Dreger: Kiprusoff to not move, retire at end of the season

[trublmaker]

Originally Posted by Ark2

Why wouldn't Calgary just trade him if it weren't? Why all this concern with who is allowed to speak with him? He doesn't have a NTC, so if he was not threatening to not report and retire if traded, Feaster could do whatever he wants with him. Makes absolutely no sense to hold onto him at this point otherwise.

maybe teams don't want him without an extension, you seem to be assuming a lot.

[Ashasx]

I respect Kipper's decision, but I can't help agree with some of the sentiment.

He no longer has a NTC, but yet he's still calling the shots?

There is a fundamental issue with this team. I believe it starts with management, but apparently it goes right down to the belief system of some players.

It has me worried.

[Brannigans Law]

Originally Posted by FAN

Kipper has his priorities. He's content with not ever winning a Cup and realistically, the chances of the Leafs with Kipper winning a Cup is slim. Kipper knows that. There isn't a contender he can go to where he would be the missing piece.

His priorities are interfering with the team though. Is his desire to live close to home more important to you as a fan than a 2nd or a 3rd round draft pick? That's all that it boils down to. For me it's a firm no. I'm a Flames fan first then a fan of players on it 2nd. This team will be here long after he is gone. The more I mull this over in my head the more I consider this just a selfish move on his part. If he wants to retire, then retire. His contract gaurentees him no protection from trades. If he's willing to play in a Flaming C in Calgary then he should honour his contract anywhere the Flames deal him to.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I respect Kipper's decision, but I can't help agree with some of the sentiment.

He no longer has a NTC, but yet he's still calling the shots?

There is a fundamental issue with this team. I believe it starts with management, but apparently it goes right down to the belief system of some players.

It has me worried.

if he is playing hockey in Calgary next year, i would agree with you.

if he walks away and never plays hockey again, that's a different story...

[David Struch]

How does Darren Dreger know that Kiprusoff will retire at the end of the season?

Strange that we heard about Kiprusoff supposedly talking about signing an extension now it's retirement, I think Kipper is good enough to play a couple or a few more seasons myself, ala Martin Brodeur (40 years old) but not 70 games a season though.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by kermitology

This organization has had the appearance of being pretty sleazy as of late, so I think this is a nice change.

I'm a recent father, I respect that he doesn't want to move. Obviously the Flames could still have traded him if they wanted to, but for once this year, they decided not to be dicks about it, and asked the player if he wanted to go or not.

bumbling and semi-incompetent yes, but dicks? who else on the team did they try to shaft this season? it seem like they gave Iggy and Jbo at least a couple weeks advance warning that they might be asked to waive and if they were ok with it. furthermore they accommodated Iggy by taking the Pens lesser offer instead of forcing him to Boston. they can show some flexibility and humanity, especially when you're dealing with Flame legends, but there has to be limits, it's still a business first.

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by trublmaker

maybe teams don't want him without an extension, you seem to be assuming a lot.

Yes, I am assuming here, but it is an assumption based on logic. Kipper has 1 more year on his contract. If a GM were truly concerned that Kipper would not play that final year, let alone several afterwards, then they would simply offer less in the trade. I don't see how it kills the trade altogether. Anyone speculating on who would be interested in him this year has to assume that at least part of the desire to get him has to do with the remainder of this season and the playoffs that follow. Makes no sense to me that the main concern would be next season and beyond.

[bigtmac19]

Some of the things being said about Kipper in this thread are disgusting. Mob mentality I guess. No wonder I barely read anything in FOI anymore.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by T@T

The flames will have to pay him about a million bucks in the mean time, if he truly wants to retire he should retire today.

If the Flames wanted that, they could trade him for a 10th round pick, that becomes a second if he plays.

[CaptainCrunch]

Good for the Flames for not pushing the issue, if anyone in this organization deserves some respect its Kipper.

[edn88]

It is impossible to say because no one really know, but if Kipper is doing this because of his family, then I am 100% behind him - even if the return for Kipper was Nazim Kadri or better.

Like Iggy, Kipper has given Flames fans a lot to cheer for, and if he needs to retire next year then good for him.

[East Coast Flame]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

When you want to retire from your job, you give notice and pick a date. For some people that's two weeks and for others it can be a year. Why should he have to retire now instead of at the end of the season? Many athletes, Chipper Jones is the most recent I can remember, who state at the beginning of the season they are retiring at the end of the season. Why shouldn't Miikka play out the rest of the year?

