[News Roundup] Game Day January 31st

[Neeper]

Flames rookie Sven Baertschi sidelined with injury

The Calgary Flames rookie, according to the team, is sidelined, week to week, with a hip flexor.

Baertschi had gone down in a heap in the early stages of Tuesday’s practice. Now the five-foot-10, 181 pounder will be dusting off his weight set.

“We’re going to work his upper body in the gym,” coach Bob Hartley said after the morning skate Thursday. “There’s no denying that Sven has to get stronger. He’s not a big-sized player. Our conditioning coach (Rich Hesketh) will work with him.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...274/story.html

Flames must win three in a row to stay on track in Hartley’s plan

Coach Bob Hartley appraised his team’s 48-game slate and carved it into seven seven-date chunks (the math nearly works). Nine points mined from each wedge would push the Flames beyond the 60-point threshold. That total, it figures, would set them up nicely on the Western Conference table.

Now all they have to do is . . . well, do it.

“(Hartley) had the math all settled for us,” said Curtis Glencross, whose team is 1-2-1 so far in National Hockey League play. “Obviously, we’re short (of points) on our segment right now.”

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...148/story.html

Butler itching to play after two games in press box

By Chris Butler’s estimation, he was scratched from the Buffalo Sabres roster approximately 32 times during the 2010-11 season.

And last year with the Calgary Flames? A grand total of zero. So, you can bet the memories that came flooding back for the 26-year-old defenceman when Bob Hartley had him in the press box twice already to start the salvaged (and condensed) 2013 NHL season. Bluntly put,“it sucks.”

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...211/story.html

Flames Wideman showing his net worth

Hit the net.

It sounds so simple when it comes from your minor-hockey coach.

Add nine grown men in almost-bullet-proof shinpads to the equation, and suddenly getting a puck from the point to the promised land is no small feat.

In four games so far, Calgary Flames defenceman Dennis Wideman is making it look easy.

"Just don't hit 'em, that's all I'm trying to do," Wideman shrugged after Wednesday's practice at the Saddledome.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/01/30...-his-net-worth

Flames Future — Jankowski beefing up

Thanks to online updates, webcasts and even the occasional televised tilt, family, friends and fans of Calgary Flames prospect Mark Jankowski can monitor his progress in his freshman season with the NCAA’s Providence College Friars.

Unfortunately, they might be missing the best part.

The stats — four goals and six assists in 20 skates so far — show Jankowski is getting comfortable at the collegiate level, but the Flames’ first-rounder from the 2012 NHL Entry Draft is arguably making his greatest gains in the weight-room.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/01/30...ski-beefing-up

Flames rookie Sven Baertschi week-to-week, out with hip flexor injury

“You can't win with the players that you don't have. You play with the 20 bodies that you have in your lineup,” said Flames head coach Bob Hartley. “Sven is capable of many great things, but we believe in everyone in this lineup. It's not a one-man show. It's about being a team.

“There's always a good and a bad part to injuries. The bad part is the player can't play. The good part is it give opportunities to others to get some roles, get some responsibilities.”

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/01/31...-flexor-injury

FLAMES GO FOR SECOND WIN OF SEASON AGAINST VISITING AVS

The well-rested Calgary Flames will try to build off their first win of the season when they host the sliding Colorado Avalanche in a Northwest Division battle at the Saddledome.

The Flames went 0-2-1 to begin the season before finally picking up a win Saturday against the visiting Edmonton Oilers. Lee Stempniak had a goal and two assists to help lift Calgary to the 4-3 regulation decision.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=414897

SORTING OUT THE FLAMES BLUELINE

When Calgary signed Dennis Wideman in the off-season, it resulted in a lot of buzz around a potential Jay Bouwmeester trade. Not only because JayBo is much maligned for not being worth his contract since arriving, but also because it meant the Flames had a lot of defensemen.

With the addition of Wideman, the retention of Sarich and the promotion of TJ Brodie, Calgary has no less than 9 NHL ready bodies, eight of whom also boast one way contracts. Brett Carson is one of them and currently plying his trade for Abbotsford, but with the news that Anton Babchuk is rapidly nearing a return, the club is facing the possibility of having 8 NHLers on the parent club.

http://flamesnation.ca/2013/1/31/sor...lames-blueline

STEMPNIAK LEADS FLAMES AGAINST STRUGGLING AVS

The Calgary Flames finally got into the win column last time out thanks in large part to the efforts of Lee Stempniak.

Stempniak and the Flames will try to earn another victory Thursday night by taking advantage of the struggling Colorado Avalanche, who are winless away from home.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2013/...preview_jan31/

[FBI]

2nd link doesn't work but thanks for the rest!

[howard_the_duck]

There have been some ups and mostly downs early in the season, but Wideman has lived up to his hefty price tag so far. In my eyes has been the best Flame on the ice for the season's first 4 games.

[Neeper]

Originally Posted by FBI

2nd link doesn't work but thanks for the rest!

fixed

[Neeper]

I really like what I have seen from Wideman too. I am also happy Butler is the one rotating. I do hope to see more of Smith than Butler though.

[switzsvensation]

Anyone else starting to get a little concerned with how often Baertschi seems to be hurt?

[sa226]

Yep, it seems we finally have a top 4 that we can rely on and ride 5 on 5. (Bouw/Gio--Wideman/Brodie)

That allows Butler,Babchuck and Smith to get the sheltered minutes that allows them to excel.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by sa226

Yep, it seems we finally have a top 4 that we can rely on and ride 5 on 5. (Bouw/Gio--Wideman/Brodie)

That allows Butler,Babchuck and Smith to get the sheltered minutes that allows them to excel.

Brodie hasn't really been getting top four minutes so far, but yeah, hopefully he grows into it as the season goes on.

Really our clear top three are:

Bouwmeester/Wideman/Giordano

Then 3-6 are a mix of:

Brodie/Butler/Smith/Sarich and Babchuk when he gets healthy.

[FlamesAddiction]

Sorry, it's a little late in the day to start up a Feb. 1st news thread and I don't have a lot of news anyway, so I thought I would bump this thread...

Anyhow, remember Jamie Tardif? The 4th round Flames pick from 2003 who put up great junior numbers then held out for a contract demanding 1st round money?

It looks like at age 28, he will finally get his first NHL game as the Bruins just recalled him.

http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/...tardif_re.html

I wonder if he ever regrets not signing an NHL contract with a team that had faith in him?