Entries with the tag: calgary+flames

Report: Phaneuf on Verge of New Flames Deal

by Alanah on 01/31/08 at 12:31 AM
Comments (1)

From TSN,

It looks like the Calgary Flames are close to locking up one of their cornerstone players.

Sources tell TSN that Dion Phaneuf is on the verge of signing a contract extension with the club, with only a few minor details to be worked out.

added 8:27am, from Tom Gulitti of Fire & Ice,

For those of you obsessed with those silly Dion Phaneuf rumors being spread by the uninformed, TSN is reporting tonight that he’s on the verge of signing an extension with the Calgary Flames. That should put an end of all of the speculation.

By the way, I’ve been told that a certain blogger has been taking Devils’ info off of this site and posting it on his site without attribution. I hope it isn’t true because that would be unethical.

Well stated Tom!

Pointing At Keenan

by Paul on 11/29/07 at 05:21 PM
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from Bill Clement at MSNBC,

Very often the Flames appear confused on defense. On many nights it looks like they are not on the same page. It’s Keenan’s responsibility to make sure Calgary’s defense is organized and has a sound defensive system. But Keenan has never been a system driven coach. He wants emotion, energy, combativeness and competiveness. It’s hard to win in today’s NHL with just those qualities. Teams need a comprehensive defensive system.

more

Ranking Iginla on Flames List of Greats

by Alanah on 11/29/07 at 02:09 PM
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From David Carroll at TSN,

Jarome Iginla is set to become the Flames all-time leader in games played on Thursday when he hits the ice against the Anaheim Ducks.

The 30-year-old is one of the NHL’s biggest stars and has an impressive list of awards and accomplishments. Iginla has won “Rocket” Richard Trophies, a Lester B. Person Award and an Art Ross Trophy.

He can score and, when needed, can mix it up but where does he rank on the list of Flames all-time greats?

continued...

How do you stack Iginla against players like Joe Nieuwendyk, Al MacInnis, Gary Suter, Theo Fleury, Lanny McDonald, Paul Reinhart and Mike Vernon and others?  There’s also a poll available on the TSN front page.

Keep Your Head Up Hudler

by Paul on 11/28/07 at 07:50 AM
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Phaneuf put a big hit on Hudler last night in the 3rd period.  Hudler had been agitating Dion most of the night and you just had a feeling Phaneuf was looking for the right opportunity to pay him back.

Watch the video of the hit…

Continue Reading »

No Suspension For Godard

by Paul on 11/26/07 at 09:30 AM
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from the Calgary Sun,

Godard was assessed his third instigator penalty Saturday night in Colorado against the Avalanche, but the two-game suspension that’s to come with that infraction was rescinded by the league yesterday—and he was able to play in the team’s 3-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues.

“I really thought they would have, so I was happy they did,” Godard said. “I’m not gonna say anything about the refs. I think they did a pretty good job that night. That’s a call in the rule book, so they’ve got to make the call. They reviewed the tape, and there was obviously some other circumstances going on.”

read on

Savard Faces Keenan Tonight

by Paul on 11/22/07 at 07:49 AM
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from the Daily Herald,

Whatever problems he might have had with Keenan all those years ago are in the past, according to Savard.

“To tell you the truth, Mike’s a good coach and he had to do what he had to do then and that’s just the way it goes,” Savard said. “I think you know my personality. I’m not one of those guys that’s going to hold a grudge against anybody, whether we worked well or not together. I moved on a long time ago and he’s been a good coach in this league for a long time.”

read on

Calgary’s Fortunes Depend on Kiprusoff and Iginla

by Alanah on 11/17/07 at 01:21 PM
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From George Johnson at ESPN,

Iginla, the unquestioned emotional push behind the Flames, is thriving, while Kiprusoff, arguably the most spectacular goaltender in the game over the past three seasons, is nose-diving.

So the spirit is willing, but the flash has been weak.