Mariano Rivera is doing it this year in baseball.

Hell, Nik Lidstrom did the retirement tour last year and no one seemed too pissed off about that.

[drPepper1]

Seems like a lot of people forgot what kipper has done for this team over the years

[MissTeeks]

Randy Sportak‏@SUNRandySportak1m

#Flames say Miikka Kiprusoff will speak after the game.

[goaliemaskguy]

Am I a little choked that the team wants to move Kipper and he won't go? Yes

Do I understand that family issues have come in to Kipper's decision making process and as a result he doesn't want to go? Absolutely

Will I continue to cheer Kipper because he is still a member of this team retiring or not? Yes

Kipper has earned my respect and I will continue to support him as long as he is here. It is absolutely selfish of me to want him traded for another draft pick that could be a washout or a hall-of-famer.

To suggest booing him is asinine. He gave us as fans more than our moneys worth when compared to other goalies in the league.

His number will justifiyingly be retired/honoured and until he no longer pulls on the Flaming C he will remain a member of the team that I am unapologetically a fan of. Every player on the team is a player I am a fan of because I am a fan of the team.

[Jimmy Stang]

His contract was front-loaded to ease the cap hit, and this benefited him and the Flames for a few years. The benefit from that contract is effectively over - the Flames and Kipper both know it, and I can't imagine that either are surprised.

The freed-up cap space is the most important thing here - far more important than the miniscule return that trading him as a rental on the verge of retirement would have yielded. What's the market for a 36 year old goalie who has one year left on his contract that everyone knows was added as a cap space tool in the first place? Pretty much nothing.

[89revival]

Originally Posted by bigtmac19

Some of the things being said about Kipper in this thread are disgusting. Mob mentality I guess. No wonder I barely read anything in FOI anymore.

Cover your eyes sweetie, we`re talking about hockey players, let`s not get too dramatic.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by JayP

It isn't with any other player. It's completely reasonable to ask the question - there were no family issues in the summer, he was coming off a great season, and the organization knew he was retiring after this year (something other teams wouldn't know). It was the perfect opportunity to sell high. A storybook ending of him retiring in Calgary is nice, but this team isn't in any position to worry about that sort of thing.

I suppose it is worthwhile musing about it, but there's no way to know really what played out last summer, is there? In my mind, it is just pointless to pine over things you wished had happened.

Originally Posted by JayP

Yet allegedly he doesn't owe the fans (all people too) who've supported him anything.

Not allegedly. He is paid to do his job, and as a member of the organisation holds certain community obligations, and as far as we have known he has fulfilled all of them. What does he owe the fans at this point? and why?

Originally Posted by JayP

The problem is I'm not talking about Kipper's decision now - I made zero reference to it in my post. Him deciding to stay and retire now is probably at the cost of a low draft pick. I do have an exception to you flipping out at the mere suggestion that the Flames should've explored moving him in the off-season. There's no reason that he shouldn't have been moved after his NTC expired and before the season started.

If this is what you interpreted from my post, then I apologise. I would have had no problem with the Flames exploring a possible trade for Kipprusoff last summer. I am also not at all bitter if they happened to have not done so.

[transplant99]

Rhett Warrener just called into the guys on 960 and told them this after having a conversation with Kiprusoff about 2 hours ago as they were leaving the dome after RW's morning show appearance...

Basically Kiprusoff is not likely going anywhere not because he doesnt necessarily want to, but because he isnt sure he has "it" anymore (and yes family/home issues as well at the moment). In fact it was insinuated by Warrener that Kiprusoff likely turned down an extension from Toronto that would of been "a lot" of money, because he isnt sure he would live up to the level of pay and was concerned he wouldnt earn whatever the compensation was. This is why the retirement thing is so front and center...niot because he doesnt want to play, but because he isnt sure he is able to play at the level he expects of himself moving forward.

Sure sounds like a selfish dick now doesnt he?

[Dagger]

Even though it's nice to respect players wishes(not having Iginla formally hand in a list, not going to trade Kipper) and it looks good to other players, ultimately it doesn't help us win any sooner, and the sooner we win the sooner we can attract more players as that's the ultimate attraction.