Calgary Flames Culture Starting To Catch Notice

[waner]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

But your statement that Iginla was on the hardest working team in the NHL ascribed credit to him for that. Doesn't the same apply when its not hardworking?

I agree - Iginla himself was a fitness guy and worked hard generally, though at the end of his tenure he was not usually at optional practices.

I don't cast aspersions on his character or work ethic. I just don't think he fits here - not so much in character as in role.

My statement that Iginla was on the hardest working team in Flames history was not to credit him for that but to show that he could fit in and have success on those kinds of teams when people said he would not buy into that kind of team.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Beautiful and succinct words.

Honestly, and I don't mean to be rude about this... but /debate. I don't know how anyone argues with this.

So now that CGY4Life ended the Iginla bash, how about 'dem Flames eh? Tonight will be the (for me) litmus test, but a knob like Healey actually saying anything positive about the Flames has to be great early poll results. He must have hated himself a little bit after this, it must have hurt.

[waner]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

well in case it wasn't obvious, I was pointing out the correlation between a Giordano's leadership and how he learned it from Iginla...

Seems like a big leap when Iginla was noted throughout his career as one of, if not, best leaders on his team and Fleury was a noted cancer and pretty much antithesis of a leader on and off the ice.

Plus Iginla was a leader through out his junior career and spent two years with Fleury while Giordano was a part of what some would describe as the country club teams.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by waner

Iginla was part of the hardest working team in Flames history and one that also got results. To see people try to change history and just flat out make up BS about him is tiring.

He was also the captain of a Flames team that mutinied against its coach in the middle of a playoff series.

[Igottago]

People read far too much into how captaincy and leadership translates into team success. I think Gio is pretty much doing now, what Iginla did in all the years of his prime. Work hard, perform, defend his teammates, conduct himself well, represent the team in the community and media. I could be wrong but I don't see Gio being a guy who'se yelling at people in the locker room -- he's a lead by example guy just like Iggy was.

Culture is shaped by a lot more than one player. Let's not gloss over the fact that the team in recent years has hired a new president, new GM, new coach and most importantly -- has a stable of young talent the likes of which it hasn't had for the better part of 2 decades. Gio's done an amazing job and he actually has a luxury that Iginla never had -- young talent that have the potential of becoming elite in their own right. Gio won't have to carry the load by himself for his entire career, and team success will come along with that. Its never just one guy.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by waner

Seems like a big leap when Iginla was noted throughout his career as one of, if not, best leaders on his team and Fleury was a noted cancer and pretty much antithesis of a leader on and off the ice.

Plus Iginla was a leader through out his junior career and spent two years with Fleury while Giordano was a part of what some would describe as the country club teams.

Exactly, the comparison was a big leap.

[waner]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

He was also the captain of a Flames team that mutinied against its coach in the middle of a playoff series.

I must have missed that fantasy year.

Sounds like a great story though.

[LostCatalyst]

I'm surprised that nobody has touched on the fact that the beginning of the decline in hard work and chemistry on this team started around the same time that Phaneuf entered the league the year after the lockout. It seemed like the culture of the Flames shifted to arrogance. Always given, never earned mentality.

I remember on the PP (which was terrible) the strategy was to just pass to Dion for a slapper. Which would miss the net high and wide 9 times out of 10, negating any opportunity for deflections or rebounds.

This thread should be changed to 'the stench in the locker room left by Phaneuf took 4 and a half years to get rid of'

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by LostCatalyst

I'm surprised that nobody has touched on the fact that the beginning of the decline in hard work and chemistry on this team started around the same time that Phaneuf entered the league the year after the lockout. It seemed like the culture of the Flames shifted to arrogance. Always given, never earned mentality.

I remember on the PP (which was terrible) the strategy was to just pass to Dion for a slapper. Which would miss the net high and wide 9 times out of 10, negating any opportunity for deflections or rebounds.

This thread should be changed to 'the stench in the locker room left by Phaneuf took 4 and a half years to get rid of'

That, plus there was the whole "2-10" thing, the rift between vets like Reggie and Dion, which drew in Iginla. I don't know that Phaneuf had the influence to make the team arrogant, but he certainly contributed to it being less of a team.

[Sylvanfan]

The Flames did add what was supposed to be a fair bit of talent to the team after 04. They moved on from guys like Lydman, Gelinas, Leopold, Donovan, Niemenen, the `dors' in favor of Amonte, McCarty, Tanguay, Phaneuf, and Hamrlik. Yet these more talented teams never seemed to operate as a very cohesive group, especially when Darryl Sutter was no longer coaching them. It always made me think you a coach has an easier job getting an untalented group to over achieve, than getting a talented group to meet expectations.

I watch this current group and do think back to that 04 group. That team had Iginla score 41 goals, and Shean Donovan finished second on the team with 18 goals. One guy with more than 20 goals. Yet that team finished 19th in the league in goals for because there was like 10 or 11 guys who scored 10 or more. Niememen, Nilson, Gelinas, Saprykin, Simon, Conroy, Clark, McCammond, Donovan, Reinprecht, Lombardi. Not a spectacular lineup at all, but hey all worked for a common thing, and guys were able to score goals throughout the lineup at times.

This year the forward group does lack that impact front line guy. But the depth might be there again, and this unit on the backend can contribute it's share of offence. The talent isn't eye popping...but there are a lot of guys who can play at the NHL level in the organization. Difference is that the big star is on the backend now and not up front. Who knows where things end up, but if Giordano continues to play like a Norris trophy player, and the rest of the group do their jobs, maybe this team is a lot better than many of us thought. Myself included.

[cannon7]

Can we please stop paying attention to Healy?

[SebC]

I honestly don't know much about Gio's personality in the room, but what I like about his captaincy - and why I advocated for it - is that he defends without sacrificing offense, and scores without sacrificing defense. It's hard to imagine the formation of an offense vs. defense rift with Giordano leading the way in showing that scoring and defending can thrive together.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

well in case it wasn't obvious, I was pointing out the correlation between a Giordano's leadership and how he learned it from Iginla...

Perhaps instead of being compelled by your long standing dislike of Iginla, you should educate yourself on this topic before laying on the innuendo.

Giordano has spoken at length on what kind of leader he thought Iginla was and what he picked up from him.

Same old same old from you.

[Lanny_McDonald]

And Iginla always spoke well of Fleury and what he learned from in the early days as well. Giordano is not going to throw the previous leadership under the bus, no matter how deserving they were. That just isn't in his character.

I would not want Iginla back for anything but a retirement ceremony. He showed how little regard he had for the team's best interest when he left the team hanging on the Boston deal, forcing a last minute deal to Pittsburgh, only to sign with Boston in the summer. I think that deal will work out for the Flames, but the way it went down didn't look good on a player who was given so much while in Calgary. The cherry on the top of that poop sundae is him signing with Colorado. I would see Iginla coming back right now no different than the circus of bringing Fleury back at the end of his career. I don't see much good happening for the team or the player. Let the memories of Iginla be good ones and move forward. Bringing Iginla back would only end his legacy on a lesser note than it possibly could. Just no more Iginla.

[FlameZilla]

Iginla now has 1 point in his last 5 games played... http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id...42015&view=log

I'm not sure how that stats line would add anything to the culture of this team. Maybe it's just another classic slow start for Iggy, but right now it's not what we need.