Worst Moment As A Flames Fan

[IgiTang]

This thread is s***. So much sad.

[ignite09]

The fact my 30th birthday involved waking up to news we had traded Phaneuf for scraps.

[Matty81]

I'd say probably the 91 loss to the oilers in game 7 OT, I just have such a dislike for Edmonton and their loudmouth fans, that one really sucked, such a terrible goal Vernon let in too - what a way to lose. Or the whooping at the hands of the kings the year before in round 1, I think they gave up like 12 or 13 goals one game after coming in 2nd in the NHL over the regular season. Vancouver series loss, San Jose shock upset loss, all terrible - lots of bad moments there, nothing recently has come close to the early 90s. Basically that stretch taught me to temper my expectations after coming into hockey and just watching the flames kick ass for a few years, those were some seriously soul crushing losses as a little kid with the flames favored every year.

Not my worst but that Anaheim game 7 was bad too that has been mentioned, just the effort level and not even being in the fight, something I have rarely witnessed in the playoffs. SCF loss stung but the whole run was gravy for me.

Trades would be a whole other thing, so many amazing favourite players have been dealt for poor returns. Basically being a flames fan has kept me grounded.

[BlackWallStreet]

This has probably been said 100 times already but the 04 playoffs. Think I was like 12 at the time and balled my eyes out ...

[Machiavelli]

I hated the Ference and Phaneuf trades, those were lows for me. Felt they were both unnecessary and untimely. Iggy trade had to happen, so I don't mind that one as much, even though the return was subpar

2004 Game 6, obviously

Langkow injury, that was freaking scary. The guy was such a gem, miss him so much

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by Matty81

SCF loss stung but the whole run was gravy for me.

Me too. Beating the Canucks in round 1, that was my personal Stanley Cup as far as I was concerned that year. Sweet redemption from that horrible loss in '94. My hatred for the 'Nucks at that time far surpassed my hatred for the Oilers. Their fans were such cocky d-bags, and it just felt so good to beat them in their barn.

Then when they beat a stacked, heavily favored Detroit team in round 2, that was the moment where I felt like there was something really special about that team, and that they might actually go all the way. And they did! Losing the Cup hurt like a sumbitch, but the ride was just so improbable and magical. Despite the loss, I still look back at that run as the most fun I've ever had as a Flames fan. And that includes the '89 Cup win.

The '05/06 team was even better and should have made a deep run that year. But goddammit, that f'n game 7 against the Ducks...ugh. I was in attendance at that game, and it still holds up as the most pathetic effort I've ever seen from a Flames team. Just embarrassing on every level.

[RedWinger89]

Trading away a generational player like Phaneuf for scraps.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by RedWinger89

Trading away a generational player like Phaneuf for scraps.

Well as it turns out he clearly wasn't generational, but still his value was high enough to get a star player back in a one for one.

Instead Darryl went the old "I only need to talk to one team and I'll get a bunch of quantity back" route that had the entire hockey world shaking their heads in disbelief, and GM's everywhere going "I had no idea he was available, of course I would have made an offer!!!!".

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by RedWinger89

Trading away a generational player like Phaneuf for scraps.

The term generational really should only be used for once in a generation talents, or once in an era talent. Phaneuf is nowhere near to that and was nowhere near that when he was awesome for those first three years when he was tearing it up.

Only generational talents of the last 40 years are probably Gretzky, Mario, Sid and probably mcdavid(based on early returns). There's been plenty of other amazing players during this time, some of the best ever, but a true generational player is a very rare occurrence.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by RedWinger89

Trading away a generational player like Phaneuf for scraps.

I guess if "generational player" is defined as "the fifth best defenseman of his draft class" then yeah, that sucks.

[Calgary_81]

Dunno if any remembers this incident -

Back in 09 or 10 season, Hagman was on waivers and was picked up the Ducks and along with half of his salary (1.25 mill)

Flames played Ducks at the Honda center and went to SO - Hagman scored the winner, while still on the Flames payroll. I think i remember that game being one of the final nails in the coffin that season, and we did not make the playoffs for the first time.

The Flames were the laughing stock of the league. I thought i could here the laughter from the offices of TSN, CBC, NHL, Oilers, Leafs (Burke musta chuckled)

The Phaneuf trade was the gift that kept on giving.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Well as it turns out he clearly wasn't generational, but still his value was high enough to get a star player back in a one for one.

Instead Darryl went the old "I only need to talk to one team and I'll get a bunch of quantity back" route that had the entire hockey world shaking their heads in disbelief, and GM's everywhere going "I had no idea he was available, of course I would have made an offer!!!!".

