Shahbaz Syed
Twitter – DDxDino

Well here it is, just over a week away from the start of the NHL season.  It has been a long summer, full of tragedy around the NHL but hockey is once again ready to prevail as we prepare to kick off the 2011-2012 season.

Flames fans around the league enter the season with mixed expectations.  Known as an inconsistent team, there are fears that the Flames will begin the season in a dreadful rut similar to last year (15-19-3 prior to December).  Meanwhile, others are hoping they can instead begin the season as they ended it last year (27-11-9).  The question still remains which Flames club is going to show up this season.

After making some significant deals in the offseason, let’s take a look at the new cast of characters.

Notable losses from last year’s team are Daymond Langkow, Robyn Regehr, Adam Pardy, Fredrik Modin, Ales Kotalik and Steve Staios.

New to the club this year are Lee Stempniak, Scott Hannan, Paul Byron and Chris Butler.

1. The Feaster Spin

As Jay Feaster’s first offseason as GM, he has put his own new spin on the team.  The trade that sent Regehr to Buffalo was initially met with grimaces, as it is always tough to lose such a high quality defenseman.  Especially one that has been with the organization for so long. But included in the deal, the Flames were able to trade away the struggling Ales Kotalik.  In the process, they were able to dump close to $7 million salary, creating enough space to sign Alex Tanguay.  Coming back the other way was Paul Byron and Chris Butler – who have both had stellar training camps with the Flames this year, but we’ll get to that in a bit.

Losing Daymond Langkow was difficult for long-time Flames fans to swallow, but in the grand scheme of things it was the ideal trade for the Flames to make. Coming the other way – Lee Stempniak brings a potential 40-50 point scorer, and makes the Flames not only younger, but faster as well.

The loss of Adam Pardy should be a cause for celebration; after receiving an offer from the Dallas Stars for $2 million, the Flames were unwilling to match that price tag, and rightfully so.  Given Pardy’s play in Calgary over the last few years, that is far too significant a price to pay for the lanky defenseman.  Instead, the Flames managed to sign Scott Hannan to a one-year, $1 million contract.  In today’s NHL market, this is a solid, no-risk signing.  Hannan can step in and play the defensive-defenseman role that is missing with the loss of Robyn Regehr.

So overall – the Flames are essentially status quo in comparison to last year, albeit with much more space below the salary cap.

2. Who impressed at training camp?

Jay Feaster and Brent Sutter were very clear prior to the start of training camp that each and every player had to earn their position on the team – providing incentives for the younger players at camp to fight for a roster spot.

Calgary drafted Sven Baertschi in the first round of the NHL draft this year, and in his first NHL camp the LW showed he possesses amazing talent and is very skilled with the puck.  His two-way game requires some work, but for an 18-year-old, he did a phenomenal job of impressing.  He is likely to return to the WHL this year, but expect him to be a regular in the lineup for the Flames in the future.

TJ Brodie impressed on the Flames blueline last preseason, particularly on the Flames powerplay but did not make it stick as an 18-year-old.  This preseason he showed similar offensive prowess, but was prone to making occasional mistakes, and still needs to work on his defensive game.  Another season the AHL will benefit this youngster greatly – and expect him to make the jump to the Flames roster next season, or if there are significant injuries on the blueline this year.

Roman Horak was perhaps the greatest surprise in training camp, the Czech centerman demonstrated his remarkable acceleration, solid two-way play, silky stick-handling ability and precision passing.  The 20-year-old is certainly making the coaching staff think twice about sending him to the AHL, but it is likely he will start there and receive the call-up to play a few games in the NHL this season.  Playing in the AHL for the Heat alongside former junior linemate Ryan Howse will promote even further development of his talents.

On the tune of Ryan Howse, the 20-year-old prospect had a stellar season in the WHL last year, putting up 83 points in 70 games playing on Roman Horak’s left wing.  In camp this year he showed flashes of his quick feet, excellent shot, and his ability to drive to the net.  It is likely he will be assigned to the AHL to further develop his game and offensive talents.  Expect him to be another player to wear the Flames jersey this season should injuries arise.

Paul Byron was the 22-year-old prospect obtained in the Robyn Regehr trade, centerman probably fought the hardest to convince the coaching staff to give him a spot on the NHL club this year.  He had an excellent preseason campaign, looking solid on both ends of the ice and using his speed to his advantage.  Not afraid to go into the boards to fight for the puck, he was able to bring energy to the lineup.  It is highly likely that Byron will see some action in a Flames uniform this season.  Byron will likely fill a role as a 3rd or 4th line center providing energy minutes and using his speed to his advantage.  Until then however, Byron will probably return to the AHL to continue his development as a more offensive player.

The last piece of the puzzle was also acquired in the Regehr trade – defenseman Chris Butler.  During the majority of this preseason Butler went about his business quietly – effectively maintaining his end of the ice, making smart plays with the puck and keeping out of trouble.  He very easily made a case to be on the Flames roster as a top-six defenseman this season.

3. Projected Lineup

Let’s take a look at the defenseman first;

Jay Bouwmeester – Scott Hannan
Mark Giordano – Cory Sarich
Anton Babchuk – Chris Butler/Brendan Mikkelson

On the forward side of things, the biggest question is who is going to be playing between Iginla and Tanguay.  Expect Mikael Backlund to get that opportunity to start in that spot this season.

Alex Tanguay – Mikael Backlund – Jarome Iginla
Curtis Glencross – Olli Jokinen – David Moss
Rene Bourque – Matt Stajan – Lee Stempniak
Niklas Hagman – Tom Kostopoulos/Horak/Byron/Morrison – Tim Jackman

The biggest dilemma in creating this potential lineup is Niklas Hagman.  After having a less than satisfying season last year, he was sent down to the AHL after not being picked up on waivers by any other team.  This preseason, however, Hagman has looked like the Hagman of old – using his skating ability, and shooting the puck more frequently.  He has undoubtedly made the opening squad roster, but where he plays remains a question.  Given the chemistry of the other lines, he will likely play on the fouth line and the coaching staff will evaluate his play from there.

