Do You Want Kipper Back Next Year? (not for purposes of trading him)

[Fire]

Hopefully he comes back so we can get another draft pick for him.

[PeteMoss]

I would add as well that Ramo and Berra aren't that young. Do they really need a mentor? They've been playing on pro leagues for years.

[Vulcan]

No, and I hate to say it but I don't think his heart is in it anymore. He's been getting off to a slow start for the last few seasons and this year it bit him. We can't afford to have our goalie needing 20 games to get into the flow, it would be demoralizing for a young team. If he does come back, he shouldn't be given any guarantees and will have to compete for a spot in training camp.

[Tyler]

Time to close the door on 2004 once and for all and move this organization forward.

So no.

[nfotiu]

Cap hit shouldn't be relevant. I think he was either physically or emotionally not right for a big part of this year. He looked pretty sharp by the end of the year.

I am not one to hope for finishing last next year. I think the ideal scenario would be a young team that could fight for a playoff spot until the end of the year. The best chance of that happening is probably with Kipper starting 30 to 40 games, and taking some of the pressure off whoever the new starter in training is.

If they have an 85 to 90 point season next year, that gives them something to build on. Playing out a meaningless second half of the year seems to ruin the kids, if you look at the Oilers example.

[Super-Rye]

Yes. Kipper gives this team the best chance to win.

[automaton 3]

He looked really good at the end of the year.

If he wants to come back and is committed to training and getting ready for next year, I don't see why the Flames wouldn't welcome him back.

[puckedoff]

We have the best goaltenders not in the NHL so I don't see why we need to retain a 4th pro G

[FanIn80]

I think we're going to need a calming presence in goal next season. Someone who isn't going to get rattled after a goal or two, and someone that the young players will be able to trust to keep things under control when they make a mistake. Having already survived a Young Guns era, I can say with complete certainty that nothing stifles offensive development faster than the fear of every single wrong move ending up in the back of your net.

[FlameZilla]

If Kiprussoff stayed as a 1b goalie, starting roughly 50% of the games, easing either of our potential European imports into the NA game by taking a lot of pressure off, I would think that is worth $1.5 million. Even if he stays around as a mentor/coach for fellow Finn Ramo.

He has had a great send-off, and there's no doubt his head wasn't in the game this shortened season where he suffered injury & a family emergency. If he is leaning toward retirement, fair play. I wouldn't at all mind seeing him back.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

We have the best goaltenders not in the NHL so I don't see why we need to retain a 4th pro G

We had the best goalie not in the NHL a few years back. Henrick Karlsson. I don't think we can safely say Ramo and Berra aren't 'sure things'.

[Jiggy_12]

Sadly no.

Dont want this to drag on any longer than it needs to. Time to see what we have in other goalies.

[dammage79]

No. Time to turn the page.

[Buff]

I voted yes, because I'd love the chance to watch him some more. However, I immediately changed my mind. If MacDonald wasn't signed, then yes, I would want Kiprusoff around to support whoever wins the job. With MacDonald we don't need to have Kiprusoff playing since we are entering a new era. You keep a franchise goalie around when you are trying to be a strong playoff contender (assuming said goalie is still capable of doing the job). You don't keep a franchise goalie around if you need to get young guys more experience.

[schteve_d]

I would like to say Yes but I've got to go with No. No disrespect or hard feelings toward Kipper as he is among my favourite Flames of all time and that will not change.

I hold no ill will towards him for the refusal to be traded last year but after having done that I don't think it would be fair to the team or the fans to come back for another year.

We've said our goodbyes at it were. It really is time for the team to move on and there is no use half-assing it.

The poll numbers look sad as it appears that we just don't want Kipper back but there is so much more to it than that.

Thank you for everything Kipper and I (hopefully we all) wish you the best.

[flambers]

Yes, I would think the Flames would love to have him back.

If Kipper requests an contract renegotation (i.e. last year is $1.5m). I would think the Flames would decline.

However I bet the formal announcement of his retirement will happen will soon.

[Ryan Coke]

I think (and Feaster alluded to it vaguely on deadline day) that if he does decide to come back, the flames will still likely move him.

Love the guy, and I am not a believer in committing to losing for the next several years, but it is time to start finding the next guy while we are in the low part of the cycle. I think it would make more sense to throw money and term at a guy like Mike Smith who will be here right through the rebuild, if we wanted an established guy.

And I think that Kipper may decide he still wants to play, once he actually faces not doing it, and once the emotional turmoil of his sons birth has subsided. But I am guessing the organization has decided it is time to move on one way or the other.

[FlameZilla]

36/37 years old seems like a very early age to retire for a goalie. Don't guys of Kipper's standard generally keep playing until they're 40?

[Erick Estrada]

He's not coming back. Glencross talked to him prior to going back home and said he strongly feels Kipper is done. He may change his mind over the summer but the Flames have to move on without him.

[Joborule]

No. This is a transitional period for the Flames. It's time to move on and give all the opportunities to players that are going to be part of the organization going forward.