Kipper won't agree to be traded

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Think there should be a "D" answer. Something like ... If Kipper has decided this is his last year in the NHL, it's not wrong for him to want to retire in a flames uniform.

I think this kind of jives with Kipper retiring this year. If he doesn't report then his contract just get's tolled until he does report or until he retires (Ala Thomas), he's just got one year left on his deal, and it's the cash cheap year so he has less to lose from just walking away.

If I were a betting man I'd wager on the Flames using one of their compliance buyouts on Kipper this offseason... get's them out from the frontloaded Cap penalty and gives Kipper an extra nice retirement package.

[JerzeeGirl]

As much as I love Kipper & all he has done for the organization, I can't get behind him electing to not honour his contract which he negotiated in good faith & has paid him lucratively over the years.

I agree that family is important and that professional athletes aren't exempt from wanting to be there with their children as much as possible, can't blame Kipper for feeling that way & wanting to be there.

However, he knew that this was a possibility in signing this deal & allowing for his original NTC/NMC to expire prior to the end of the deal.

It's not like the Flames are trading him at the start of a season where he'd have to be away for 6-7months....there's a month left in the season where the team is away over half that time on road trips. Even with a long playoff run to the Finals that's just another 2 months on top of the final month of this season...fulfill your obligations Kipper!

None of us have the option to be home all the time with our kids that we'd like, we all miss things and don't get that time back. Must be nice to be a multi-millionaire though and get the luxury to pick and choose the commitments you want to honour.

While I think we were all aware that Kipper was most likely not coming back next year, this just sours his final month as a Flame for me...it's hard to respect someone who has chosen to put himself ahead of the team that has provided so well for him with full knowledge of what the risks of his profession entail.

Disclaimer: This is my opinion with the assumption that his newborn is healthy & the report is accurate....if his child is sick I'd never hold it against him if he told them he wouldn't leave, that's a whole different kettle of fish.

[browna]

Originally Posted by fredr123

Not sure if it's been posted elsewhere in the thread, but I went back to the archives and found the original CP thread from the day Kipper signed his last extension: http://forum.calgarypuck.com/archive...p/t-49388.html

Miss those days, barely a negative word or some pot stirrer coming in to troll in that thread. Even Lanny was happy (for a few posts).

[nik-]

Originally Posted by browna

Miss those days, barely a negative word or some pot stirrer coming in to troll in that thread. Even Lanny was happy (for a few posts).

The power of hope and an unbroken spirit. Those are dead now, we're all Gollum's

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by nik-

The power of hope and an unbroken spirit. Those are dead now, we're all Gollum's

Doesn't have to be that way. Many just choose it to be so.
I'm down on the team but still enjoying the ride and I'm fascinated by the compelling storylines playing out.
Sports should always be fun.
Wallowing in self-pity isn't.

[Zarley]

Surprised to see so much support for an unethical decision (if true). If he places so much value on staying in Calgary why wouldn't he negotiate an NMC for the duration of his contract?

Kiprusoff signed a contract and chose to play this year without an NMC. The Flames have lived up to their end of the bargain and Kipper should honour his.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Doesn't have to be that way. Many just choose it to be so.
I'm down on the team but still enjoying the ride and I'm fascinated by the compelling storylines playing out.
Sports should always be fun.
Wallowing in self-pity isn't.

Meh, this is a bad time, but it would have been worse if these past two weeks hadn't given the indication that they realize what they are and are ready to try something different.

I'm excited.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Doesn't have to be that way. Many just choose it to be so.
I'm down on the team but still enjoying the ride and I'm fascinated by the compelling storylines playing out.
Sports should always be fun.
Wallowing in self-pity isn't.

Totally agree. Sports isn't supposed to be such a downer. At the end of the day, it's entertainment. Some people take it way too seriously.

[JerzeeGirl]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Doesn't have to be that way. Many just choose it to be so.
I'm down on the team but still enjoying the ride and I'm fascinated by the compelling storylines playing out.
Sports should always be fun.
Wallowing in self-pity isn't.

I'm excited to see what the future holds for the Flames - this team has needed a culture overhaul for the last few years & trading Jarome, as much as it's a shame he won't be a Flame for every single minute of his career, is the start of a new era.

I actually can't wait to see who we draft in June and the opening of training camp in the Fall now knowing that change is coming & will hopefully breathe some new life into this organization.

Bring up some kids & sit Kipper the rest of the season, bring on Mackinnon/Drouin/Jones!!!!

[Flame On]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Doesn't have to be that way. Many just choose it to be so.
I'm down on the team but still enjoying the ride and I'm fascinated by the compelling storylines playing out.
Sports should always be fun.
Wallowing in self-pity isn't.