4. How do they make the playoffs?

The Flames need to exorcise some demons this year, and come out playing like they ended last season.  A lot of supposed “critics” cite the Flames will not make the playoffs this season because of the lack of scoring potential.  Last season, Calgary held the eighth-highest goals per game average in the NHL, and the eighth-ranked powerplay.  Scoring obviously was not a problem, but they suffered on the defensive side of things, with the worst culprits being the forwards.

Towards the end of the season, the forwards began to buy into the coaching strategy; backchecking hard, wingers coming back along the boards, and none of the forwards were flying the zone prior to the puck exiting.  That was one of the main reasons for the turn around in their success.  With these systems in place, the forwards should be able to implement the defensively minded system to start the season, with the knowledge that they have the capability to score while playing that style of hockey.  Should the Flames step up and do that – they will no doubt be a playoff contender this year.

On an individual level, a few players have to prove their merit this year.  The first name that comes to mind is Jay Bouwmeester.  The often criticized defenseman put up fairly lack luster numbers last year (4 goals, 20 assists, minus 2 overall).  However, the 28-year-old defenseman was third in the NHL in average ice time per game, playing against the league’s best players night in and night out.  He is capable of moving the puck effectively out of his own zone, and is as smooth a skater as there is in the NHL.  Many suggest that the $6.68 million defenseman should put up greater offensive numbers to be paid that much, but his greatest offensive stats were on a Florida team that did not play defensively minded hockey – and so his capability to jump up into the play was enhanced.  While it would be nice for him to put up greater numbers this year, the Flames are still blessed to have a solid puck-moving defenseman that can play big minutes each night and maintain a respectable plus-minus.  This offseason demonstrated that the value for marquee defensemen is fairly steep, and so the Flames may consider themselves lucky to have the talents of Bouwmeester - despite him not putting the puck in the net as much as fans would want.

Jarome Iginla is a notoriously slow starter, and sitting out of the majority of preseason with back spasms probably won’t help his start.  But Flames fans hope that he can light a torrid scoring pace from the start, and don’t be surprised if he pots 40+ goals again this season.  This will be particularly true if he can recapture the magic that he had with Tanguay last season.

This is the season for youngster Backlund to step-up and prove his worth as a number one center in this league. He showed flashes of brilliance last year, and Flames fans hope he can maintain this on a regular basis this season.
The last 30 games of the season last year witnessed the emergence of the OMG line (Olli Jokinen, David Moss and Curtis Glencross). The three had stellar chemistry together, vaulting Glencross to a career season, and witnessed Jokinen break out of a two-year funk. The line looked solid throughout the preseason, and one can expect them to maintain that chemistry they possessed from last year.  Look for this line to provide essential secondary scoring throughout the season.

Should Matt Stajan return to the Stajan of old (…don’t hold your breath), he can provide a significant punch from the third line – especially playing alongside former teammate Lee Stempniak.  Rene Bourque may benefit from playing on this line, as he will be looked to as the designated shooter and will see his fair share of the puck.

Sure, there are a lot of ‘what-ifs’ and question marks on this Flames roster.  But should they play to their potential - and maintain the form that they carried into the end of last season they have the ability to position themselves strongly in the Western Conference - and for that reason I believe they are going to be a playoff contender this season, finishing in the middle of the West.  It also doesn’t hurt that Miikka Kiprusoff has looked like the world-class goaltender of old throughout preseason and training camp.

Look for the Flames to be a difficult team to play against night in and night out with a punishing style of defensive hockey with a solid offensive punch.

Shahbaz Syed
Twitter – DDxDino

By Alexander Monaghan
President

FEASTER GETS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN CALGARY

Yesterday, no-longer-acting GM Jay Feaster re-signed Curtis Glencross for what is believed to be a four-year contract worth $10.2 million. Later in the day there was a press conference which put him in the driver’s seat for the considerable future. While Feaster will be seen as a much less abrasive boss to the media, his track record outside his Stanley Cup victory is rather mediocre, including his drafting where not one of his first round picks became an impact player with his tendency to only find role players like Mike Lundin, Matt Smaby, Dana Tyrell and Blair Jones. When your best draft pick happens to be the now-forgotten Paul Ranger it should be less-than-inspiring to Flames fans who desperately want another impact player.

However, with a clean slate and an important player locked up, Calgary can move onto reworking their core and growing together with a new generation of players. Yes, they will have to deal with the aging Robyn Regehr, Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff but they also shown some promise with Mark Giordano, Mikael Backlund, the somewhat disappointing Rene Bourque and now Glencross at the helm that next movement. Combine them with youngsters Lance Bouma, Tim Erixon and Greg Nemisz and the Flames have a shot as soon as next season.

Clearly Feaster did not build the Lightning, but he didn’t burn the house down either. Staying the course on an improving team which should only improve with a top-15 draft selection this June will keep fans in their seats. As Kent Wilson of Flames Nation points out, “the fairest thing I can do is wait and see how the Flames summer unfolds before offering judgement on Feaster’s ascendency.” So now we play the waiting game, just like with…

WHO RETIRES IN DETROIT?

Photo Credit: Dan4th / Flickr

Nicklas Lidstrom is the big name on the block with regards to retirement but there are plenty of older guys who could bow out like Kris Draper, Mike Modano, Chris Osgood or even Ruslan Salei. Nevertheless, Lidstrom’s departure would surely create the biggest hole on the blue line as he continues to lead the Western Conference powerhouse on the back end. In fact, without him as their defensive stalwart, one would have to imagine the Red Wings trying to make a big splash either via trade or free agency (Andrei Markov, anyone?)

While it may be easy to brush aside Draper, Modano, Osgood, Salei, etc., their roles will still need to be filled next season. Draper has essentially alternated with Drew Miller so his role is set. Salei could get replaced by the younger Jakub Kindl and Modano essentially only subbed in for Valtteri Filppula, only drawing into the playoffs due to various injuries. That leaves Osgood, who was replaced with Joey MacDonald for the majority of the season but could still outplay the journeyman if he has any legs left.

