Calgary Flickering Flames

With 5 games left in the season, the Calgary Flames are sitting 2 points out of a playoff spot. This comes as a surprise to many people, and it should. With the off-season acquisition of Jay Bouwmeester, who was added to an already deep D-core, one of the best goalies in the league and a group of lunch pail forwards who come to work everyday and grind the other team out of the arena. What happened? They were projected to be a top 6 team in the league.

They have a sniper, who also happens to be there leader, who also happens to do everything on the ice including fight when he needs to, but who does he play with, no one. On every great team there are great players, what makes the great teams great is that those great players are playing with other great players (say that 10 times fast). Iginla is on an island. They have not been able to find someone to play with him for many years. Well actually they did have Tanguay who was an upper tier player, gone after 1 season. They did have Cammalleri, who actually outscored Iginla, so why not let go him after one season. Iginla has not had the stability of a solid line mate his whole career and it is unfortunate for him.

The second part is they acquired Bouwmeester, a top level d-man who can work a power-play and give you a few points, while maintaining great defense. He went over 50 games between goals this season. Not to say he was a total bust, because he adds a lot more to a team than just a few points from the point. That being said, he is getting paid elite player money and should produce like that.

Goal-tending is their strong point and Kiprusoff is as solid as they come. He single handedly took them to the finals in '04. What has been different in the years following? Well the year they wen to the finals he only played in 38 games that year. He was fresh. Every year since he has played 74 games twice and 76 games twice. He has nothing left in the tank when the most important time of the year rolls around. They need a sold back up to relieve him of some games throughout the season.

So basically they have no good draft picks this year, they are near the cap, they have a star player who is lonely, they have a great goalie who is overplayed, and a D-core that should be much better. There stats aren't terrible, the team just can't score goals, which in turns puts added pressure on the D. Not included in this post is anything about the many other underachieving players contributing to the problem.

They grossly under achieved in the Sutter brother regime. The fans are tired of it. One Sutter hires another Sutter and calls up another Sutter to play, not a big deal, but it may start to look a little bias in the fans eyes. Something has to change in the organization. Usually it is easy to fire a coach or GM if a team underachieves, but in this case it is justified. To much turn over in the dressing room results in poor chemistry and lowers confidence within the organization.

A major shakeup may be in order. At least one Sutter will be gone, and why not trade Iginla who's stock is still high, for a good player and some draft picks and start rebuilding.

Will they make the playoffs? That is up to the Colorado Avalanche who sit 2 points up with game in hand and a game against the Flames. Flames seem to be winning lately and the young Av's seem to be faltering, so we can only wait and watch, probably until the last day of the season. Should be exciting.

Z