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

[Voodooman]

If this is truly the case, I hope Hartley and the coaching staff do the right thing, and start MacDonald pretty much the rest of the way. It seems obvious that Kipper's head isn't in it right now, and this team is on a rocketship to nowhere, so what's the point of throwing him out there?

Give Kipper the last home start on April 19 to give the fans a chance to express their appreciation. And if he wants the final road start in Chicago on the 26th, then by all means.

But other than that, why embarrass him any further? It's highly unlikely that he turns it around this season.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

He doesn't have a NTC or a NMC. It expired last season. This is Kipper simply saying "nope, I don't want to go" - so in effect, if he was dealt, Kipper would not report and be in breach of his contract.

Not really a breach of contract. A player can retire at any time they like. He wouldn't be the first player to retire immediately after a trade. It's rare, but not unheard of.

[DuffMan]

I'm good with this.

[WilderPegasus]

Originally Posted by Bmuzyka

No, he doesn't. He does not have a NTC this year. A player cannot make these threats and get away with it. Maybe the NHLPA needs to fine him, cause this is going to hurt other players in the future.

They aren't threats. He has every right to retire whenever he wants. Just because you want the euphoric high of Feaster drafting a player with Toronto's second rounder doesn't change that so stop being a whiner.

[Wronskian]

To add, I'm not a big fan of sentiment in pro sports, he is nothing more than a player that played 10 seasons for us and thats that. The fact that he puts this self-imposed NTC in place is bull.

[Bmuzyka]

Originally Posted by Yamer

Sometimes family is just more important than hockey/business.

Process that.

Then retire now. He knew full well he didn't have a NTC when he knocked his wife up. He works in a business, and sometimes business gets in the way of family life. Ask anyone who had to sacrifice time with family to go on foreign assignments. You pick the career, you take the lumps. He is paid Millions for this. Real men give up time with young kids just to make mortgage payments.

[oilfanforever]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

As per Darren Dreger on Tradecentre.

Kiprusoff won't be traded today, and he will retire at the end of the season.

I'm sure the Islanders will still trade for his rights. Who wouldn't want a hypothetical Thomas/Kipper tandem.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Dr. Doom

I don't know when he scored 40 or where people get off saying Bishop isn't any good but have you looked at our list of goalies in waiting?

They all suck. Period.

The trade you proposed sucks, period.

[Puppet Guy]

I'm cool with Kipper retiring as a Flame. But yeah, ride MacDonald the rest of the way.

[drPepper1]

Sucks he's going to have to retire on a sour note. The most we would of gotten for Kipper would of been a third. I really think he's got some more years in him, just a rough season. Don't get why everyone's so bitter, this guy was more valuable to this team than Iginla.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by JayP

Good thing we didn't trade him in the off-season after the season he had last year. A non-playoff team with an aging goalie who's most likely retiring after the end of the year coming off his best season in a long time - what other team, but the Flames holds on to that guy?

Great asset management.

If Kiprusoff is unwilling to move to another team now, why are we so sure that he was more willing a year ago? He may have been, but there is NO assurance of that, and he would still have completely controlled his fate.

I'm pretty disgusted by the entitlement of some fans that seem to think that every player must be converted into an "asset". Kiprusoff doesn't owe the Flames, Flames fans, or the city of Calgary a thing. Not . a . god . damned . thing. He is arguably the best goaltender to ever play in a Flames uniform, and I for one think that he deserves nothing more than our thanks and best-wishes as he transitions toward retirement.

[fotiou22]

That he'd rather retire than wear a Toronto jersey makes him the ultimate Calgary Flame.

[malcolmk14]

I don't blame Kiprusoff. I blame the management for even giving him a choice. Do you think this would have happened under Darryl Sutter? Kipper would have been the first one gone so he couldn't see it coming and open his mouth.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by the-rasta-masta

Sure they can, where did you hear that? I think babies can fly at 7 days old, and any younger you just need a doctors note saying the baby is fit to fly.

It's not the flying that's the issue (although subjecting their ears to that kind of pressure is not great), it's the fact that their immune system is really fragile for the first couple of months. Putting them in a closed container with 100 other people, some of who are always sick, is a great way to invite trouble. If Kipper's baby had some issues as reported, they are probably even more paranoid than every new parent.

[JazzyFlame]

Super flakey move by kipper and very unprofessional. If you are protecting him then you are an idiot.

The guy is dismissing his own contract? Screwing the team!

But I do believe if any other GM besides Feaster was controlling the process this would have gone much smoother.

[Erick Estrada]

Mixed feelings. I would have like to see him go out like Iginla in the playoffs battling for a chance at the cup but instead he's going to go out in the same fashion as Mike Vernon and Grant Fuhr did with the Flames. Quietly and meekly on a bad team.

I don't think he would have fetched a big trade return given his poor play this year so I'm not going to complain about not getting whatever late pick he would have fetched. I can understand why he wouldn't want to move to another team when it seems his heart hasn't been in the NHL all season.

At least he will get a proper sendoff which is a reason to watch the last game of the season.

[East Coast Flame]

Originally Posted by Wronskian

To add, I'm not a big fan of sentiment in pro sports, he is nothing more than a player that played 10 seasons for us and thats that. The fact that he puts this self-imposed NTC in place is bull.

Settle down, bud. He doesn't owe you anything.

[Cole436]

So happy. At least we get to see one of our franchise players retire with us.

[H2SO4(aq)]

Originally Posted by Hells Bells

Yeah, because Kiprusoff is the worst goaltender in history of the NHL.

What a stupid post. Either just ignorant or looking to stir up something.

have you watched him this year? been questionable at best.

[trackercowe]

I don't have a problem with it at all, the return would have been minimal, and it's not likely that Taylor or MacDonald will even be on the roster next season. So really there's no benefit in giving them games instead of Kiprusoff. If we had someone backing him up that was going to be part of the Flames organization for years his refusal might have hurt. But, really now all we're losing out on is a late pick/mediocre prospect. No big loss there.

Oh and the way some of you are talking about him is particularly shameful. The guy made a hard decision, and talked it over with his family for days on what he should do. His wife felt it was better than he be there for his new child, and not across the country for the next couple months. And since the Eastern teams aren't coming out West this season it would be very hard for Kipper to find time to see his family during this time. The guy chose his family over being a backup for a team he's never played before, I can't hold that against him.