Nevertheless, Lidstrom remains the guy to watch and Mike Babcock told Ansar Khan of Mlive.com he can can field another competitive team next season with his star defender directly in the mix:

“I think if our team was no good, Nick wouldn’t even consider coming back. But I think having the kind of year he did and the kind of playoff he did and the kind of playoff our team had, it’s given me confidence he’ll be back. We felt we were a very competitive team in the playoffs. We’re getting good growth out of our young guys. (Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg) are in the prime of their careers. Mule (Johan Franzen) is a guy we think can be way better next year with health.”

The time in now for the Red Wings and if they are to get back to the Stanley Cup, they will be getting there with Zetterberg, Datysuk and Franzen in their prime. Funny how Babcock particularly singled out Franzen, as he is a player that definitely can improve in postseason following this year’s disappointing run, much like…

THE REAL SEDINS

Photo Credit: Mafue / Flickr

If you take a glance at the leading scorers this playoffs, you will have to go down 15 slots before you see the last name Sedin. Their struggles have been discussed amongst the media ad nauseum as they each sit slightly below their normal above point-per-game pace. However, a quick glace into their quality of competition will dictate that nobody has faced a stronger opposition amongst the Canucks. In fact, they sit in the top 16 amongst all players this postseason with most forwards actually the shutdown type (ie. Draper, Tyrell, etc.). If we limit it to forwards, we eliminate six other players. In other words, these guys are dogged all over the ice as soon as they step on. We witnessed this with the fine shutdown work of grinder Dave Bolland, we noticed this in the Nashville series when David Legwand and Joel Ward gave them everything they had.

Considering most teams are not nearly as deep as the Canucks, Ryan Kesler has faced considerably worse competition. Regardless, we are discussing the best players in the League or arguably the top 5. It was only a matter of time until they found their stroke and against the defensively challenged San Jose Sharks they should be able to once again show that elite offensive flair. Game 1 was only the beginning of what should be an exciting series where the Sedins once again find their mojo. They combined for two points (actually only Henrik) but overall there should be no problem with finding the back of the net with Antti Niemi sporting a GAA over three and SV% barely north of .900.

In all fairness, this topic has been harped on by many so we are not the first to discuss it. In fact, Ryan Porth of RLD Hockey predicted this series being their turning point for the talented Swedes. Speaking of things I can’t take credit for…

RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS WILL GO #1

Photo Credit: leafschik1967 / Flickr

The reasoning is of course less than scientific but essentially every pundit views Nugent-Hopkins as the consensus number one pick. Don’t take my word of advice on the subject, DC Sports Report’s NHL Mock Draft Database clearly puts him as the front-runner from ESPN to TSN to NHL.com. When drafting at such a lofty position going best player available is always the safe choice which states the Edmonton Oilers would rather gamble on Nugent-Hopkins than take a stab at Adam Larsson. Oilers defenseman Ryan Whitney even told The Edmonton Journal that would be they guy he takes.

If the Oilers have their guy then the Colorado Avalanche also have their man in Larssen. Our on-site reporter Bill Whitehead then explained recently that the Florida Panthers will quickly take Gabriel Landeskog as he holds leadership characteristics and would be a fine player to build their team around. Getting back to the Avs, Larssen seems like the logical guy even though they have a system completely built around offense. According to Adrian Dater of All Things Avs, there are contradictory views on the young Swede:

“He’s a kid who has been on the radar for three years now and people are all turning on him. But he never makes a bad pass and he’s a really smart player.”

Smart player sounds good but I keep seeing this underlying tone of safe player. With the current configuration based around speed and breakout offense it may be an indication that Joe Sacco could get the sack next year after another inevitably poor season. That, or the Avs could swing a deal for Nugent-Hopkins because we know all the Oilers really want is Sean Couturier aka a center with size!

Thanks for taking the time out of your day to read our column. You can follow the site on Twitter @NHLHotStove, if you would like to contact the author please use the contact sheet in the navigation.

Admittedly this article is well behind schedule, the Flames have packed up their lockers and moved on – long forgotten as the NHL postseason forges on. But as I have emerged from the funk of another lost season, I can take this calm period to reflect upon the Calgary Flames rollercoaster season. From the start of the season until January, the Flames were a dismal bunch – sitting in the basement of the West. The City was stark with calls to trade Jarome Iginla, Miikka Kipprusoff and the rest of the core. Then something special happened, the Flames started a tremendous run until March, and launched themselves back into a playoff position. The sudden change in success seemed uncharacteristic, as the same personnel were on the ice. New GM Jay Feaster had yet to put his mark on the team, but it appears that the players had finally bought into the team strategy. Come trade deadline – Feaster had some difficult questions to deal with in regards to the structure of the team. The GM opted to essentially maintain status quo, to provide the club the (deserved) opportunity to make the post season. With three weeks left in the season, however, the Flames began to sputter and once again narrowly missed a playoff berth. Another near miss with no playoffs – and not low enough in the standings for a decent draft pick, frustrating all around.

This season had plenty of great moments for Flames fans and it was thrilling right down to the wire. Iginla was third in NHL scoring with 43 goals, hit 1000 career points and more than 30 goals in 10 straight years. Safe to say that Iginla stifled the critics who suggested his career was dwindling. These career markers are not only a tribute to the remarkable talent he possess, but speaks to his longevity in the NHL. It may often go overlooked, but the Flames are truly lucky to have such a warrior of a captain leading the helm of this franchise.

Kipprusoff backed this team solidly, being one of the main reasons for success down the stretch. These two players were there driving force for any Flames success, no surprises there.

Now that the easy part is out of the way – how about the rest of the team? Starting on defense – Mark Giordano impressed all over the ice, his defensive play was solid, he chipped in offensively, and he was a quiet leader. Giordano was third in the NHL in blocked shots this year with 193. Night in and night out, the fearless defenseman would lay down his body for the team – receiving many bumps and bruises along the way. There is no doubt in my mind, that this is the future captain of the franchise, his ability to lead on the ice and sacrifice for the team was not overlooked.