I'm excited for a new chapter, but depressed that the players I've idolized are being pulled into disrepute due to the inaction/incompetence of management.
They aren't allowed to simply transition out of the team, they're being torn down.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Totally agree. Sports isn't supposed to be such a downer. At the end of the day, it's entertainment. Some people take it way too seriously.

I blame Ritalin and video games

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by fotze

He is the reason we went on that run which caused ownership to chase that virtually unattainable magic.

I got to see bewbs, and lots of them. therefore all the subsequent suffering was worth it.

sports is cruel by nature since 29 out of 30 fan bases end up being disappointed every year. acceptance of it only comes from experience of riding the ups and downs. I'm guessing the average age of the more even keel members here is significantly older than the ones experiencing a nuclear meltdown.

[Flabbibulin]

Apologies if this story has been posted. Keenan tells a radio show this morning that it is Kipper's intention of retiring after this season- was his plan all along. Nothing new that we havent heard over the last 24 hours, but it is coming from a former coach that was around during the extension signing.

“I know when he negotiated the contract, it was certainly his intention that he would not play that final year, that he would go back to Finland,” Keenan, who coached Kiprusoff in Calgary for two seasons, explained. “I’m assuming he hasn’t changed his mind. Unless somebody throws an opportunity to him with an incredible contract of some kind, I think he’ll just play out the next 30 days and go home.”

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/k...ip-final-year/

[Harvey's Tongue]

Hockey players are driven by their own self interest just like everybody else.

Anyone who thinks Kipper, Iggy, or any body else is willing to subjugate their own interests for the good of the organization is living in a dream world.

[Flabbibulin]

What sort of money would Kipper be looking at if he played a couple years in a Finnish pro league?

[Stay Golden]

Fans should consider the opposite to this and be glad that its not a situation where Mikka has come to the Flames and said I want out trade me now.
That would be a situation where fans could be irked at Kipper.

Here we have our cornerstone Goalie saying something good i won't report if traded. Code for I enjoy being a Calgary Flame and so does my Family.
Sure he is under contact and could be traded but what for Goalies are not being sought out so whats the big problem. I just don't see why some fans are offended its an oxy moron.

I like many others have firmly believed for years Kipper will just simply happily retire if the Flames do not offer him a new contract.
Personally they would be crazy to not resign him for another 2-3 years and its not going to be a big $ contract either.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by transplant99

You do understand that being gone for 3, 4, or 5 days at a time is not the same as not seeing family for 2 or 3 months...right?

Umm, I'm pretty sure Miikka left his wife and first child back in Finland for whole seasons some years ago, so trying to tug at our hearts saying how difficult it will be to not see family for 2 or 3 months is a red herring.

I have no problem if is the Flames decision to not trade Kipper because of his family situation but if is true that he is attempting to dictate terms, IMO he is not honouring his contract, not acting in good faith and not acting as a professional.

Trades have been part of the game since the league began. If he wanted a full NMC for the full life of his contract, he should have negotiated one.

[kyuss275]

I see both points of view, and each are valid. I don't really care, my gut tells me that in the final 2 weeks of the season he will announce that this is his last year. I can't see him wanting to play for the flames after this year considering the mess they are in.

[Yrebmi]

Originally Posted by Parallex

I think this kind of jives with Kipper retiring this year. If he doesn't report then his contract just get's tolled until he does report or until he retires (Ala Thomas), he's just got one year left on his deal, and it's the cash cheap year so he has less to lose from just walking away.

If I were a betting man I'd wager on the Flames using one of their compliance buyouts on Kipper this offseason... get's them out from the frontloaded Cap penalty and gives Kipper an extra nice retirement package.

Why would we use a buyout? Kipper's contract is not a 35+ and is not on the books should he officially retire.


edit: unless you're suggesting that he would not retire, and simply not report to the Flames either? Kipper won't do that.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Honoring his contract - he plays when they tell him to play, he practices when they tell him to practice.

Every NHL team has the right to end the contract with a buyout.

Every NHL player has the right to not report and have the contract suspended without pay, or broken.

I don't see either side not 'honoring their contract'.

With that being said, I am still waiting to hear from Kipper himself about this situation. I, for one, do not trust Kypreos, and with that being said, no matter who else picks up this story and runs with it, until Kipper himself addresses it this story to me is of the 'unfounded speculation' being put forth as a legitimate rumor.

I don't see the point of grabbing a pitchfork and going after a guy who has been so good for this organization, and helped this organization elevate itself to relevancy again. Until "The Scorpion" actually confirms or denies his intent (and he will be asked, you can be sure - if Iginla was/is asked about waiving, why wouldn't they ask Kipper?) before I really form an opinion on it. The only opinion I have at the moment is that Kypreos is desperate for some news-breaking tidbit in the hopes of staying relevant at his job.