Darryl Sutter a horrible GM for the Flames. By the time he left the cupboard was almost empty when it came to prospects. The way the game was played changed after the lockout and he never adjusted his drafting style too it.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Dion

Darryl Sutter a horrible GM for the Flames. By the time he left the cupboard was almost empty when it came to prospects. The way the game was played changed after the lockout and he never adjusted his drafting style too it.

Flawed in the long run, but Kipper and some acquisitions of guys like Langkow, Conroy, Tanguay at certain times etc. made the team a contender for a few years. Niemenen and Nilson in 04? After Kipper. Plus Commodore - great depth and team guy. Right pieces at the right time. Damn near Genius.

He is the GM that assembled the best functioning team in the past 20 plus years and should have won the cup.

Team was strong for years and going for it. Hindsight is 20/20 but let's not rewrite history. He may have saved the darn franchise a few years before the cupboards were depleted

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Flawed in the long run, but Kipper and some acquisitions of guys like Langkow, Conroy, Tanguay at certain times etc. made the team a contender for a few years. Niemenen and Nilson in 04? After Kipper. Plus Commodore - great depth and team guy. Right pieces at the right time. Damn near Genius.

He is the GM that assembled the best functioning team in the past 20 plus years and should have won the cup.

Team was strong for years and going for it. Hindsight is 20/20 but let's not rewrite history. He may have saved the darn franchise a few years before the cupboards were depleted

While I agree with most of this, wasn't Conroy a Button acquisition? Yes, I know Sutter traded for him from LA, but that was after letting him go for nothing previously. I'm not sure if the foolish decision to not re-sign any players prior to the lockout was up to Sutter or ownership however.

Also, the Cammalleri trade was a great one however Sutter cancelled that out by letting him leave after a career year and using the money on Bouwmeester.

[Resolute 14]

lol. Dion Phaneuf is more a Derek Morris than he is a generational player - someone who will play 1000 games in the NHL - which is no mean feat - but whom you always look back and think "he could have been more".

Originally Posted by jayswin

Yeah, the "blame Keenan" train was rolling so hard that year amongst fans and media that it was hard to even mention how decimated that team was heading into the playoffs, people just wouldn't have it. But in reality that was a strong hockey team that could have gone far with even a near healthy line-up.

Keenan's line-up decisions were even dumber than Gulutzan's. He split Iginla and Langkow, to the detriment of both, and really pushed Bertuzzi, who made nearly every player he was paired with worse. The injury situation was crazy, but Keenan was the wrong coach at the wrong time and generally held the team back himself.

[Locke]

Honestly, in hindsight I am more than okay with the Phaneuf trade.

At the time the return seemed underwhelming but now just 'not having Dion Phaneuf on the team occupying cap space and a roster spot' is a huge, yuge, positive.

Everything else is gravy and I really like Matt Stajan. I think on the ice and off of it he has been a significant soldier for this team.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Locke

Honestly, in hindsight I am more than okay with the Phaneuf trade.

At the time the return seemed underwhelming but now just 'not having Dion Phaneuf on the team occupying cap space and a roster spot' is a huge, yuge, positive.

Everything else is gravy and I really like Matt Stajan. I think on the ice and off of it he has been a significant soldier for this team.

for me it wasn't just the Phaneuf trade, but the Jokinen deal a day or two later as well, including the way it went down (my memory might let me down on this, but didn't the Flames want to make it official only after another game and the media got wind of it beforehand, which meant Jokinen and Prust had to play another game knowing they'd be traded afterwards?). I completely lost faith in the front office in that week because those deals didn't make any sense at all and I was left with a "there has to be something else brewing" feeling. Of course, nothing else came.

But yeah, pretty happy with how things turned out. Could have been a lot worse for sure.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

While I agree with most of this, wasn't Conroy a Button acquisition? Yes, I know Sutter traded for him from LA, but that was after letting him go for nothing previously. I'm not sure if the foolish decision to not re-sign any players prior to the lockout was up to Sutter or ownership however.

Also, the Cammalleri trade was a great one however Sutter cancelled that out by letting him leave after a career year and using the money on Bouwmeester.

You are right about Conroy. I do seem to remember Conroy jumping on the guaranteed contract from LA too, and am not sure if the Flames were plodding due to Sutter or owners.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

You are right about Conroy. I do seem to remember Conroy jumping on the guaranteed contract from LA too, and am not sure if the Flames were plodding due to Sutter or owners.

Thats an opposite of 'Worst Moment!'

Getting Conny back? That was awesome!

[AC]

Originally Posted by Locke

Thats an opposite of 'Worst Moment!'

Getting Conny back? That was awesome!

Scored 2 goals in his return against his former team.

If I remember correctly, LA was actually in Alberta at the time so Conroy basically just switched dressing rooms that day.