Jay Bouwmeester was frequently criticized by the Calgary fans and media for his lack of offensive numbers, but what did he do on the defensive side of things? Bouwmeester was third in NHL in average ice time/game while playing a full 82 game season. He played against the opposition’s best players each night – standing at a minus 2 overall with 24 points. Not ideal stats for a 6.6 million dollar defenseman – but how does he stack up? Amongst the top 10 richest defensemen in the NHL – only two were in the top 10 for scoring. Flames fans were expecting Bouwmeester to come into Calgary to light the lamp while playing 25 minutes a night and maintaining a solid defensive position. With his salary, that is certainly a reasonable expectation, but there are few defenseman in the NHL that can hold that sort of candle (Nick Lidstrom, Zdeno Chara). From a more realistic standpoint the reason Bouwmeester was able to put up big numbers in Florida was because it was not a defensively minded team, offence came first. In Calgary, the reverse is true, and as a result Bouwmeester’s offensive game has struggled, while his defensive game has perked up (and there are still signs for improvement for the 26 year old). While Flames fans are critical of his lack of offensive numbers, we should be glad we have a puck moving defenseman who can play 25 minutes a night against the NHL’s best.

Robyn Regehr was a monster this year on defense with an excellent comeback season. Regehr lead the team in hits this season, while chipping in with 140 blocked shots and maintained a plus-2 against the opposition’s best. He was difficult to play against, and made life miserable for other forwards. With a 4 million dollar cap hit – Regehr was a valuable component on defense this season.

Anton Babchuk was a blessing in disguise this season, after being picked up from Carolina, the defenseman collected 27 points and was a team leading plus-18. As a pending free agent, Flames fans can only hope that he is willing to resign with the club for around 1.5-2 million/season, with hopes of building upon his stellar year in Calgary.

Cory Sarich has a year remaining on his salary at 3.3 million, with many hit/miss games in Calgary, taking penalties at inopportune times. Surprisingly however, Sarich was a plus-11 this season, and was always ready to deliver a big hit when the team needed the momentum. It is likely he will play a role as the 6th defenseman next season to ride out the remainder of his contract. Steve Staios has played out the final year of his contract, and it is unlikely that he will be resigned by the club in the offseason.

On the offensive side of things – the first line pairing of Iginla, Alex Tanguay and Brendan Morrison showed signs of magic at times, particularly as the club was red hot. Tanguay seemed to revitalize his career, with 70 points alongside Iginla. After signing a one-year deal at 1.7 million expectations were low, but following this season there is no question that the Flames need to resign the winger to play along side Iginla. The asking price will perhaps be a little steeper, but the Flames know that the Iginla-Tanguay combination is of vital importance moving forward. One can hope that Tanguay is willing to resign a multiyear deal in the 3 million dollar range.

Another welcome surprise was Morrison, in 66 games providing 43 points while maintaining a plus-13 prior to getting hurt. He augmented the Iginla-Tanguay line well, playing defensively in his own zone, and distributing the puck well in the offensive zone. At $725,000, he was a blessing in disguise this season, and hopefully the center is willing to resign for around 1 million/year.

Olli Jokinen has been a target of Calgary criticism almost every season this year – but the center had a decent season this year, ending up with 54 points (although a miserable minus-17). With another year at 3 million dollars, fans can only hope that Jokinen continues to find his scoring touch in the upcoming season.

Rene Bourque chipped in this season with 50 points, including 27 goals. The winger was a streaky scorer this season, often disappearing for games on end. His minus-17 reflected his disappointing play in his zone, but he showed flashes of brilliance throughout the season – and one can only hope that at 3.6 million/season that he can put together a solid complete season.

Curtis Glencross had a breakthrough season with 24 goals and 43 points. Stellar on the penalty kill and in his own zone, his offensive output is no surprise, as the talent is there. The biggest downfall to his game was his inconsistency, limiting his potential capabilities in the NHL. Glencross is a free agent this year, and it remains to be seen if the Calgary Flames can afford the streaky winger in the offseason.

Mikael Backlund is still developing as a player, but managed to chip in this year with 25 points and a plus-4. Backlund constantly worked hard on the ice, proving that he could play on any of the four lines. He is dedicated to the team, and is willing to play whatever role is asked of him. He showed amazing talent with some beautiful goals this season, and Flames fans can hope to see more of it from the Swede in the coming seasons.

It is not often that a 4th liner is mentioned in a season review, but Tim Jackman had the season of his life, scoring goals at opportune times, and adding a career high 23 points. Always willing to grind it out, and standup for his teammates, Jackman was a phenomenal offseason pickup.

The Flames had high hopes for Ales Kotalik as he had a stellar preseason, but injury cost him the majority of the season, and he was never the same player after that. It is thought he may play out the remainder of his career in Europe after two stints in the minors. Matt Stajan was a much-criticized player this season, and the talent is there for a successful NHL career, however the forward seemed to be lacking confidence. Hopefully this offseason can bring about a change in the center’s career. Niklas Hagman is another player who appears to be lacking confidence, at times he would show flashes of brilliance, but despite working hard – was often unlucky throughout the season. After being demoted to the minors at one point last season, his future with the club remains in doubt.

Often missed in hockey is the personal perspective – Daymond Langkow returned to the lineup one year after fracturing a vertebrae in his neck. Many thought that the center would never play hockey again, however he managed to skate through the last four games of the season. Flames fans look forward to having him in the lineup next season, his capabilities offensively as well as defensively will truly help a team that is weak at the center position. It is good to see him back in the Flames lineup, and more importantly that he is healthy.

Ultimately, the first few months of the season sunk the Flames. They were unable to recover from the devastating start. However, as they turned it around – you could tell the team was buying into Brent Sutter’s system. They began to play solidly in their own zone and offensive output came along with it. Hopefully the Flames are able to maintain this play into the coming season. They are well positioned in regards to goaltending and defense. A retooling of the second and third lines may help the club to score more consistently next season. But if the Flames are able to play to their potential, they have the ability to be a playoff team next season. The 2011 season is but a distant consideration, but many of these players are looking forward, egger for the chance to prove themselves, and to come out of the gate hot next season. Stay tuned for a look at the Calgary Flames farm system, and what young players we may see next season.

