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

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by JayP

Where is the "family comes first" crowd in the Comeau trade thread?

Comeau's wife is deep in a pregnancy (I believe he said 8 months on the radio), but there's no outrage that he got moved for a measily 5th rounder.

Apples and oranges. Comparing a regular pregnancy to one with complications is not the same. When there are health risks for mother and child don't you think that warrants a reprieve?

When Hudler could not start the season due to a death in the family should he had be obligated to play because he is under contract?

I have no problems with the way this all shook out as I have a family that have gone through similar circumstances. Family is and should always be first. In Comeau's situation I am sure if there was an issue or health risk to his wife and child then I would assume he would have gotten the same treatment.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Apples and oranges. Comparing a regular pregnancy to one with complications is not the same. When there are health risks for mother and child don't you think that warrants a reprieve?

When Hudler could not start the season due to a death in the family should he had be obligated to play because he is under contract?

I have no problems with the way this all shook out as I have a family that have gone through similar circumstances. Family is and should always be first. In Comeau's situation I am sure if there was an issue or health risk to his wife and child then I would assume he would have gotten the same treatment.

Feaster said in that press conference that the complications were related to inducing labor early. After that point, he said both Kipper's wife and son have done fine with no issues. Feaster's words, not mine.

It's pretty funny how quickly people's opinions change from "family comes first" to "pregnancies happen all the time, but Kipper's is different" when you bring up a significantly less beloved player.

[FlameZilla]

Has this been posted yet? http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=664157

Retirement is still up in the air at this stage.

"That's one option but like I say, I would really like to finish the season and after that I'm going to make my decision," he said. "I'd really like to talk with the Flames before that and go from there."

I'd put money on him signing a hometown discount extension. Let's certainly hope so.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by JayP

Feaster said in that press conference that the complications were related to inducing labor early. After that point, he said both Kipper's wife and son have done fine with no issues. Feaster's words, not mine.

It's pretty funny how quickly people's opinions change from "family comes first" to "pregnancies happen all the time, but Kipper's is different" when you bring up a significantly less beloved player.

He said there were complications and they had to induce and that they are now home and fine. Just means they don't need to be medically supervised at the hospital.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Has this been posted yet? http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=664157




I'd put money on him signing a hometown discount extension. Let's certainly hope so.

I doubt it. It sounds like he is already considering retirement. He is still under contract for next year, so an extension would mean he would have to play 2 more seasons at a minimum. I guess he could take it at a year by year basis, but i doubt being lit up every night next season will want him to keep going.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Has this been posted yet? http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=664157




I'd put money on him signing a hometown discount extension. Let's certainly hope so.

If he's fine with the 1.5 million next year and is okay with not being the defacto starter, he'd be nice to have around as an insurance policy. However, based on his play this year I'm ready to let Ramo/Berra takeover the starter role. If they end up floundering then you have Kipper as insurance, but based on his recent history, I doubt he would stay on if he's going to be riding the pine the majority of the time. Also, it would be nice to get his cap hit off the books.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Robbob

He said there were complications and they had to induce and that they are now home and fine. Just means they don't need to be medically supervised at the hospital.

These sorts of complications aren't all that unusual, and I daresay a lot of NHL families have had similar experiences. No doubt it's stressful. But it's not some sort of exceptional or unique circumstance. It's one of the facts of life of being an NHL player that you'll probably start a family, with all the stress that entails, during the busiest time of your career.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Sorry - no. If family was really that important, he would have quit 3 weeks ago. Not buying what he is selling.

Ya know this semblance of sociopathy you're sharing is fine & dandy. But if we wish to attract future UFA's & stars, the tangible measurement of how we treat our players is reviewed by the player, and especially agent. If our organization is renowned for mistreating its players, and in this case its BEST asset of the past 10 years, you can bet that deters future signings.

More so, Kippy is ENTITLED to his salary. If the organization doesn't feel he gives them the best chance to win, then start another goalie and bench him. Bit telling, that the organization still stays loyal to him, despite some of the medieval & backwards opinions I've read on this forum.

I'm embarrassed by the lot of you, to tell the truth.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by JayP

Feaster said in that press conference that the complications were related to inducing labor early. After that point, he said both Kipper's wife and son have done fine with no issues. Feaster's words, not mine.

It's pretty funny how quickly people's opinions change from "family comes first" to "pregnancies happen all the time, but Kipper's is different" when you bring up a significantly less beloved player.

I suspect there would be sympathy for anyone that had a difficult pregnancy/birth regardless of player status.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

These sorts of complications aren't all that unusual, and I daresay a lot of NHL families have had similar experiences. No doubt it's stressful. But it's not some sort of exceptional or unique circumstance. It's one of the facts of life of being an NHL player that you'll probably start a family, with all the stress that entails, during the busiest time of your career.

Sure and Kipper basically was saying that if he had to make a choice between going and not going, even if it meant forgoing the rest of his contract - he would choose the latter.

No one can make someone go anywhere for a job. You always have a choice whether or not to agree to go, or not go knowing it means you may no longer have a job.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Sure and Kipper basically was saying that if he had to make a choice between going and not going, even if it meant forgoing the rest of his contract - he would choose the latter.