As Iginla and Kiprusoff go, so go the Flames. And, right now, Calgary finds itself stuck on a treadmill to mediocrity, a game below .500 and a disquieting 1-5 stretch in what could hardly be described as a November to remember.

They’ve both been making headlines for altogether different reasons.

more...

The Battle Of…?

by Paul on 11/17/07 at 12:52 PM
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from the Toronto Star,

They are the games that get fans talking. The ones circled on the calendar as soon as the schedule comes out. The game that proves your team is – once and for all – better than your team’s bitter rival, until at least the two meet again.

Like when the Leafs face the Ottawa Senators in the Battle of Ontario or when Calgary faces their provincial rivals in Edmonton.

If you could pit one rivalry against another, which one would come out on top?

continued

Columnist Was Wrong

by Paul on 11/16/07 at 07:13 AM
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from the Calgary Sun,

According to an eastern-based columnist, rising star defenceman Dion Phaneuf and his agent had rejected a contract proposal from the Flames.

Only one problem, said Phaneuf’s agent Don Meehan.

“We have never discussed a number,” he said yesterday.

more and that eastern-based columnist was pointed to a few days ago…

I’ll Go With The Insider On This One

by Paul on 11/14/07 at 02:55 PM
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from Tarik El-Bashir at Capitals Insider on AO contract talks…

Nothing has changed, he said, since the last time I asked him about this on Oct. 29 in Toronto, adding that serious talks still have not started and that he’s not sure when they might.

I asked him if that lack of an offer is bothering him. At first he said, “No.” Then he paused for a moment before saying, “Of course I think about my contract. It would be stupid to answer that I don’t think about my contract. Of course I think about it. But we don’t start talking. We just wait. We still have time.”

This earlier today from Marty York at Metro News,

Two young NHL stars, defenceman Dion Phaneuf and forward Alexander Ovechkin, have rejected contract-extension proposals from the Calgary Flames and Washington Capitals, respectively.

The Caps offered Ovechkin a five-year pact similar to the deal the Pittsburgh Penguins gave Sidney Crosby ($8.7 million a season), but the sniper is demanding more — between $9- and $10-million a year.

Get It Right

by Paul on 11/13/07 at 10:40 AM
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from the Calgary Herald,

Following Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, Keenan had been asked about his boys coughing up another two power-play goals.

The coach figuratively shoved his goalie to front and centre on a first-period tally by Robert Nilsson. His statement included the line: “It’s pretty difficult to criticize the people on the penalty-killing situation when your goaltender is not part of the solution.”

Damning stuff. Which Iron Mike took measures to clarify Monday.

“Well, first of all, the media has misconstrued the comments,” started Keenan.

more

Calgary About To Implode

by Paul on 11/13/07 at 06:35 AM
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from All Things Avs by Adrian Dater,

- Calgary is going to implode soon. I’ve talked to a few former Flames and they say there is just plain bad chemistry in their locker room. I don’t see Mike Keenan changing that much.

- Edmonton is terrible. Dustin Penner is a nice player, but Kevin Lowe grossly overpaid for him, in his retaliation move against Brian Burke and the Ducks over Chris Pronger.

more NHL bits plus Adrian wonders where are all the Avs fans?

Questions Surround Keenan

by Paul on 11/12/07 at 04:22 PM
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from Scott Burnside at ESPN,

When GM Darryl Sutter deposed Jim Playfair as coach after one season and installed Iron Mike, the thinking was that the Flames had to get back to the hard-nosed play that saw them advance to the 2004 Stanley Cup finals. Sutter, whose relationship with Keenan extends back to their shared days in Chicago, believed the old task master was just the man to do the job.

Now, with the team in a free fall, there are questions about its preparation, focus, drive, energy and desire. Those are all of the things, the intangibles, Keenan was supposed to bring to the table. Those are coaching issues.

more

Floundering Flames

by Paul on 11/12/07 at 11:02 AM
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from Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun,

As much as the lazy Sunday away from the horror house known as the Saddledome was a chance for the beleaguered players to clear their minds, rest assured there was plenty of introspection going on.

