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

[Sheva #7]

i hope he plays next season, he still has it

[Resolute 14]

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.

Think that one through. You want the NHLPA to fine one of its members because the member wants to dictate his own future? Good luck with that.

No, Kipper does not have an NTC. However he has the right to refuse to report. The consequence of which would be suspension without pay. If that isn't a concern to him - and it seems that it is not - then there is no other recourse. Nor should there be. Kiprusoff has the right to retire right now, this very second.

The Flames can trade him anyway, and an acquiring team can take the risk. That they choose not to is a fair decision.

[WilderPegasus]

Originally Posted by Bmuzyka

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.

Doubt he has to worry about making mortgage payments.

Real men choose family over money.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Some of you are huge drama queens.

I, for one, would be very happy if Kiprusoff retired a Flame. Yzerman retired a Redwing, Sakic retired an Avalanche. Kiprusoff wasn't going to bring back the franchise savior in a trade, but he pretty much was in his career.

Show some class people.

[SportsJunky]

I have zero problem with it. Toronto and Kiprusoff had a chat, he ultimately decided he didn't want to go and that is the end of it. Let's enjoy his last games here and wish him all the best at the end of the season.

[Wronskian]

Sit kippers ass on the bench for the rest of the season

[Dr. Doom]

Originally Posted by 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.

Yep Kipper shouldn't play more than a few games here on out.

This is just a bizarre situation. Dude announces his retirement because of talks with the Leafs??

Honestly how long ago did the guy check out? Well Hartley should BENCH his ass.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Bmuzyka

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.

That's probably the dumbest thing I've read on this site all week, and there's been some doozies. Yeah, I'm sure he was thinking about his lack of NTC when he was banging his wife. Give your head a shake.

The guy is retiring as a Flame, which we ALL KNEW he was going to do when that contract was signed. That time is now. Get over it.

[you got PHANUEFED]

With our heads in the clouds thinking Kipper was bringing home a 1st rounder if traded was not going to happen and I was one hoping for that as well but the sad truth is the value back would be 2nd with conditions at best so I'm happy he chose to stay and stick it out in a Flames uni.

[Redrum]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Speaking as someone who has done a lot of road work in the past, I think you greatly underestimate the difference between being out of town for a few days at a time, and benig out of town for months at a time.

There is quite a bit of irony in your post, given you are basically accusing Kiprusoff of being selfish because he won't accede to your own selfish wants.

I know what you mean about working on the road, it's really lame. But he's getting paid millions instead of a paycheck that will get you by for a couple months. Kind of hard to have sympathy there.

[PeteMoss]

Pretty weird decision if he was going to retire after this year. You'd think he'd want one last shot at meaningful games. Does explain his play this year... already mentally checked out.

I appreciate everything Kipper has done for the Flames, but he signed the contact with the expiring no trade clause and he should honour it. The Flames can't just say ... ah you're playing terrible so we aren't going to pay you anymore.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Wronskian

Sit kippers ass on the bench for the rest of the season

Lets not be that franchise.

[SofaProfessor]

If Kipper actually does retire I would prefer to see the Flames ice a young guy and let him get some games in the big league. Let's face it. The team next year will be young and inexperienced. No matter who's in net, wins will not come easy. Why not allow a young goalie develop with a young future core? Even though some of the games will be a bloodbath, it will pay dividends when this team starts to reach its prime. I don't want to hear about Mike Smith, Ben Bishop or Brian Elliott. May make an exception for Bernier...

[Yoho]

Any chance Kipper gets waived?

[Jordan!]

For what Kipper brought to Calgary, no flames fan should be pissed about his choice.

[Ozy_Flame]

No sympathy at all for Kipper. He should retire right now if he's going to check out - let him win against the Oilers tonight and then ride off into the sunset. Let's give playing time to Taylor and MacDonald if we're going take anyways.

I don't care about franchise tags, if you're going to check out during the season, that doesn't reflect well. I feel for his family situation, I really do, but as a fan I also care about the team as well.

[JazzyFlame]

Originally Posted by East Coast Flame

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

And neither do we as fans.

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

That's probably the dumbest thing I've read on this site all week, and there's been some doozies. Yeah, I'm sure he was thinking about his lack of NTC when he was banging his wife. Give your head a shake.

The guy is retiring as a Flame, which we ALL KNEW he was going to do when that contract was signed. That time is now. Get over it.

I could careless if he retires a Flame, actually I would rather he not if that meant we get something in return.

[ResAlien]

Hasn't it always been the plan for Kipper to retire before that final 1.5 mil year anyway? I don't see what the big deal is with this, I mean other than just freaking out for the sake of freaking out which is a load of fun.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I'm pretty disgusted by the entitlement of some fans that seem to think that every player must be converted into an "asset".

I think that's a bit harsh. Fans are conditioned to think this way because it is the reality of business in the NHL. We have seen it with plenty of veteran players over the years at the deadline, heck even Jagr is being bounced around in his final years. Kipper is going against the grain here so it's understandable that some fans would have issues with this given how the majority (heck almost all of them) of players over the years that abide by their contracts and go to their new teams when traded regardless of the circumstances. I really don't think there is a right or wrong way for fans to react here.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by JazzyFlame

And neither do we as fans.



I could careless if he retires a Flame, actually I would rather he not if that meant we get something in return.

Well we wouldn't be getting back anything meaningful in return. So it shouldn't matter to you then, right?