So…it’s the time of year where rumors tend to run
Rampant in and around the NHL. Sure..they do that all
Year long to some degree, but more-so around the trade
Deadline and after the season’s done.
You’ve got restricted free agents, unrestricted free
Agents, and heck..even those who are currently signed
But may be up for free agency after the next season etc..etc.
Right now one of the biggest rumors perhaps league wide
Is about the Calgary flames top two..possibly three players
Who’s contracts are to come to an end at the end of next
Season.
Seems a tad early to be wondering what’s going to happen,
Or for rumors to be flying ’round the league like flies on
Crap, but then again..there’s likely very few GM’s out there
Who aren’t eying the situation with a keen interest.
First there’s Miikka Kiprusoff, one of the Elite as far as
Goaltenders are concerned. Carrying the flames to within
One goal of the Stanley cup his first season as a starting
Goaltender, winning the Western Conference Championship
That year. Then last year..taking the flames to a Division
Title win and bringing home the Vezina trophy.
His acrobats in the net and his ability to put his best foot
Forward when his team needs him the most are no secret around
The league, making him a Goaltender that most GM’s would give
The right arms of every player just to have in their net.
Then there’s Jarome Iginla, the Flames Captian…
Consistently a 30+ goal a year scorer since 2001,
This last season would have been a career year for him had
He not missed 12 games due to a knee injury.
However..even with missing those 12 games he came within
2 points of his career record 96pts with 94 on the season.
Being a power forward, strong on the puck and a consistent
Player with experience and leadership abilities he could
Bring to any locker room, makes him an a strong candidate
For any team needing goals and leadership.
A world cup winner and Gold medal Olympian, Jarome has also won
The Maurice Rocket Richard trophy, the Art Ross trophy
And Lester B Pearson Award, a couple of them he’s won twice.
Then… Rookie Sensation Dion Phaneuf, otherwise known around
The league as *The monster man*, or the leagues hardest
Hitter, scoring 20 goals and recording over 200 hits his
First season in the NHL, wracking up 49 points for a
Rookie Defense-man.
Then this year..scoring 17 goals and 33 assists, giving him
50 points on the season and recording 197 hits on the season.
His powerful one-timer from the blue-line is no secret among-st
Teams in the Western Conference, as well as his ability to
Score in almost any situation given the opportunity.
Dion would add a tough defensive edge to almost any team
With the added bonus of being effective on the PP’s.
There’s not one of these players who wouldn’t draw some
Fine talent in a trade, of that..there’s no doubt.
But it’s also no secret that all three players have won
The hearts of almost every Flames fan and to lose any
Of them would be a devastating loss to the team.
Two are perhaps more replaceable IMO, but that doesn’t
Minimize the effect losing them would have on the team.
Kipper and Iginla are two faces that pretty much make
Up the face of the Franchise.
Given the Ultimatum..the fans would hands down choose
To keep Kipper because elite goaltenders are harder
To find and keep perhaps than goal scorers and leaders.
Both Iginla and Kipper could easily ask for up to
9 million each when their contracts come due, and that
Would definitely put a strain on the Salary cap when
It comes to keeping other great players on the team as well.
Iginla has made it known that he wishes to stay in
Calgary and is willing to do what it takes to make that
Happen..The fans hope for that as well.
In the end..Rumors are rumors about weather Calgary
Can afford to keep them both and no one knows what’s
Going to happen.
There is one thing I would place my bets on though..
And that is, if it is at ALL possible to do that..
Sutter will find a way to pull it off.
I’m not going to buy into the media hype just because
It makes for great headlines.
Instead…I’ll wait to hear it from the man himself,
And we all know that until any or all deals are signed,
His lips will be sealed shut.