Certainly, there are plenty of reasons for the Flames, with their under-achieving 6-8-3 record, to consider.

They’ve frittered away a home-heavy schedule that had 11 of those 17 games at the ‘Dome, in which they’ve won only four times. They’ve frittered away half of an eight-game intra-division run.

They’re floundering like Brittany Spears’ career.

read on

Flames Hope To Avoid Offer Sheet For Phaneuf

by Paul on 11/11/07 at 08:28 AM
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from the Calgary Sun,

Hot on the heels of a six-year extension for goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff, there’s talk in Calgary the Flames might be a small step closer to signing Dion Phaneuf to a long-term contract.

The 22-year-old defenceman’s agent, Don Meehan, was in town last week, and it’s believed he spent time meeting with Flames general manager Darryl Sutter about a possible extension.

Sources say talks were informal and could help lead to a deal but no dollars were discussed.

Phaneuf’s entry-level contract expires at the end of this season, and as a restricted free agent, he’d be a prime candidate for an offer sheet from another team.

continued

Keenan On Langkow Hit

by Paul on 11/10/07 at 10:48 AM
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from Canada.com,

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Calgary Flames coach Mike Keenan didn’t exactly leap to the defence of his injured centre Daymond Langkow on Friday....

“I looked at the tape again today,” said Keenan. “I know Matt Cooke, I coached him, he’s a little bit of a hunter, and you know he’s out there, you know he’s coming at you, and you know he’s going to body you.

“But he didn’t leave his feet. He hit him hard into the boards; at the same time, you have a responsibility to know that players like that are out there. It’s a fine line between playing the game hard; he cracked him good, and Daymond maybe should have positioned himself in a more protective manner so he wouldn’t have had the whiplash effect against the glass.”

more NHL talk including Bouillon explaining his hit on Aaron Ward…

One Team Has To Win

by Paul on 11/10/07 at 08:18 AM
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from Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun,

Calgary is sub .500.

Edmonton is sub .500.

Given the respective stenches emanating from both camps, a cynic might suggest The Battle of Alberta has been replaced by The Cattle of Alberta, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a lot of sizzle on tonight’s steak.

Nothing fuels a barn burner like animosity and desperation and the Flames and Oilers will be bringing plenty of both to a unique and unusually important showdown in Cowtown.

Something has to give. They can’t both lose.

more

Shake-Up The Flames

by Paul on 11/09/07 at 02:02 PM
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via Allan Muir of Sports Illustrated,

Losers of four straight and participants for maybe 20 minutes in each of those contests, the Flames are a team that has yet to become comfortable with the demands of Mike Keenan. To the fiery coach’s credit, he’s been patient during the process, allowing his players time to adjust. But it’s becoming clear that not everyone is on board, and a shakeup seems inevitable.

Stephane Yelle, a solid defensive player who could add something to any team’s penalty kill, could be available. Center Craig Conroy, who has just two goals this season despite playing alongside Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay for long stretches, is another candidate. His contract brings a $2.85 million hit, but it only goes through this season and becomes more manageable for another team to assume with each passing day. Calgary would like to add scoring (who wouldn’t?), but might be willing to take on a veteran forward with leadership experience and a winning background.

Atlanta’s Bobby Holik, perhaps?

Flames Need A 60 Minute Effort

by Paul on 11/09/07 at 11:15 AM
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from the Calgary Sun,

What’s preventing the club that’s now lost four straight games from the expected 60-minute performance?

“I have some ideas, but I’m not prepared to share them right now,” Keenan finally said. “I want to discuss them with the team before I make those comments.

“I think I know why but I want to make sure, and in fairness to them give them an opportunity to explain it first before I have that discussion.

“Maybe I can answer your question in a day or two.”