Shahbaz Syed
Twitter: DDxDino

Coming into the final match up of the season with the Calgary Flames, the LA Kings needed a good performance after a sub-par game against the Ducks and the worst performance of the season against the Blues.  The Kings are again struggling to find the back of the net.  After a four goal performance in Nashville, the Kings managed only seventeen shots against the Blues and struggled to score on new Ducks goalie Ray Emery.  Finally, after almost five and a half periods, Dustin Brown beat Emery and got the Kings on the board.

Calgary came to Staples coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Ducks the night before with obtaining two points as their primary objective.  Coming into the game, the Flames found themselves two points out of the final playoff spot in the west despite having played two to three more games than everyone else in the Western Conference.

The game was, as expected, a very tight checking affair with few quality scoring chances.  The Kings had one power play in the first period with Jarome Iginla off for hooking, but failed to even muster one shot struggling to get set up.  Calgary had two power plays of their own, but posed no real threat.  Jonathan Quick made two key saves, and the teams went to the locker room with no score.

The second period was the same as the first, tight checking and little room to move for the skilled player.  Calgary had the best chance on an early power play where Iginla and Mark Giordano both hit the left goal post.  On their second power play, the Flames missed a golden chance to score as they held the zone for over a minute and had both Matt Greene and Anze Kopitar trapped on the ice without sticks. Michael Handzus was able to clear the zone on a diving play and allowed his teammates to get off the ice.    The Kings also had two chances with the man advantage, but failed to score.  Kings assistant coach Jamie Kompon called the Kings second power play” the best of the season” as they held the zone for over a 1:30.   However, they failed to score.  The period ended with the Kings getting their fifth power play of the night, which carried over to the 3^rd period.

The third started with the Kings having the power play for thirty-nine seconds.  The Flames were able to kill it off.  The period flowed a little more openly, and the teams exchanged several odd man rushes.  Finally, with just under six minutes remaining, Wayne Simmonds made what my coach growing up called a” hustle play” and drove from behind the net.  Miikka Kiprusoff made the save, but left a large rebound that Jarret Stoll converted for his 19^th goal of the season putting the Kings up 1-0.  Just sixty-five seconds later, former King draft pick Olli Jokinen converted a breakaway and tied the game at one.

Overtime was very tight as no team could take advantage of the open ice.  With 1:03 left in extra time, the Kings were called for a”too many men on the ice penalty, but were able to hold the Flames to just one shot.  The teams headed to the shoot out.

The shoot out opened with a miss by usually reliable, Handzus, and then, Alex Tanguay opened with a goal.  Next up for the Kings was Stoll.  He beat Kiprusoff with a wrist shot low, blocker side.  Calgary followed with a miss by Rene Bourque when he lost control of the puck on the way in.  Kopitar was up next.  He out-waited Kiprusoff and slid the puck five-hole putting the Kings up 2-1.  Curtis Glencross had to score, but missed the net high right. The Kings held on for the two huge points.

After the game, the Kings received bad news when it was announced that winger Justin Williams, the second leading scorer on the team, will miss the rest of the season and post season with a should injury.  The Kings recalled Oscar Moller from Manchester to take the roster spot.

Game Notes

Jonathan Quick improved to 9-0 in shoot outs this season.
The Kings had their 30^th sell out of the season, one shy of the franchise record.
Up next for the Kings is a match up with the San Jose Sharks in Los Angeles.

Mike Murangi
NHL Hot Stove Los Angeles Kings Reporter

When Rene Bourque missed the first two games of the season, did anyone outside of Calgary actually notice?  His team had been written off as a joke after re-acquiring Alex Tanguay and Olli Jokinen while most of the focus remained on captain Jarome Iginla and the underachieving Jay Bouwmeester.

In fact, there were even more question marks than that.  Where would Matt Stajan play?  Would Miikka Kiprusoff steal enough games to make the playoffs?  Does GM Darryl Sutter understand there is a salary cap?

Somewhere in there a name like Rene Bourque slipped through the cracks. Well not anymore.

With Iginla scoring on pace for roughly 20 goals, there has been talks of a new leader of the offense.  Peter Maher of Fan 960 recently delved into the subject, wondering if the emergence of Bourque takes enough pressure off Iginla. Is Maher jumping the gun and hoping for more from the hot Flames or does he think the Alberta native has what it takes?  The answer is somewhere in between.

While not the most skilled player, Bourque has used his speed, gritty style and smarts to become the scoring threat that he is today.  Taking the unusual route to the NHL, he turned down the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL at a very young age to maintain his NCAA eligibility.  He would play in the AJHL but dominating lesser competition until he eventually made it to NCAA powerhouse University of Wisconsin.

Choosing an education with pedigree prepared him to be he exact player he is today as plenty of excellent players like Chris Chelios, Joe Pavelski, Ryan Suter and Dany Heatley, etc have come out of their system. However, despite being a decent college he went undrafted while teammates Brad Winchester, Brian Fahey, Tom Gilbert, Adam Burish and Andy Wozniewski all got a call on draft day. Considering it took him until his junior year of college to lead the Badgers in scoring, there might be some justification in his non-selection.

After graduation he was promptly signed by the Chicago Blackhawks, who were a previously awful team in need of rebuild and a new identity.  They more than likely acquired him with hopes of playing him on the big club as they structured their product.  Unfortunately for Bourque that happened to be the lockout year, forcing him and an over-saturation of excellent young talent to play in the AHL.

How did Bourque respond?  By scoring a franchise record 33 goals for the Rockford IceHogs in the only season he would play in the AHL.

The following year he made the jump to the NHL with a very decent 16 goals.  Scoring goals is pretty much what has defined him during his professional career.  His next two seasons would be riddled with injuries, forcing him down on the young Blackhawks depth chart and his eventual trade to the Flames for a second round pick.

