[TheScorpion]

I was hard on Mike Smith at the beginning of the year. He had a very rough start. But he came on hard as the year progressed and held the team in some games after the All-Star Break when the rest of the guys faltered.

And then... the playoffs. He emerged as a truly different beast. Easily the Flames' best player on a night-in, night-out basis, holding them in games in which they didn't nearly deserve to compete.

He's 37. He might not get a contract next year, and either way, I'm pretty confident he won't be a Flame. But he's been a great community guy, a winner at the Honda Centre, an All-Star, and has pitched a playoff shutout.

For that, Mike Smith, thank you. I apologize for being so quick to judge at the beginning of the season. Thanks for showing up when the team needed you to, even though the rest of them failed you. I hope you can continue your career to your heart's content.