Until then, Keenan’s club will deservedly be queried about its Jekyll-and-Hyde outings. After all, it’s hard to understand how a team that went into the clash having lost three in a row could be listless through the first 30 minutes.

more

The Nice Mike

by Paul on 11/07/07 at 02:07 PM
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from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

Keenan watchers in these parts have been waiting for the inevitable eruption, any sign that the legendary Iron Mike was ready to lose it on his up-and-down Flames’ squad. So far, there’s been none of that — and what passes for frustration has been mild compared to what coach Craig MacTavish may be saying about his Oilers or Alain Vigneault about his Vancouver Canucks.

It isn’t clear if this is a kinder, gentler Keenan or simply a craftier version, someone who knows that all eyes will be on him when things go wrong — and he refuses to take the bait and go bananas in public.

read on

Phaneuf Bothered By Sore Leg

by Paul on 11/07/07 at 10:43 AM
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from the Calgary Sun,

Only two Flames players were exempt from the exhausting conditioning skate that came at the end of yesterday’s practice.

One of the absences could spell trouble for the club. Defenceman Dion Phaneuf is out indefinitely with a leg injury.

“Dion went for an x-ray,” said coach Mike Keenan after the hour-long session wrapped up at the Saddledome.

“He re-aggravated an (old) injury, and then he bumped it again (Monday) night. It’s a recurrence and he needs some time to heal.”

continued

update 3:06pm, via TSN,

The 22-year-old Edmonton native had the leg x-rayed on Tuesday and the results were negative. He plans to skate tomorrow and is probable to play against Vancouver Thursday evening.

The Colorful Theo Fleury

by Alanah on 11/05/07 at 01:23 PM
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Theo Fleury will be joining the Calgary Flames broadcast crew doing the color commentary on tonight’s Pay-Per-View match against the Colorado Avalanche.

Which reminds me of this from Eric Duhatschek’s post on the Globe & Mail hockey blog just last week:

Asked if he had any plans to come of retirement, Fleury retorted: “Just for the shootout. I think I can still do that. I’m pretty good at it, in the basement, playing with the kids.”

Otherwise, Fleury says he’s through with hockey (“I hate it. I really do,” he said).

Love it or hate it, I guess he just can’t stay away from it.

Eriksson Can Thank Draper For Nickname

by Paul on 11/05/07 at 09:52 AM
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from the Calgary Herald,

...Because Detroit, too, is where Anders Eriksson got saddled with that nickname.

“I guess I had a large behind when I got there,” he was recalling after the Calgary Flames practice Sunday afternoon. “That was Kris Draper’s funny joke. First it was Big Swede, then Big Ass, then Bubble Butt, then Bubba. Now, most of the guys just call me Bubs. That’s the evolution of the whole thing. It’s stuck for 12 years.”

read on

Kiprusoff is a Funny Guy

by Paul on 11/03/07 at 10:48 PM
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from the Calgary Herald,

To the ticket-buying public, he’s the saviour. The biggest reason why the Calgary Flames can stake a legitimate (some days more than others) claim to being a Stanley Cup contender.

But behind the mask? Under all those pads? Who is he?

Well, he’s a funny guy. Really. Teammates say so. Coaches say so…

“Miikka,” begins Sportsnet interviewer Jamie Thomas, following Kiprusoff’s brilliant performance against Nashville on Tuesday night, “when we talked in training camp, you said you didn’t want to talk about your contract until it was done. Now that it is, what can you say?”

“Well,” deadpans Kiprusoff, “now that it’s done, I don’t want to talk about it.”.

read on

Flames Turn Offensive

by Alanah on 10/31/07 at 11:30 PM
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From the CP via TSN,

Previously known for their defensive prowess, the Calgary Flames are winning more by scoring goals than keeping the puck out of their own net. 

Calgary is coming off its best October since the lockout with a 6-3-3 record, which has the Flames chasing Minnesota for the Northwest Division lead. 

The Flames scored 17 more goals than they did last October playing just two more games in that month this year.

continued...