Both sides made the smart hockey move.  Sutter gambled on a player who could chip in some goals while the Blackhawks sold high on an asset they paid nothing for.  Moves like this happen all the time, rarely do they pan out so well.  When it comes to trading seconds, for every Dominic Moore there is an Andy Sutton– probably the reason Bobby Clarke was notorious for moving them as I digress.

There is a point, a long convoluted one, but just that.  Through injuries and changing teams, Bourque has averaged 22 goals over his six NHL seasons if you go strictly on a goal-per-game basis. In short, he can score and always has been able to.  His six goals in six games is no mirage;  Bourque knows what to do to put the puck in the net at the professional level.

Last season it looked pretty clear as he became the go-to scorer with Iginla’s now-famous drought.  When he missed time with injury the team was significantly worse and eventually slipped out of the playoff race.  His 27 goals in 30 games prorate to exactly 30 over the full season, a plateau I fully expect him to hit as the season passes.

Will he be the savior of the Flames offense?  Will he replace Jarome Iginla?  Probably not.  He most likely will be one of the best options of secondary scoring in the League, much like Mike Fisher has been to Ottawa.  He probably slows down as the season progresses as he is currently on pace for 80 tallies.

Nevertheless, if the Flames make the playoffs this year it will be because he stepped up and actually got more out of his linemates– a tough task for a right wing stuck behind an iconic captain.

Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Owner
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
@NHLHotStove

When looking at a team, the main penalty killer very rarely gets their due.  Whether it be a goon for an affinity for blocking shots or a player who simply refuses to give up on a play, the penalty killers deserve some credit for the final outcome of a game.  Without their 100 percent effort every night a good team can crumble and further succumb to failure.

Top 10

1. Jay McClement – Nobody came near to the amount of short handed ice time McClemment experienced last season.  In fact, only three players total (all defenseman) had more short handed time of ice than this center.  Last season the St. Louis Blues finished first in penalty killing thanks to the effort from this Brampton Battalion alumni.  Aside from his 300 plus minutes on the kill, he also contributed with 29 points– none of which same shorthanded.  As far as traditional checking line players go, McClement is as genuine as they get.  Not necessarily a threat but incredibly defensively aware and able to never get caught out of position.  Throw in his league leading 189 shorthanded faceoffs won and we will show you the master of the kill.
2. Alexandre Burrows – Burrows shocked the world with his breakout season last year playing alongside Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin.  However, what most people failed to notice was his excellent work on the penalty kill.  Before stardom on the first line, the French Canadian winger was known for his agitating nature and ability to throw the opposition off of their game. Last season he was able to do that quite often as he led the league in shorthanded points with seven.  While statistics like shorthanded points may be volatile his effort every night remained consistent last season and should do the same once he returns to the ice.  The pesky Burrows helped the Canucks finish second last season in shorthanded goals, by percentage a lone bright spot in the Canucks penalty killing.



3. Marian Hossa – Hossa could have claimed the lead in shorthanded points had he not missed 25 games.  The two-way winger showed his true value as he finally became the elite player on both ends of the ice.  Chicago finished fourth overall in penalty killing percentage with an impressive 85.3 while leading the league in shorthanded goals with 13.  Last season seemed to be a perfect storm of sorts for the Blackhawks as they were truly one of the best teams defensively and an absolute powerhouse on offense.  A threat like Hossa seems to be not only a luxury but one of the most dangerous assets to have on the ice.  Worth every dollar he is paid.
4. Jordan Staal – This perennial candidate for the Selke makes the cut in the top ten thanks to racking up the time of ice on the kill.  Whenever anyone talks about top defensive forwards Staal always seems to make the cut while posting close to 20 goals of his own.  Last season, he registered a healthy 274:08 on the penalty kill in addition to his 118 shorthanded faceoffs won– only McClement finished with more time as a forward.  Not only can Staal establish himself as a threat on the forecheck, his size and strength make him a very valuable playing at the other end.
5. Rene Bourque – One of the most consistent threats on the penalty kill.  Not only does Bourque’s speed lead to many opportunities but manages to finish his opportunities every year.  Over the past three years, Bourque has combined for a whopping 10 shorthanded goals.  GM Darryl Sutter knew what he would be getting when he traded for Bourque and because of that let him flourish amid a defensive system.  Size, skill and speed lead to this young man having a very bright future in the league after coming to the Blackhawks undrafted.  His unique path from the AJHL to the University of Wisconsin and eventually the NHL taught Bourque how to play hockey the right way on both sides of the ice.
6. Vernon Fiddler -  This list will probably be the only list you see Fiddler’s name on, ever.  Also undrafted, the center helped define the hardworking nature of the Nashville Predators before doing the same with the Phoenix Coyotes.  Last season, Fiddler absolutely racked up the shorthanded time of ice with 234:58, helping the defensive minded Coyotes reach the playoffs for the first time in seven years.  The team would finish 6th overall in penalty killing, fourth overall amongst Western Conference teams.  The speedy Fiddler a part of the mold as his other fast, defensive forwards like Lauri Korpikoski and Scottie Upshall as the team learned discipline from head coach Dave Tippett.  In Fiddler’s case, the lesson seemed to sink in.



7. Darren Helm – Helm represents the little engine that could on the Red Wings penalty kill.  His tenacity may be exemplified by his strong playoff performances but regardless Detroit really have a very special player who may be than just a specialist.  Very few players can kill a penalty for the entire two minutes, it seems to be nearly impossible, but if anyone could wear down the opponent to that degree, my bet would be on Helm.  Exhibit A, the shift which would not end.  With the greats like Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby helping this kid develop it will only be a matter of time before we see another two-way stalwart.
8. Todd Marchant – Little has been made about Marchant since he left Columbus but quietly he has maintained a strong level of defensive awareness.  Last season, only Staal and McClement logged more ice time amongst forwards as he really needed to step up following the departures of Travis Moen, Rob Niedermayer and Sammy Pahlsson. Marchant also blocked 69 shots last year, putting his 37-year-old body to the test.
9. Chris Drury – For some reason Drury almost did not make the cut.  Maybe it was his albatross contract, maybe it was a little lack of production.  Regardless, he captained one of the best penalty kills in the Eastern Conference and blocked more shots than any forward in the league.  His fourth line presence during the Olympics showed younger players the proper way to block shots.  In addition, he won an impressive 140 shorthanded faceoffs, good for sixth in the league.
10. Pahlsson - This Swedish center came into the limelight when the Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley Cup.  His presence on the third line and on the penalty kill helped the team erase penalties and the opposition’s attack.  Even on a bad team like Columbus, the crafty pivot won 138 shorthanded faceoffs and finished at 11th in shorthanded time of ice.  Stick Pahlsson on a star forward and see how effective he can be shadowing him all game.  He has quietly done this for years.

