[News] Flames to retire Kiprusoff's #34 on March 2, 2024

[Unknown]

This is awesome, and because of that I wanted to share some Kipper memories and thoughts too.

Im from Finland, and my biggest childhood heroes were #34 and #12. The biggest reason why I'm a Flames fan, and proud about it. Wasn't able to watch the games at the time when they had their -04 SC run, but I remember following results intensely (since that, I've seen the Tampa final series). Last weekend, I went to a golf scramble contest, where we had to get dressed as our childhood heroes. I wore my #34 Kipper jersey, and maybe because of that jersey, we ended up winning the contest (I mean, this childhood hero had ice on his veins when playing, the same thing you need when playing golf).

I don't know, if any of you guys have heard the story about Kipper's training in Finland national team before the 2010 Olympics, and getting a USB flash drive from his goalie coach Timo Lehkonen (including different tips on saving pucks, goaltending in general etc.) but this thing is just golden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOsrVgHePFA It's the Finnish radio channel Radio Rock, where another former flame, Toni Lydman was interviewed. Originally, this story was mentioned in the book of Jarkko Ruutu's biography. Ruutu told in that book, that after Kiprusoff got that USB flash drive and used it for some time, he returned it to the goalie coach Lehkonen, and the flash drive was full of pornography. Radio Rock host asked Lydman, if this is true, and this is Lydman's answer translated: "Yeah, it's true. It was a solo effort from Kipper (I didn't take any part in this). If I remember correctly... of course I do not know what it was exactly, but according to a rumour I believe it wasn't just some normal/basic pornography. Rather it was something with a shade of something that you wouldn't think about at first." That's the Kipper we know.

For many years, my dream has been to make a trip to Calgary, and see the Flames live. My cousin lives in Minneapolis, and I chatted him about a potential trip next spring, and I originally thought that I'd make this trip on Feb/Mar/Apr, including a visit in Calgary. After I heard the news about Kipper's jersey retirement on March 2nd, it just gave me some extra excitement planning this journey. Seeing that live would be dreamy.

[Coach]

I recall when he finished up, a lot of the talk anytime we had some unknown coming in for a mid-round pick, or from a Euro league was "who's the next Kipper?" "Could he be the next Kipper?". I said it then and I'll say it again - we may never have another goalie like him ever again.

[driveway]

Originally Posted by Coach

I recall when he finished up, a lot of the talk anytime we had some unknown coming in for a mid-round pick, or from a Euro league was "who's the next Kipper?" "Could he be the next Kipper?". I said it then and I'll say it again - we may never have another goalie like him ever again.

I got kind of interested in this question and am also trying to improve my spreadsheet skills, so I started digging through the stats, trying to answer the question "Will we ever see another goalie like Kipper play for the Flames."

Since the Flames entered the league in 72-73, there have been 77 goalies who have had at least 400 games played and 200 wins in the NHL. This includes some goalies like our good friends Rick Wamsley, Don Edwards, Ken Wregget, and Rejean Lemelin. As much as we love those guys, it's clear they don't really belong in the conversation. So then it became how many goalies have 400 gp / 200 wins for one team.

This produced a list of 35 individual goalies (Patrick Roy and Roberto Luongo both accomplished the feat with two different teams).

Within this list of goalies, Kipper ranks 12th in GP, 11th in wins, 16th in save percentage, and 13th in winning percentage. Phenomenal numbers, well deserving of the HoF and a Jersey Retirement. However, what really interested me was in trying to determine the rarity of a true Franchise Goalie.

I threw out the Kraken and Golden Knights, as they haven't been in the league long enough to have had the opportunity to have a goalie like this. Among the 30 remaining teams, five have had zero Franchise Goalies since 1972-73 (again, defined as a goalie who plays 400 games and gets 200 wins for your franchise). The Coyotes, Blue Jackets, Wild, Blues, and Maple Leafs have all gone either their entire existence in the case of the 'yotes, Jackets, and Wild, or 50 years in the case of the Blues and Maple Leafs without a Franchise Goalie.

Among the other teams, 15 have had one such goalie, 8 have had two, and the Rangers and Blackhawks have had the good fortune to have three Franchise Goalies play for their team.

On average, NHL teams have had a Franchise Goalie play 21% of their games since 72-73. The Flames, between Vernon and Kiprusoff have had a Franchise Goalie play 28% of our games since entering the NHL. The most goalie-rich teams have been the Blackhawks at 40%, and the incredible New York Rangers who, between Lundqvist, Richter, and Vanbiesbrook have had a Franchise Goalie play 51% of their games since 72-73.

My rudimentary excel skills tell me that, as Flames fans we have been slightly spoiled in terms of goalies, but only slightly. It is very possible we don't see another Franchise Goalie for a long, long time (pity the Islanders who's last Franchise Goalie was Billy Smith).