Bright Spots - Rene Bourque

Pat Steinberg
August 21 2010 08:09PM

BUFFALO - NOVEMBER 13: Rene Bourque #17 of the Calgary Flames warms up before the game against the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena on November 13, 2009 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by: Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

With all this not-so-positive talk over the last few days surrounding names like Tim Jackman and Alex Tanguay, it's probably time to look at something definitevely positive from last season.  Kent already put together a great analysis of Mark Giordano's breakout season, and now I'll look at the career season for Flames forward Rene Bourque.

Read Article | 15 Comments

Alex Tanguay - A Closer Look at EV

Robert Cleave
August 20 2010 01:01AM

                                         

 

 

One of the most interesting moves of this off-season was the return of Alex Tanguay to Calgary. The 30 year old winger left Cowtown after an unhappy 07/08 campaign, with the player and then-coach Keenan equally happy to have a parting of the ways. Since then, Tanguay endured injury in Montreal, followed by a sub-standard year on the Gulf Coast, which has lead people to wonder if he's on the slide.

Read Article | 15 Comments

Investigating Tim Jackman

Kent Wilson
August 19 2010 10:40AM

UNIONDALE, NY - MARCH 25: Forward Mikael Backlund #60 of the Calgary Flames battles for the puck with Tim Jackman #28 of the New York Islanders during an NHL game at the Nassau Coliseum on March 25, 2010 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

 

Spurred by this conversation at M&G, I decided to take a deeper look at one of the clubs more uninteresting acquisitions this summer: tough guy Tim Jackman. The 29 year old has scored all of 28 points in 191 career games and is known far more as a tough guy than a capable NHL player as a result. The assumption is that he was acquired to skate around for 5 minutes a night with a scowl on his face and little else.

Read Article | 34 Comments

The Utility of Craig Conroy

Kent Wilson
August 18 2010 10:39AM

COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 13: Craig Conroy #24 of the Calgary Flames faces off against R.J. Umberger #18 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during the game on October 13, 2009 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

 

While the reaction to the Conroy signing was mostly positive, there were a few voices raised in protest when the old man's deal was announced. I'm sympathetic to the argument that the Flames seem to be once again squeezing the kids out of the equation this year (having made similar protestations in the past), but given his skill-set and the price, I think this signing is a clear win for the club.

Read Article | 8 Comments

Flames Hire Michel Goulet as Wetsern Pro Scout

Kent Wilson
August 18 2010 09:48AM

DENVER - OCTOBER 16: Adam Foote (R) #52 of the Colorado Avalanche is honored for playing in his 1000th career game along with his wife Jennifer and sons Callan and Nolan as he recieves a silver stick from Michel Goulet (C) as Vice President of Hockey Operations Jim Gregory (far L) as Jacques Cloutier (2L) looks on during a ceremony prior to facing the Philadelphia Flyers at the Pepsi Center on October 16, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. Foote played his 1000th game on October 12, 2008 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

 

Calgary continued to remake their organization beneath the surface today, naming former NHL star Michel Goulet as the club's western pro scout. Outside of serving as the director of player personnel in Colorado for several years (and playing in the NHL), I'm not sure what other credentials or experience Goulet has.

The move, while minor, is another indication of an unspoken impetus in the org to change things after a disappointing season. One wonders what will happen if the Flames fail to make the post-season for a second straight year...

UPDATE - TSN notes that the Flames have also hired Finnish scout Ari Haanpaa and Ottawa based Fred Parker.

Read Article | 9 Comments