We hope you enjoyed our top ten, as a bonus here is another ten who make the cut as honorable mention.  Afterall, this article focuses on the best in their craft and giving press the the underrated defensive specialist.

Honorable Mention:

(in no particular order)

Blair Betts – The former New York Ranger amassed 3:09 on the penalty kill, good for fifth in the league.  Had he not been injured last year he probably would have ranked higher in shorthanded time of ice.  His presence as well as his partner Ian Laperierre helped take the pressure off scoring forwards like Mike Richards and Simon Gagne– who previously spent time on the top unit.  Betts also ranked 14th amongst forwards with blocked shots.

Laperierre – We touched the subject briefly above but Lappy had some standout statistics of his own.  He finished sixth in the league in blocked shots while showing leadership to all young Flyer forwards.  He can be relied on defensively or to stand up for a teammate which is rare in this generation of NHL forwards.  At 36-years-old he may have lost a step but his value to his team has not taken a hit as he ranked 8th amongst forwards in shorthanded time of ice.

Chris Kelly – The Senators actually boasted an underrated penalty kill last season, in fact it was the fourth highest in the Eastern Conference.  Leading the way in shorthanded ice time and fifth overall in the league was Kelly, who reestablished himself as a top penalty killer.  Known somewhat for his timely goals in the early portion of his career, Kelly’s inconsistency defined the teams he played for.  At 29-years-old Kelly now makes a name for himself as an excellent two-way center and a perfect supplement to Mike Fisher as he handles more of the scoring duties.  He certainly grew into this role and deserves some due for it.

Ryan O’Reilly – This kid burst onto the scene after immediately making the team.  We all knew Matt Duchene would play for Colorado but when their second pick made the cut we knew it could be something special.  He finished directly behind Kelly in shorthanded time of ice and helped the surprising Colorado Avalanche return to the playoffs despite registering the second least shots on goal.  Their careful play led in part by O’Reilly helped this team succeed amid pretty hefty competition.

Marty Reasoner – Reasoner played a great game in his own end last season for the Atlanta Thrashers, making him look like a steal by Stan Bowman of the Chicago Blackhawks.  Unfortunately, due to even more salary cap issues the Hawks were unable to hold on to the crafty veteran and shipped him over to the rebuilding Florida Panthers.  As a Panther he should show young players how to play the game in an honest, hard working manner.  Last season only Marchant, Staal and McClement played more shorthanded as Reasoner carried the load for the Thrashers.  Expect more of the same in Florida.

Daniel Winnik – Part of the surprising Coyotes team, Winnik helped the team make the playoffs with his effort every shift. Similarly to Reasoner this trait got absolutely no respect as the team traded him to rival Colorado.  With players like Fiddler and Korpikoski already manning the penalty kill, Winnik became expendable.  Afterall, he did make the team out of seemingly nowhere and probably hit his ceiling.  He finished 10th in shorthanded time of ice last season and even blocked 54 shots.  His experience should help the young Avalanche like O’Reilly as they attempt to build on a good year.

David Steckel – Fourth line centers on offensive powerhouses rarely get their due.  Steckel deserves it here with his 186 shorthanded faceoff wins and team leading 2:51 on the kill.  We have gone on about this story for a while but Steckel continues to be one of the few who care about the other side of the ice– making him a very valuable player for the team.  Similar to Matt Moulson, the Los Angeles Kings could afford to let him go with their plethora of young forwards, but Steckel deserves some credit for his every night effort. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Steckel is that among the league leaders in shorthanded faceoff wins, only he had an average well above 50 percent.  In truth, a monster in the faceoff circle.  

Antoine Vermette – In his first full season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, center/winger Vermette finished with career highs.  In fact, his season stood out to me so much that he has been listed as most likely to succeed for his team.  However, his speed and skill has not all been used towards scoring goals — he happens to be a prolific penalty killer as well.  He registered two assists while playing the kill with captain Rick Nash.  More importantly, he ranked 9th in shorthanded faceoffs won and 20th in total shorthanded time of ice.  Considering how many Blue Jackets could have made this list, they should improve next season on the kill.  However, we all know the team’s best penalty killer should always be their goal– something the team severely lacked last year

Ryan Kesler – During the Olympics Kesler finally came out to the hockey world that he would refuse to be ignored.  His combination of size, skill and speed helped account for his gigantic raise in value.  Not only does he bang with the best of them, he can hurt you at both ends of the ice.  His 118 shorthanded faceoffs won tied Staal as he received his (ED Note. second) nomination for the Selke.  Kesler looks every bit as good as he is billed and the Canucks utilized him with over 218 minutes on the kill last season.  With the addition of Manny Malhotra, there should be extra pressure taken off Kesler coming into next season.

Tomas Plekanec – Mostly because of an off season the year before, Plekanec received very little due for both carrying the offensive load and remaining a constant on the defensive side of things.  He tallied over 224 minutes on the penalty kill for a decent Montral Canadiens team and blocked an impressive 63 shots.  His 146 shorthanded faceoffs won should also be commended as they finished fourth in the league.

We hope you enjoyed our piece on the men who give their all every night on the penalty kill.  Use the comments section to complain about our glaring omissions, we encourage it.  You can also follow us on twitter, @NHLHotStove.

Alexander Monaghan
Managing Editor
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
@NHLHotstove

As the ninth oldest NHL team, the Calgary Flames have a team average 27.91 years.