No one can make someone go anywhere for a job. You always have a choice whether or not to agree to go, or not go knowing it means you may no longer have a job.

I agree wholeheartedly. I'm just not buying this idea that Kipper is facing some kind of unique issue, or that the management and fans owe him more than they owe any other player under contract. I don't think he should be suspended. But I don't think he warrants any kind of special consideration either. And I would expect that any future player for the franchise, regardless of his status, to be treated the same way by management and fans when he balks at being traded because of personal issues.

[JiriHrdina]

I think the situation with Kipper is unique in that he is likely on the verge of retirement anyways. Most players won't have the option to simply say "fine - I'll just retire" when faced with this type of transaction.

All in all, this type of situation where a somewhat serious personal situation presents itself alongside a trade, involving a player already contemplating retirement - is probably very rare.

If it does come up again, I would expect the Flames to act no differently.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

If he's fine with the 1.5 million next year and is okay with not being the defacto starter, he'd be nice to have around as an insurance policy. However, based on his play this year I'm ready to let Ramo/Berra takeover the starter role. If they end up floundering then you have Kipper as insurance, but based on his recent history, I doubt he would stay on if he's going to be riding the pine the majority of the time. Also, it would be nice to get his cap hit off the books.

Kipper would be more than insurance. I would use him and one of Berra or Ramo as 1a/1b so we can see what they can offer but not throw them completely in the deep end. I think he owes management another year on the cheap for the loyalty they've shown him by not shipping him to Toronto. If he gets lit up on a regular basis it won't be so crushing to his ego compared to a new guy who has just moved over.

[Ped]

Unless you think Kipper is doing this out of spite (which I would think is pretty obvious he's not) then I don't see how you criticize him or any other player for choosing a personal situation over work.

He's older, he's got some sort of family issues, and he feels it best that he stay in Calgary, and its obviously not for the great team in front of him.

Name escapes me but wasn't there a Leaf a few years ago who did the same thing? Didn't Randy Gregg do essentially the same thing years and years ago?

Lives come before jobs no matter how fun we think the jobs are. Kipper was honest with his employer about where he was sitting and honest with is potential employer as well.

For Doug MacLean to suggest they shouldn't have bothered asking him and just traded him anway - stuff like that is why he is an ex-GM without a job in that field anymore. If you know your player is going through some issues, it would be extremely unprofessional to send him packing without inquiring further.

And I suspect many wouldn't have an issue with it they hadn't been salivating at the potential return for a trade.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Ya know this semblance of sociopathy you're sharing is fine & dandy. But if we wish to attract future UFA's & stars, the tangible measurement of how we treat our players is reviewed by the player, and especially agent.

We've treated our veteran players like GOLD for years. Where are the flood of UFA's that should be flocking to our team?

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

If our organization is renowned for mistreating its players, and in this case its BEST asset of the past 10 years, you can bet that deters future signings.

The team is NOT renowned for mistreating players. At worst, you can say they don't develop young players but that has little or nothing to do with free agency.

So again. The Flames have been treating their veteran players well for years yet we're not seeing any high profile free agents sign here as you suggest we should.

As others have said, money and winning talks for the players. The rest of it is window dressing.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

We've treated our veteran players like GOLD for years. Where are the flood of UFA's that should be flocking to our team?



The team is NOT renowned for mistreating players. At worst, you can say they don't develop young players but that has little or nothing to do with free agency.

So again. The Flames have been treating their veteran players well for years yet we're not seeing any high profile free agents sign here as you suggest we should.

As others have said, money and winning talks for the players. The rest of it is window dressing.

I've always thought we've done a pretty good job attracting free agents in the past when we actually had a good team. Bouwmeester was the big prize of the 2009 UFA class when we got him (I know we signed him as a RFA, but he could have waited one more day).

[Rocky Raccoon]

I feel that if family is so important to Kipper that he won't move to another city for the rest of the year, he should retire now. I don't begrudge him at all, I just figure a multi-millionaire who is so family driven would be home instead of taking road trips.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Rocky Raccoon

I feel that if family is so important to Kipper that he won't move to another city for the rest of the year, he should retire now. I don't begrudge him at all, I just figure a multi-millionaire who is so family driven would be home instead of taking road trips.

Wasn't it Clemens who did not accompany team on road at the end of his career when he didn't pitch, for family reason?
I like it - If Kipper needs to be home, he should be there.
Play him in home games. Maybe.

[Nufy]

Maybe he just didn't want to go play in Toronto...

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by JayP

Where is the "family comes first" crowd in the Comeau trade thread?

Comeau's wife is deep in a pregnancy (I believe he said 8 months on the radio), but there's no outrage that he got moved for a measily 5th rounder.

Are you really comparing a 27-year-old player with a (as far as we know) normal pregnancy to a 36-year-old player on the verge of retirement who just had a baby with complications? The two couldn't be any more different.

Take the babies out of the equation, and you've still got a guy who is about to retire and is worth (as an "asset") next to nothing, and a guy who will actually play, and will be signing a new contract for next season, either in Columbus or elsewhere. Comeau has a few years left in him, Kipper doesn't. It's that simple.