Kiprusoff Will Sign Extension With Flames

by Alanah on 10/29/07 at 06:25 PM
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From TSN,

The Calgary Flames have called a news conference tonight and sources tell TSN it is to announce a long-term contract extension for Calgary netminder Miikka Kiprusoff.

Sources add that the deal is worth approximately $35 million for six years, or an average annual cap hit for the Flames of about $5.8 million per year beyond this season.

continued...

“Iggy’s” Fast Start

by Paul on 10/26/07 at 09:57 AM
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from the Calgary Sun,

...Heading into tonight’s contest against the Colorado Avalanche with six goals and 16 points in 10 games—his best career start to a season—Iginla is the toast of the town.

“You’re trying to improve at the start of the year, knowing from you heckling me that it’s not always happened,” he said yesterday with a laugh. “So you try to improve and do things differently.”

It’s something of a misnomer that Iginla is known as a slow starter. He’s collected at least seven points to start each of the last seven seasons, and reached double digits four times in that spell.

read on

Langkow Lets His Game Talk For Him

by Paul on 10/25/07 at 12:29 PM
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from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

..."He’s non-vocal,” said Keenan, the Calgary Flames’ first-year coach. “I don’t know who’s said more words yet, Kiprusoff or Langkow.”

Since Miikka (Kiprusoff, the Flames’ No. 1 goalie) is to the art of conversation what Marcel Marceau is to the world of mime, it gives you a pretty good idea of how hard it is to pry a word or two out of Langkow, on any topic, even the good ones.

Such as: How is it that after 10 NHL games, he has scored eight goals and 14 points, which leaves him in the top 10, ahead of such luminaries as Jason Spezza, Joe Thornton or Dany Heatley?

read on

Fans Leave The Saddledome Happy

by Paul on 10/25/07 at 08:33 AM
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from Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun,

Everyone was on their feet to salute the 5-3 comeback win.

Parade plans are sure to follow.

If there’s one thing these Flames have demonstrated this year, it’s resiliency.

If there’s one thing they’ve proven, it’s that no lead is safe against them. Even against the league’s top team.

read on

Roenick Wave Irks Keenan

by Paul on 10/23/07 at 06:48 AM
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from the Calgary Sun,

Keenan thought a linesman’s whistle while the game was still scoreless in the first period could just as easily have been the difference.

Robyn Regehr had just smashed Jeremy Roenick into the boards and left him frozen and dazed but still standing, as Jarome Iginla was sprung on a breakaway the other way. But the man in stripes adamantly blew his whistle.

“That could have been a turning point more than the shorthanded goal,” said Keenan, who was even more flustered Roenick waved to fans on his way to the bench. “I didn’t appreciate that he gestured to the crowd when he was supposed to be the injured player.”

more on the Flames…

Owen Nolan to Play 1000th NHL Game Monday Night

by Alanah on 10/21/07 at 03:14 PM
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From the Calgary Flames,

Calgary Flames forward Owen Nolan will play in his 1000th regular season NHL game, making him the 220th NHL player to reach this prestigious milestone.

Nolan signed as a free agent this past summer with the Calgary Flames, and is one of the alternate captains for the club. He will be the third player to play his 1000th game as a Calgary Flame, joining Craig Berube and Martin Gelinas.

Nolan has played on six NHL clubs during his fifteen-year NHL career: Quebec, Colorado, San Jose, Toronto, Phoenix, and Calgary.

For more on Nolan’s career, you can check out his player page on the Calgary Flames website, or read his wiki.

Flames Talking Contract Extension With Kiprusoff

by Paul on 10/18/07 at 10:34 AM
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from the Calgary Herald,

While GM Darryl Sutter was critical of the recent play of his goalie on Wednesday, the Flames still see him as a linchpin in the lineup. And despite the jibes of Sutter and coach Mike Keenan about a slow start, Kiprusoff continues to be bullish on Calgary. (It’s just one Kumbaya short of a love-in.)