Recently the Flames jumped over the Detroit Red Wings and rest in the eighth playoff spot, but they are only six points out of fifth place. Before their last few games, the Flames were headed down a dangerous path.

It appeared the Flames would have a difficult time making the playoffs, but something changed. Suddenly, the Flames were back within a few points of the middle of the playoff contenders.

Arguably one of the best Flames ever to don the Calgary jersey, Jarome Iginla is largely responsible for the Flames success. As a 32 year old, Iginla’s 31 goals and 33 assists is no small feat. Not only is he first on his team in points, but he also leads his teammates in goals.

Also helping out, and ranking second in goals on the Flames, Niklas Hagman has 21 goals (only one with the Flames). Then, Matt Stajan has 49 points, good for second in points. The Flames, however, recently acquired both players from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Flames did have productive veteran experience before the big acquisition from the Leafs. In fact, all four of their captains began the season in Calgary: Iginla, Jay Bouwmeester, Robyn Regehr, and Craig Conroy. Only Bouwmeester, however, is younger than the team average.

Additionally, half of their top ten scorers are older than the team average. In the top five, however, only Stajan is younger than 28 years. When it comes to offensive production for the Flames, the older the player the better the offensive production.

The youth on the Flames has power too though. In fact, successful defensemen Bouwmeester, Mark Giordano, and Ian White are 26 or younger.

If purely comparing past statistics to current ones, Iginla remains on pace for an average Iginla season. Rene Bourque is one goal away from tying his career high in goals (currently has 20 goals). In addition, Erik Nystrom set a new career high in goals (7 goals) and is one assist away from breaking his career high in assists (7 assists).

On the other end of the spectrum, Bouwmeester goal count decreased this season, however he may finish the season with more assists than last season (27 assists last year). Also, Conroy’s numbers decreased greatly this season compared to his previous two seasons. Daymond Langkow’s production decreased similar to Conroy.

Curtis Glencross remains stagnant, as does Christopher Higgins and Regehr.

Overall, the Flames offense is spread across the board. Some increased production from last season, some decreased and some remained the same.**

Offense is not the only factor that hurt the Flames earlier on in the season. Injuries to Bourque and Conroy severely damaged the Flames’ chances for the playoffs.

Luckily for Flames’ fans, the team pushed through struggles with injuries and offense.

Part of their success goes to Miikka Kiprusoff, who with 30 wins ranks ninth overall in the league’s goaltender wins. It appears Kiprusoff will not match his previous total of 45 wins, but all he has to do is get the Flames into the playoffs. Statistics do not matter, only the final Conference rankings matter.

If the Flames hold onto their playoff spot, they could prove to be a tough contender. But, they could crumble as well. Their offense needs to step it up, and their defense needs to protect Kiprusoff. If they can manage to do those two things, then they have a legitimate shot at winning in the playoffs. But those two things are often the issues for every team going into the playoffs.

**Hagman has 21 goals and 16 assists on the season and  Stajan has 19 goals and 28 assists, but both players’ production with the Flames remains small. They played twelve games with the Flames at this point.

Katlyn Gambill
NHLHS Featured Writer
kgambill@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @freezethepuck

Matthew Pouliot’s series on Circling the Bases, I have decided restore the rosters for every NHL team. Like Pouliot, I have established some ground rules for my selections.

1. Each team contains players they originally drafted or signed before any other NHL team. This includes players drafted and not signed, as well as European free agents coming over at an older age.
2. I have chosen to leave retired players off the list, and lean toward players in the AHL rather than those deported (KHL, SEL, DEL, etc.).

Essentially I am choosing the best available players for a team to succeed in the current NHL season. All 30 teams will be covered, with grades assigned to forwards, defense and goaltending. After all 30 articles are written, they will be ranked in order. This series’ intent is to reward or shame NHL scouts.

Due to excellent drafting over the last couple of years, the Blackhawks have restocked the cupboard nicely.  The core established on their current roster is mostly homegrown with players with free agent signings filling out a few spots.  Both their forwards and defensive units feature high end talent as well as solid depth.

The lineup for the Chicago Blackhawks is as follows.

Forwards:

The forward core is clearly the strength of the team. Bearing a strong similarity to their current lineup, the Hawks forward drafting has been excellent over the years.

Rene Bourque – Jonathan Toews – Patrick Kane

Tuomo Ruutu – Dave Bolland – Daniel Cleary

Dustin Byfuglien – Ethan Moreau – Troy Brouwer

Adam Burish – Dean McAmmond – Michael Blunden

Extras: Bryan Bickell, Jack Skille, Kyle Calder

For the most part, this is a solid NHL lineup.  Moreau plays a similar, albeit less effective role as John Madden while Cleary and Ruutu are solid second liners.  The one glaring weakness is a legitimate first line LW, whereas the current team has productive wingers Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp and Kris Versteeg.  Although no longer with the organization, Blunden plays a regular fourth line with the Blue Jackets as has McAmmond with the Devils.

Grade: A-

Defense:

As you could guess with most of their defenders homegrown, the defensive core is strong.  Another testament to  just how good the scouting in Chicago is.

Duncan Keith – Brent Seabrook

James Wisniewski – Cam Barker

Niklas Hjalmarsson – Kent Huskins

Pretty similar blue line to the team’s current construction.  The powerplay quarterback will need to be by committee as there is no Brian Campbell.  Wisniewski is a solid top four defender and as has been all year for the Ducks while Huskins plays a solid bottom pair with a very good Sharks team.  Still no glaring holes in this lineup.

Grade: A-

Goaltenders:

In my old age I forgot Craig Anderson was originally a Calgary draft choice and therefore not illegible to be on this Hawks team.  Their goalie drafting and development is certainly their weakness.

Antii Niemi

Michael Leighton

Extra: Corey Crawford

Niemi is only entering his first year as a backup while Crawford has very limited NHL experience.  At the point of this writing, the Blackhawks have failed to develop a legitimate NHL starter.

Grade: D-

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-Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Founder
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