On the Mend
Pat Steinberg
August 16 2010 07:17PM
It was one of the scariest moments I can remember watching hockey. Flames forward Daymond Langkow suffered a neck injury on a seemingly innocent looking play early in the second period of a game in Minnesota on March 21st. The immediate good news was delivered shortly after Langkow left the ice, in that he was moving around. However, the injury would end Langkow's season, and it has put in doubt his return to start the upcoming season. But from who I've talked to over the last few weeks, things seem to be looking up, which is only good news for the Flames.
Bright Spots - Mark Giordano
Kent Wilson
August 16 2010 10:38AM
There's no getting around the fact that last season was a big disappointment for the Calgary Flames. Many of the big money players and notable acquisitions had off-years. The team missed the post-season for the first time under Sutter as GM. The club boasted one of the very worst offences in the entire NHL.
Of course, there were a few enduring bright spots last year. In this post, the first of a series, we'll look at perhaps the single best silver lining - the play of Mark Giordano.
On Team Building and the Fourth Line
Kent Wilson
August 13 2010 11:27AM
For a long time now - certainly since the league expanded to 30 teams - the fourth forward unit has been the place to ditch the least capable even strength players on the roster. Usually that means checkers and goons, although the odd doddering vet and fresh faced rookie makes an appearance occassionally. This was mostly pragamatics: a combination of dilution of player talent, a need to budget and the recoginition that playing the worst guys the least is a good thing.
August 12 News and Notes
Robert Cleave
August 13 2010 07:07AM
After an unavoidable delay due to life's usual intrusions, the round-up returns. This week, the Flames re-up their elder statesman, Ilya Kovalchuk is on the loose, and Tomas Kaberle's Leaf days might be numbered.
Flames Sign Conroy
Pat Steinberg
August 11 2010 03:00PM
The Calgary Flames have signed free agent forward Craig Conroy to a one year, two way contract, basically ensuring Conroy will get to 1000 games in a Flames uniform. The deal is for the league minimum salary, and with what he brings on and off the ice, there is little downside to it.
