Covid Jersey Vote - Best #34 Flames History

[BeltlineFan]

The Athletic did a similar list for the entire NHL at the beginning of the month and Kipper got the pick for #34 there. John Vanbiesbrouck was the runner up.

https://theathletic.com/1703588/2020...n-nhl-history/

[Northendzone]

nice to see that a member of the jim dowd family posts here regularly

[Inferno]

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

I eagerly await Locke's selection of Jim Dowd as greatest Calgary Flame #34.

Its all about Corey Millen man.

In fairness though, I am more than thrilled to see that my vote is irrelevant in this one.

Miikka Kiprusoff is, in my opinion, the greatest goaltender to ever wear the Flaming C regardless of perception of 'lack of cups' and supporting cast or whatever else.

That man was amazing and I'm still thoroughly proud that he represented our team and is still associated with this City and this organization.

Miikka Kiprusoff was a god.

[Pointman]

Corey Millen was very good in NHL97.

[IamNotKenKing]

Sorry, Cooner.

Love ya, but this is Kipper.

[JohnnyB]

Kipper is one of the biggest difference-makers in the history of the franchise. No matter who the Flames were playing, with Kipper in net you knew they were in with a decent chance, often just needing a single goal to win it. Even when he blew a game, you knew the next game was going to be a ridiculous performance with a good chance of a shut out.

In my mind, he is among the four or five most talented players of any position to ever put on a Flames jersey. Going into an elimination game with the choice of any player in Flames history to put on your team, who would not consider Kipper among their first choices?

[Mattman]

The reason I became a goalie, and one of two reasons why I am a die-hard Flames fan.

Please retire #34

[ForeverFlameFan]

Was great being a Flames fan during Kipper's tenure here. Unfortunately, couldn't get a good enough supporting cast in front of him to go further past the '04 cup run.

[Flash Walken]

Kipper is the best player in franchise history.

[FireGilbert]

I love Kipper! Still hard to believe after all the crappy goalies in Flames history there was a time for a few years where they had the best goalie in the world. His 05/06 Vezina and Jennings winning season might be the best individual single season in Flames history.

[Jacks]

I remember hearing in horror about the Gilmour trade but what bothered me the most was that Macoun was thrown in, even if he was slowing down he was one of my favorite players. That being said this is Kipper easily.

[blender]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Kipper is the best player in franchise history.

C'mon. Do you actually believe that or are you just saying it?
If you do mean it, how do you quantify best? Honestly curious, because even though I believe Kipper is one of the all-time Flames greats, I don't see the argument that he's the best.

[Flames2007FIRE IT UP]

The 04 team was out of the playoffs and in the bottom 10 in the league when Kiprusoff came to town. Once they got him I think they had a top 4-5 record in the league when Kiprusoff was in net (Nov onwards). He missed some time with an injury that year as well - Jamie McClennan/Roman Turek stepped up later in the year but he was the reason that team made the playoffs.

It is too bad Kiprusoff never had a great offense in Calgary just like Iginla never had an elite centre. Last year (2018-19) I often wondered how that team would have done with Kiprusoff in net.

Pretty rare for a goalie to play 70+ games knowing he can not let in more than 2 for the team to win but he did it all the time.

I don't remember him giving up many softies and he made some unreal saves. Great quote by a receiver I heard - Professional athletes do not get paid to make routine plays/catches, anyone can make those plays, they are paid to not ever miss the routine and occasionally make the great plays. Kiprusoff was the epitome of this.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by blender

C'mon. Do you actually believe that or are you just saying it?
If you do mean it, how do you quantify best? Honestly curious, because even though I believe Kipper is one of the all-time Flames greats, I don't see the argument that he's the best.

I feel like the 4 best players in franchise history are, in no particular order: Kipper, Iggy, Theo and Chopper

Kipper emerging and declining coincided with the only competitive window the team has had since chopper.

As good as iginla was, imo, Kipper was what made the teams Iginla captained competitive. He absolutely carried the Flames on his back between when he arrived and when he retired. Between 2005 and 2013, no goalie in the league was even close the games played Kipper did for the flames.

Before he arrived the flames were a bottom tier team for a decade After he left they were a bottom tier team.

Without Kipper, a LOT of the numbers we are picking as all time greats or runner ups have no legacy at all.

No individual player has had as significant of a positive impact on franchise fortunes than that guy IMO.

[Sandman]

Remember when Fleury said that he could eat an apple off Millen's head? Lol.Macoun deserves his share of respect, especially coming back after a season off, due to that horrific car crash that should've ended his career. Kipper, however, is the best goalie in franchise history.

[blender]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I feel like the 4 best players in franchise history are, in no particular order: Kipper, Iggy, Theo and Chopper

Kipper emerging and declining coincided with the only competitive window the team has had since chopper.

As good as iginla was, imo, Kipper was what made the teams Iginla captained competitive. He absolutely carried the Flames on his back between when he arrived and when he retired. Between 2005 and 2013, no goalie in the league was even close the games played Kipper did for the flames.

Before he arrived the flames were a bottom tier team for a decade After he left they were a bottom tier team.

Without Kipper, a LOT of the numbers we are picking as all time greats or runner ups have no legacy at all.

No individual player has had as significant of a positive impact on franchise fortunes than that guy IMO.

All fair points. So reading your expanded explanation I see that you've actually got Kipper as part of an elite group of Flames which squares with my own opinion, much as I expect most of us here to feel.

Your original comment seemed unequivocal that Kipper was the singular best. Now I think we are on the same page.

As an aside, I've watched a fair bit of Mike Vernon lately, and he was full value for clutch goaltending. I think Vernon had more ups and downs than Kipper, but he had a very significant positive impact on the franchise in his own right. Arguably as significant as Kiprusoff's.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I feel like the 4 best players in franchise history are, in no particular order: Kipper, Iggy, Theo and Chopper

.

I concur that is the Flames 'Mount Rushmore' , so its a bit jarring that only one of them has their jersey retired . hopefully this will slowly get rectified

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by blender

All fair points. So reading your expanded explanation I see that you've actually got Kipper as part of an elite group of Flames which squares with my own opinion, much as I expect most of us here to feel.

Your original comment seemed unequivocal that Kipper was the singular best. Now I think we are on the same page.

As an aside, I've watched a fair bit of Mike Vernon lately, and he was full value for clutch goaltending. I think Vernon had more ups and downs than Kipper, but he had a very significant positive impact on the franchise in his own right. Arguably as significant as Kiprusoff's.

Well, I'm saying both things. I would PROBABLY put Vernon as my #5 guy behind those guys. Maybe it's Lanny.

I still think Kipper is the best of those 4, but I would listen to arguments for those other 3.

If I had to put an order to it this is how I'd rank:

Kipper
Chopper
Iginla
Fleury

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I feel like the 4 best players in franchise history are, in no particular order: Kipper, Iggy, Theo and Chopper

Kipper emerging and declining coincided with the only competitive window the team has had since chopper.

As good as iginla was, imo, Kipper was what made the teams Iginla captained competitive. He absolutely carried the Flames on his back between when he arrived and when he retired. Between 2005 and 2013, no goalie in the league was even close the games played Kipper did for the flames.

Before he arrived the flames were a bottom tier team for a decade After he left they were a bottom tier team.

Without Kipper, a LOT of the numbers we are picking as all time greats or runner ups have no legacy at all.

No individual player has had as significant of a positive impact on franchise fortunes than that guy IMO.

Good points. I would add though that Kipper's success roughly coincided with the tenure of Darryl Sutter's strong defensive system.