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Well a couple of days of passed and things have died down quite a bit, we have down a lot of discussing on air, what happened and where the Flames go from here, but let me throw some of my thoughts on a bunch of things (hence the blog format). By the way there is no particular order.

As bad as some in the media and some fans think the season was, it still produced to nominations for Flames players for two very prestigious awards. Dion Phaneuf, in just his third season, has been nominated for the Norris Trophy as top defensemen. Jarome Iginla has been nominated for the Hart Trophy. Well neither will likely win; it is quite an accomplishment for a team to produce nominees in both of these categories.

This was by far and away the most interesting regular season that I have been around a hockey team, be it college, junior, or pro, that is not a fan perspective, but from a media perspective there was never a dull moment. It started in June with the hiring of Mike Keenan and continued right until game 82 in Vancouver. Let me just say up front that all of things that made this season so interesting for me was all the stuff that drove the fans nuts. The plain truth here is that when you get a job like mine you area always learning, you don’t know it all and you never will, this season proved it, I learned more this year then I have since getting in the business.

Is Miikka Kiprusoff mad? Yes, I am sure he is, but I am not sure that he is as mad at his coach as everybody has assumed. Kiprusoff is a competitor and really wants to win and based on that I am sure he is really pissed at how his year ended. I know that because he left without talking to the media on Friday has certainly lead to much speculation that there is strife between the goalie and the coach and that may be true, but if Kiprusoff won the Stanley Cup it wouldn’t shock me if he didn’t talk to the media after that either. Darryl Sutter made it quite clear he expects his goalie to come to camp in better shape next fall, but didn’t seem too worried that the goalie might be mad.

I am currently efforting to try and get a clear description of the buy out process, in the new CBA there are a number of twists and challenges that make it a little confusing. There has been some speculation that the Flames may try and buy out a contract this summer.

Damon Langkow will be resigned to a contract extension, likely something in the 4 to 5 year range at between 4 and 6 million, while that range seems a little big the way the contracts are set up it will likely be front end loaded, but a cap hit at around 5 million. He has already being grouped in the with the other “Core” players by the GM and coach.

When Langkow signs the Flames will have 15 players under contract for next season, and their cap hit would be around 50 million which will leave Calgary with very little room to move. It shouldn’t be surprising; the Flames have known that 08/09 was going to be year of transition, that’s why there was so much talk about a window of opportunity the last couple of years.

There are a handful of players who are UFA and I don’t think are coming back, Huselius, Smith, Yelle, Krahn and Hale are the players who I don’t think are coming back. On the fence for me Joseph, Nolan, Vandermeer, and McElhinney, and I think Conroy, and Godard are most likely coming back. Guessing what Darryl Sutter will do is a fool’s game.

The most surprising thing I heard on the Friday was when Darryl Sutter said they would talk with Huselius’s agent and see where they stand.

Sutter named 3 young defensemen on Friday that he believes are knocking on the door for a spot next year. Adam Pardy is a RFA and was hurt late in his AHL season, but was an All Star and is very close according to the GM. Matt Pelech quietly had a very strong fist year as a pro in Quad City, but according to Darryl it was huge for Pelech to stay healthy for the entire season and show he could play. John Negrin was a 3rd round pick for the Flames last year, he played in Kootenay in the WHL and had an outstanding season offensively and is close. Sutter also admitted that they intend to have Mark Giordano back in the fold after a year in Moscow.

Just a note on Giordano, I think it hurt the Flames not having him in the line up this season, but I do believe there is a feeling out there that Mark is farther along then he may actually be. I think the Flames do need him moving forward especially next year when thing are u in the air.

Will this be the 3rd consecutive season which the Flames change coaches? Ummmm AHHHH ohhhhh No, my gut tells me no, but then again my gut told me no last year.

The passion that Flames fans have show over the last 2 days have been awesome, not awesome in the Valley Girl kind of way, more in the awe version of the term awesome. The Flames failure to win game 7 over the San Jose Sharks would normally get everybody talking and debating, but what has come from the game past Tuesday has been so fierce and loud it really has set the tone for the off season. I get no pleasure from the Flames losing quite the opposite, but I am very enthusiastic about the way people have debated the game. Remember if you have an opinion you care, one way or the other you care, if the Flames had lost and the season went quietly into the night that would be troubling, this is not the case.

