Actually, being respectful to the wishes of 36 year olds who carried the team on their back for a decade, who want to retire as Flames, is exactly how successful franchises are built.
Some things are a lot more important than a 2nd or 3rd round pick.
When Kiprusoff retires, I very much hope it is as a Flame, and I will stand up and applaud what has been a truly remarkable career.
There is probably no way this wont seem like a smart-ass post but it is a sincere question.
"Carried the team on their backs" to where exactly? 4 years in the wilderness?
If the team had had more success, I would completely agree but remind me what we are "honouring", 7 seasons of mediocrity post 2004?
#12, #34 and #4 all became wealthy men playing for the Flames. They entertained us. I don't see the reason for the idolatry.
Meh. I guess I just don't see these players as "human beings". There is a team I grew up cheering for - the Flames. I really don't care who is actually on the team, as long as the collective does well. This particular team sucks, and there is not a single player on it that I actually like, so I really care not what happens to any one of them. There hasn't been one since Prust was traded for the second time. All of these guys knew the lifestyle they signed up for when they became professional hockey players. They get millions in exchange for being pieces of meat. Fair enough. Don't go expecting the peaceful security of a municipal worker into the bargain.
I also have no sympathy for the "look what he's done for us" line of argument when applied to any of these players - look at what us/the team have done for him. We've made him a hero and a multi-millionaire, so I don't think there is anything more owed, other than the obligation to honour the contract, including reporting wherever you are traded... Darryl Sutter had more to do with saving this franchise than any player - that's why I cheered for the Kings last season. The individual players are just hockey cards.
Maybe you're better off watching the Hitmen or some other minor league teams. They keep changing players yearly and their rebuilds come way faster than in the big leagues. As well, they're a bunch of prospects that might guve you the thrills.
The face of the Flames were Iggy, Kipper, and Regehr. By season's end, the Flames have absolutely no identity.
After watching Kiprusoff's interview.. man... I want this guy to stay with us, #### for another 1-2 years, and win a cup for him, just like some magic spark like 04 run... god damn
Players care about 2 things and 2 things only. Winning and getting paid. Being classy sounds nice but will not pay it forward in the future. The New England Patriots have been cutting players unceremoniously for years. They do just fine attracting players to come there. Furthermore, the Los Angeles Clippers have an owner that has discriminated against minorities, yet once they started winning, players flocked there. Detroit is an awful city, but people love playing there. Why? Because they win. The way the Flames treated Kipper will have no positive impact in the future. Just another lost opportunity to get something for a depreciating asset.
New England is a perfect example. Beloved, long-time player is getting a bit slow? Sorry, we have a younger, cheaper option who can replace you. Bye. And yet they have no trouble attracting top free agents. Why? Because they win. And why do they win? Smart, ruthless asset management. It's a virtous circle.
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Maybe you're better off watching the Hitmen or some other minor league teams. They keep changing players yearly and their rebuilds come way faster than in the big leagues. As well, they're a bunch of prospects that might guve you the thrills.
The face of the Flames were Iggy, Kipper, and Regehr. By season's end, the Flames have absolutely no identity.
I've seen hundreds of players wear a Flames uniform. At this point, the only identity I care about is winning.
What exactly are you cheering for then? A bunch of red shirts skating around? Why bother learning their names at all?
Lots of Canadians cheer for Olympic teams full of players they hardly know. You identify with a jersey strong enough, it doesn't matter who's wearing it.
before he retires I want to see him do an interview where he asks ...' Who owns the Flames?/......Owns ....ooowns???
Kipper will always go down as a class act, cool head, incredible goalie....wish that in real life he was as flamboyant and crazy as Mike Richards portrayed him to be...."RICHARDS"!!!!
I'm with you on this one. Hockey is a business first and for fans that business is a good team. he's not helping us in that department right now.
LOL...so then you're crapping on the guy for making his own business decision? I like how self-interest is okay for the team, but not the player. Double-standard, much?
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New England is a perfect example. Beloved, long-time player is getting a bit slow? Sorry, we have a younger, cheaper option who can replace you. Bye. And yet they have no trouble attracting top free agents. Why? Because they win. And why do they win? Smart, ruthless asset management. It's a virtous circle.
This isn't fail safe either, because it will only work when A. your always winning and B. Your in a NE American major city
Sorry but the Flames do have trouble getting the young single guys to come play here. You know who the only group they have a chance at getting? married and/or married with kids guys. The single guys go to Cali or Florida or NE USA, not Calgary.
So do you treat the only demographic you really have a shot at by messing up their planned lives, or do you offer a non tangible in stability? A "come here and we'll underhand and respect your situation"
Calgary has to play the hand their delt, because we ain't New York. To start screwing Kipper and Iggy's of the world over is to shot yourself in your only good leg.
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This isn't fail safe either, because it will only work when A. your always winning and B. Your in a NE American major city
Sorry but the Flames do have trouble getting the young single guys to come play here. You know who the only group they have a chance at getting? married and/or married with kids guys. The single guys go to Cali or Florida or NE USA, not Calgary.
So do you treat the only demographic you really have a shot at by messing up their planned lives, or do you offer a non tangible in stability? A "come here and we'll underhand and respect your situation"
Calgary has to play the hand their delt, because we ain't New York. To start screwing Kipper and Iggy's of the world over is to shot yourself in your only good leg.
That's a fair point. I think the elephant in the room a lot of people around here don't want to admit, and that ownership can't express publicly, is that Calgary isn't an especially attractive destination for NHLers. Not compared to the nicer climate and exciting nightlife of a lot of other cities. So you're right, we do have to play the hand we're dealt.
However, that hand also includes ownership willing to spend to the cap. That's a luxury a lot of franchises don't have. The two teams lower than us in the standings both have internal budgets $10 million or more under the cap. Imagine what the Flames would look like today if they didn't have the money to sign Hudler, Cervenka, and Wideman in the off-season. Those are the resources a lot of the Flames' peers have to work with.
Furthermore, selling yourself as a nice organization for players of a certain age to lead a quiet family life has a couple of downsides.
First, it breeds a climate of complacency and entitlement. That in turn makes it a difficult team to coach. I believe that complacency is at the heart of the culture problems the Flames have had for the last 5 or 6 years. Too many veterans in secure positions for a coach to make much headway.
Second, it doesn't make for a hungry, young team. As Warrener pointed out a few weeks ago on the FAN, the Flames aren't a team with a bunch of young guys who go out together, have a few pops, and have some laughs. That kind of thing bonds young guys together. It makes the players fight for each other in the ice. It breeds loyalty. When everyone goes home at night to the wife and kids to play boardgames, it doesn't inspire the same passion for the team.
Lastly, it means you are not going to be able to maximize your resources. By having so many secure veterans with NTCs, and by being reluctant to move them, you not be able to sell high and rejuvenate your lineup. Then you get in a cycle of relying on UFAs to round out your lineup.
So I hear where you're coming from. But I don't think the approach the Flames have been taking has worked. May as well try something different.
