Without Kipper this team would have not made the cup in 04, would not have won the division after the lockout, and would not have stayed competitive after that.
He saved this franchise. I don't have time to lookup stats but he probably played more games than any other goalie in the league post-lockout (04/05)... He's 23rd all-time in wins. He's the only Flame to win the Vezina.
That's a guy who's jersey you retire and that's a guy who all Flames fans should respect. Sure, he should've been traded when his value was high, but that didn't happen. Let's all be thankful Sutter got him in the first place. Let him retire on his own terms, as a Calgary Flame.
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