Calgary will have their final media availability tomorrow it should prove to be interesting, normally it is just the same old same old, but there is always the chance that someone might let loose. It will be interesting to hear from both the Coach and GM tomorrow, all eyes will be on those two.

I think I know what will happen this off season, or better yet I have an opinion on what might happen, but I am interested to hear what is said tomorrow.

For the record I do not believe pulling Kiprusoff cost the Flames the game, nor was I surprised that it happened. I think that the debate is distracting from the real reasons that Calgary lost game 7, but it isn’t up to me or anybody else to determine what should be debated, what it shows me is how passionate people are about the goalie and the coach, both good and bad.

More on the Flames over the next couple of days!

The 2nd round starts tonight, here are my guesses:

Detroit over Colorado, this one I have gone back and forth on, but I think the Red Wings have too much on the blue line.

San Jose over Dallas, if the Sharks can sweep the next 3 series it sure would make us look at the Flames in a different light. I think the 1st round series for the Sharks was huge in terms of giving them confidence moving on.

Montreal over Philadelphia, I think Price will roll after his game 7 shut out over the Bruins, the Flyers hung on in those final 2 against Washington.

Pittsburgh over the Rangers, this one worries me a bit because of the long lay off for the Penguins, Pittsburgh could be in trouble if the Rangers jump out to an early series lead.

Remember those are just guesses what ever you do don’t use them to gamble with.

Hockey lost a real friend today here is the release from the WHL:

Calgary, AB. - It is with great sadness the Western Hockey League today announced that Ed Chynoweth, WHL Chairman of the Board and President of the Kootenay Ice Hockey Club, passed away this morning in Calgary.

Born in Dodsland, Saskatchewan, Chynoweth, 66, was the driving force behind the growth and development of Major Junior Hockey throughout Canada over the past four decades. Chynoweth’s career in both the WHL and the Canadian Hockey League spanned 37 years. He was appointed President of the WHL in 1972 and held that position for 23 years before becoming the majority owner of a WHL expansion franchise in Edmonton in 1996. The franchise relocated to Cranbrook, British Columbia in 1998.

Chynoweth also played a major role in the game at the national level, serving as President of the CHL for 20 years from 1975 – 1995. During his tenure as CHL President, Chynoweth was instrumental in forming the partnership between CHL and Hockey Canada in 1981 to oversee Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team. The Hockey Canada and CHL partnership led to the formation of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence and Canada’s dominance in International Hockey at the junior level.

Chynoweth, the WHL Chairman of the Board until his passing, has served in this capacity on two separate occasions since 1996 and also has served as a member of the CHL Board of Directors.

“The WHL and the entire Canadian hockey community have lost a great leader today in Ed Chynoweth”, commented WHL Commissioner, Ron Robison. “The success the WHL and our Member Clubs are experiencing today is a direct result of the vision and leadership Ed Chynoweth provided to this League over the past 37 years.”

As President of the Kootenay Ice, Chynoweth together with his son Jeff, who is Vice-President and General Manager, have operated one of the most successful franchises in the WHL, having recorded the top winning percentage in the WHL over the past 10 years. The Kootenay Ice captured the WHL Championship twice in 2000 and 2002, and went on to win the Memorial Cup National Championship in Guelph in 2002.

Ed’s son Dean was a defenseman with the Medicine Hat Tigers when they won back to back Memorial Cup Championships in 1987 and 1988. In his capacity as CHL President in 1988, Ed had the privilege of presenting his son Dean, as Captain of the Tigers, the Memorial Cup. Dean is enjoying a successful WHL career currently serving as General Manager and Head Coach of the Swift Current Broncos.

Ed is also survived by his wife Linda of 45 years. Ed and Linda have resided in Calgary since 1976. Prior to moving to Calgary with the transfer of the WHL headquarters, Ed and Linda resided in Saskatoon.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced later this week.

Game 7 is finally upon us, I don’t know about you but I didn’t sleep very well last night, the anticipation for this game is incredible, there is something so cool about this scenario.

A couple of game 7 tidbits, Yelle is going to play in his 11th 7th game, he is the active leader in the NHL. This is the first game 7 ever hosted by the Sharks. Mike Keenan will set a new NHL record coaching in his 10th game 7, no coach has ever done that before, and that surprised me a bit.

