Not only did the Calgary Flames miss the 2010 NHL playoffs, but they added to their sorrows by making poor deals in the process, which now finds them in a challenging state of finances going forward.
The 40-32-10 Flames went home for the summer after missing the postseason for the first time in six seasons, finishing in a tie with St. Louis for ninth in the West. With 204 goals, Calgary was the league's lowest-scoring team, but ranked sixth overall in defense by surrendering only 210. Either way, it is not unreasonable to assume that with a little tweaking at either end of the ice the Calgary Flames are not far from increasing their win total and returning to the playoffs.
The need for minor adjustments is a good thing for Calgary, given the franchise has very little cap room, no picks in the first two rounds of the 2010 draft, and only a few decent prospects on their way up, although none look to be game-changers at the moment.
Sticking with what they have and hoping the forwards regain their scoring touch in 2010-11 is one option, while completely breaking everything down and rebuilding is another. However, rightwing captain Jarome Iginla feels the Calgary Flames can be a Stanley Cup contender with the roster they have, plus the addition of one of two players with offensive skill. This scenario would mean a major in-house renovation, given there are eighteen players under contract.
Iginla insists he wishes to remain in Calgary, but accepts the possibility the Flames could ask him to waive his no-trade clause. Although his 69 points, 32 goals, and 37 assists all led the team, they were his lowest numbers in his last five seasons, and the Flames do not have a pick until the third round of this year's entry draft, making Calgary's captain attractive trade bait for a higher pick.
Amongst the highlights for the 2009-10 Flames was the play of goalie Mikka Kiprusoff, who put up solid numbers of a 2.31 goals-against average (7th in NHL) and a save percentage of .920 (8th in NHL), while 26-year-old defenseman Marc Giordano developed into a top two-way blueliner with a +17 rating and 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in all 82 games. Acquired from Toronto, 25-year-old defender Ian White – due for restricted free agency and a substantial raise to his $850,000 salary – had an immediate impact upon his arrival in Calgary with 12 points and a +7 rating in 27 games. Additionally, leftwing Rene Bourque (27 goals, 31 assists) – the team's second-leading scorer – had his second straight successful season since the Flames acquired him from Chicago in 2008.
The thinking from within is that Calgary is a really good hockey team on paper and if they can get three or four players back to numbers they have been known to achieve, the Flames can be right back in the playoffs once again. Banking on improved production from Iginla, center Daymond Langkow, rightwing David Moss and defender Jay Bouwmeester is not a bad thing to plan upon, given it is unlikely that these players will perform below their normal standards in two consecutive years. Given that, and if frontline newcomers Niklas Hagman (Toronto), Matt Stajan (Toronto), and Ales Kotalik (NY Rangers) can up their games – after combining for only 11 goals and 21 points after they were acquired by the Flames – it is very possible that Calgary may just have everything they need under their own roof.
It is going to be interesting, so order Calgary Flames tickets as soon as they become available and come out to the Pengrowth Saddledome to see if this team made the right decisions to get back on course as contenders for the 2010-11 NHL season.