As for anything imminent to announce from said discussions, however . . . do not hold your breath. Kiprusoff remains firm about being paid like the top goalie in the NHL-- that would be in the $6.75-million US range being enjoyed by Roberto Luongo in Vancouver. And he’s looking for recognition that he’s equally as important to the Flames as is captain Jarome Iginla. He of the five-year, $7-million-per-year payday.

more

Tanguay Plans On Staying In Calgary

by Paul on 10/18/07 at 09:51 AM
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from the Calgary Sun,

Tanguay yesterday found himself having to discuss a report on the French-language station RDS that said the Flames might be considering a deal with the Montreal Canadiens that would bring Alexei Kovalev to the Stampede City. Kovalev won a Stanley Cup with Keenan in New York.

Tanguay said he had no intentions on following it.

“I’m not planning on wasting any time on that at all,” he said. “I’m here with the Flames, and I think when they brought me here they wanted me to help the team, and as far as I know, it’s still the plan.”

more, plus Spector covers this in greater detail and has some more signing and trade talk too…

Trade Talk

by Paul on 10/17/07 at 10:24 AM
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Spector has all the trade and signing talk today…

Yvon Pednault reported during last night’s Montreal-Florida game that the Canadiens and Calgary Flames might be talking about a swap of Alex Kovalev for Alex Tanguay. Scouts from the Calgary Flames were apparently in attendance, possibly to scout Kovalev, who used to play for Flames head coach Mike Keenan in New York…

read on

It Is Different This Time

by Paul on 10/16/07 at 08:53 AM
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from the Calgary Herald,

There are a couple of surefire ways for head coach Mike Keenan and Kristian Huselius to put an end to all the snarky speculation and giddy gossip about their relationship.

Keenan can simply keep tapping the Swedish left-winger on the shoulder and firing him over the boards - Huselius has averaged better than 18 minutes a night through the Calgary Flames’ first five NHL outings....

“It’s a different time now than Florida,” emphasized Huselius. “I haven’t thought about it. There’s nothing to talk about it now, I don’t think. It’s a different organization, a different team, a different situation for both of us. I’m just going to make sure I’m ready to play every night and help the team win.”

more

No Fireworks Yet

by Paul on 10/15/07 at 08:04 AM
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from the Calgary Sun,

Although the 57-year-old bench boss had himself proclaimed he was much more mellow than his reputation would have you believe, most were skeptical.

There’s no better witness to ask for testimony than Craig Conroy, who spent some time under Keenan in arguably his most volatile tenure in St. Louis, when a feud with Brett Hull eventually led to the coach’s dismissal.

“Oh yeah. I definitely think, so far, very mellow—especially with that record the way it was, without getting a win the first three,” said Conroy, whose Flames took the day off to travel to Denver yesterday after stringing together a pair of wins on the road in Dallas and Nashville.

“I was expecting a lot—fireworks.”

more

Keenan Comes Down On Kiprusoff

by Paul on 10/11/07 at 08:18 PM
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from the Calgary Herald,

After a Thursday afternoon’s practice in Dallas, Keenan managed to smack both his goalie and his struggling team by offering this assessment of the Detroit contest: “You most likely aren’t going to win any road game putting 20 shots on the net unless your goaltender is spectacular. And our goaltender wasn’t spectacular."…

“It’s not our responsibility to get them going,” he said. “It’s their responsibility. Jarome (Iginla) did a lot of work in the off-season to get ready and now he’s got to get his game together. And Kiprusoff, if he has notorious slow starts, that’s his responsibility to contribute to the team as he should be able to on consistent basis once the season does start. So he’s going to have to figure out what he’s going to have to do to make some improvements quickly.”

more

Keenan No Bowman

by Paul on 10/11/07 at 09:20 AM
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from Bob Duff of the Windsor Star,

When Bowman was coach and GM in Buffalo, he hired Keenan to coach the Sabres’ AHL farm club in Rochester, N.Y.