Dion Phaneuf was named a finalist for the Norris Trophy, along with Chara from Boston and Lidstrom from Detroit, I think Nick will win, but that doesn’t diminish the accomplishment, and I could be wrong too. Sometimes we forget that he is year 3 of his entry level contract, I do believe he is taken for granted in Calgary by the local media since he isn’t the greatest quote. Think about this of the 3 nominated as the best defensemen in the NHL who has lots of room to grow? Well Duh, I think there is still a lot of room for Dion to grow, but most of that growing will have to take place with team success now.

No line up changes planned for the Flames tonight; at least that was the message from Pete down in San Jose. The Sharks will put JR back in tonight, but no word on what changes may becoming for their blueline, with no McLaren tonight again they will have some decisions to make.

Right now is as helpless as a guy can feel, the questions have been asked, it’s now up to the two teams to go out and determine a winner on the ice. Tomorrow are we pre viewing the next series versus the Wings, or tomorrow are we talking about what might have been and look towards next year. I hate waiting!

Game 7, does it get any better then that (yes, a 4game sweep), but this is right up there I will tell you. Over the next 24 plus hours you will no doubt hear a number of reasons why each team should win or lose the game, who has the pressure and who doesn’t, but as Mike Rogers said last night it’s a game it’s played on the ice, and the better team will always find a way to win.

A handful of players skated, but most just met for a meeting and then headed out to San Jose.

Game 7 numbers Calgary Flames in game 7’s 5-6, on the road 3-2, and Mike Keenan’s record in game 7’s 5-4.

A lot of talk around today about the Flames chances in game 7 and most that I run into have a lot of faith in the team’s ability to win in HP pavilion on Tuesday. Boy that is a change from the regular season, isn’t it?

If the Flames do lose, there are some interesting questions about the success of the season but I will table that until end of the season.

This might be the easy day to prepare for if you’re a Calgary Flame, there is no looking ahead there is no time to worry about what has taken place, win you play again, lose and you get to think about what might have been. For the Flames to have success tonight they need to come out and play with an urgency and purpose that hasn’t been there this series, that’s not to say that they haven’t played at times during this series with out those attributes, tonight is just different.

For the record either their due or doomed, Calgary is 0-3 in elimination games dating back to game seven of the Stanley Cup final in 2004.

Early start combined with the weather made for an interesting morning, the Sharks scratches and extra goalies all practiced at 8:30am, while the Flames scheduled an optional practice for 9:30am. Funny though the few Sharks that did practice made sure that they didn’t get off the ice until the Saddledome staff chased them off, so that they could resurface the ice, the mind games continue.

Due to the cold temperatures and the current blizzard the Flames were forced to move the tailgate party indoors today, I wonder what impact that will have on the crowd tonight. A normal play off game for most involves some form of warming up ahead of time.

Just a quick lacrosse note, nice to see the Roughnecks staying in the Dome for a while longer, they made that announcement. Talking to Brad Bannister the owner of the Necks a couple of weeks ago I got the sense that the Corral was an option to try and create that kind of sold out atmosphere that Montreal has in the CFL.

Watching the Montreal versus Boston series I am left with the feeling that Carey Price is going to have a career changing moment in game 7. The young goalie has given up 10 goals in the last 2 games, and he has been pretty much hidden from the media, he needs to step up or face the wrath of an unforgiving media and fan base all summer.

From the injury department, good news for former Shark Mark Smith he is back skating after being knocked out of a game 4 weeks ago against Minnesota.

Updated 1:35pm - It appears that the Flames are going to take a page, kinf od. out of the Sharks play book it looks like David Hale is in and Eric Goddard out, with Jim Vandermeer playing up front.

Flames appeared to be a looser bunch in San Jose, a few more guys smiling and joking ahead of game number 5 versus the Sharks. Funny yesterday we talked so much about the argument between the Captain and Rich Preston, we did play and talk briefly about the pointed comments from Robin Regehr, the d-mans comments are what was discussed more in the dressing room today. That’s not say they weren’t talking about the argument, but my point is it looks from the outside like they have moved past it.

No apparent line changes for tonight’s game from the Flames side of things, and as far as the Sharks are concerned they are likely going to go with 7 defensemen and 11 forwards again.