“I think that a lot of what I know ... I’ve learned from Scotty Bowman.”

Apparently, though, there are certain things Keenan never gleaned from Bowman’s vast hockey mind.

Such as knowing when to show up.

Bowman owned a knack for arriving to take charge of teams on the brink of success, which he did in Montreal, Pittsburgh and Detroit.

Lately, Keenan has acted more like a homeless coach, simply happy to have a warm bench to stand behind.

more

Fan Skates With Flames

by Paul on 10/09/07 at 09:16 AM
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from the Calgary Herald,

Holden: “Are you available to skate tomorrow? There’s a team that wants you to skate.”

Dutton: “Well, I’ve got some family stuff. I was kind of looking forward to the day off.”
Holden: “What if I was to tell you it was the Calgary Flames.”

Dutton: “The NHL Calgary Flames?”
Holden: “That would be the one.”

Dutton: “Uh, yeah, I’m pretty sure I could find time.”

read on

Phaneuf Doing His Job

by Paul on 10/06/07 at 06:36 AM
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from the Calgary Sun,

The numbers along Dion Phaneuf’s name on the stats sheet nearly light up.

In the season opener, the Calgary Flames defenceman fired three shots on goal, recorded five hits and collected a pair of assists—including one when Daymond Langkow deflected his powerplay point shot.

But the eye-popping digits from the 3-2 loss to Philadelphia Thursday night fall under the category of minutes played: 31:20.

“Yeah, we see the sheets,” Phaneuf said. “You play when you’re asked to play. When you get tapped to go, it’s your job to go out and do your job.

“Some nights it may be more and some nights it may be less, but when you’re asked to go, you go out and do your job.”

read on

“Singing” Mike Keenan

by Paul on 10/02/07 at 06:46 AM
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from the Calgary Herald,

...Anyway, they had an all-girl Western band playing. We’re having a few pops and enjoying ourselves.

“Well, by the end of the night, Mike’s up on stage, Burnsie’s up on stage. They’re both playing guitar and singing—Mike has a very good voice, I’ll have you know—with the band and the place is just going wild. That, to me, is Mike Keenan.  “A funny guy. A personable guy. That other guy, the one you hear about all the time, he’s a stranger to me.’’

The other guy, the one you hear about all the time, is the Mike Keenan of legend. The snarling, bullying, caustic martinet capable of eliciting either undying devotion or undying scorn from his players.

more

Flames Sign Mark Smith

by Alanah on 09/28/07 at 09:25 PM
Comments (1)

From TSN,

The Calgary Flames have signed free agent forward Mark Smith.  The 29 year-old checker had spent his entire career with the San Jose Sharks organization after being drafted in the ninth round in 1997.

Smith was hampered by injuries last season and finished with 13 points in 41 games.  He was invited to camp with the New York Rangers, but was released earlier this week.

continued...

Keenan Is Back

by Paul on 09/28/07 at 07:03 AM
Comments (0)

fro Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun,

Stopping short of calling his team lazy, Mike Keenan delivered his first public tongue-lashing of the Flames, punctuating a tirade-filled practice with a frank critique of his squad.

“I am prepared to say the work ethic of this team can be upgraded considerably,” said Keenan, minutes after a spirited skate that had players rubbing one another out while Keenan screamed.

“We have to change the habits around here, maybe not the culture.”

read on

Watching Iron Mike

by Alanah on 09/27/07 at 04:48 PM
Comments (1)

From the CP,

The Iron Mike watch is underway in Calgary.

Will new head coach Mike Keenan alienate his players? Or will he give a club that underachieved last season the edge it needs to be a Stanley Cup contender?

Eyebrows disappeared into hairlines when Flames general manager Darryl Sutter brought Keenan on board in June, partly because Jim Playfair, handpicked by Sutter to replace himself as head coach prior to the 2006-07 season, agreed to stay on as associate coach to Keenan.

continued...