The start time for the game on Sunday is going to be 6pm Mountain, CBC was hoping for a 5pm start, but we have been told to go with 6pm.

Look for the Flames to start the game with Tanguay, Conroy, and Iginla on one line, and Huselius, Langkow, and Nolan on another. It won’t likely stay that way since Mike has consistently been using 3 and half lines for the most part.

Funny to look at the 2nd leading scorers during the regular season for both teams, combined Kristian Huselius and Milan Michalek have combined for 1 assist. Neither player as looked like they want to get involved through most of the series, who ever wins this series will likely have more from their 2nd leading scorer by the time it is all said and done.

Brian Campbell has been a bust in the series so far, almost a point a game during the regular season upon his arrival in San Jose. The former Sabre has 1 assist, and except for parts of the last game has really been invisible. The flip side of that for the Sharks has been Douglas Murray, a big goal and assist so far he has been a physical force in this series; it looks like he might be a guy taking a big step forward.

A rare glimpse behind the scenes today for the local media and I will guarantee you that you will be hearing about for the next news cycle (24 hours). The media was on its way into the Flames dressing room when in another room with an open door a rather heated exchange between Captain Jarome Iginla and Assistant Coach Rich Preston erupted, we were then asked to go back out to the main hallway. The argument was confirmed and talked a little about by Craig Conroy and Mike Keenan, but neither giving any details. Two things jump to mind, first I have not seen this before in Calgary, but have seen it before in the NHL. Second I am not naive enough to believe that this isn’t a common occurrence, it is it happens all of the time, but great steps are usually take to ensure it isn’t done in a public forum. Today was a mistake, and I am sure behind the scenes someone will get scolded for allowing it to get public, but again were not children here we all now this happens, and today we saw it, tomorrow or the next day we won’t.

Flames 10 shots for last night was there lowest total ever in the post season, beating there old total by 5 shots, 15 was the fewest before.

I have the same question about both teams heading into game number 5 in the HP Pavilion on Thursday, Which team show’s up? It is not surprising that today is a complete opposite of Monday. If you remember after game 3 I told you about the wild swings even in the media, today a lot of talk about how the Flames are done, and other side of the fence in San Jose the Sharks are rolling an may not lose again. For the record I am going to stick around to see how it all plays out.

Lost in all of this hand ringing over last nights ending, I really didn’t think Nabokov was sharp, he came really close to losing a play off game on only 10 shots. The point may sound a little trite, but it is one of the reasons I think the Flames are going to have success in the next couple of games.

Lots of questions about Mike Keenan not calling a time out after the Sharks 2nd goal, while I agree that it wouldn’t have surprised me if he had called it, but by no means did they lose last nights game because of not calling a time out. Hind sight is what we deal with in my business, and I have no argument with the debate, but at the end of the day I am more concerned about not hitting the net and the lack of physical play in the last 2 periods, and the inability to get the puck out of their end in the last 5 minutes.

Flames recalled 4 players from Quad City goaltender Curtis McElhinney, and forwards Brandon Prust, David Vanderguilk, and Grant Stevenson. I have said on a couple of occasions that I didn’t anticipate that Stevenson would be called up. He was the leading scorer for the Flames in the AHL this season, but was never called up, Why? It seemed to most that he just wasn’t in there plans, yet here he is. Maybe he did enough to get a look next year at camp since their will be changes between now and next season.

For a team that has been criticized all year long about not having a killer instinct the Calgary Flames have an excellent opportunity to really step on the throat of the San Jose Sharks at the dome. This game is as important to Calgary as it is to the Sharks, the Flames appear on the verge of doing something in this series that not many picked them to do, but then need to win tonight to really send a statement. The Sharks most likely will have their most determined effort of series on Saddledome ice, but Calgary need to ride their fan support and stay as the front runners in this series.

If you think some fans ride a roller coaster of emotion in a play off series, you should be here between games some member of the media also tends to swing high a low. Members of the San Jose media have already begun the obituaries on the Sharks with just 3 games played, some even go as far as suggesting now that the Sharks overpaid for Brian Campbell. On the other side of the ledger there are more and more Calgary media guys talking about a long run, after a week ago predicating a short San Jose series win? It is times like this that I am reminded of the old adage “Never get to high and Never get to Low!”

I wonder if we have our first fight tonight, does Jody Shelly seek out Eric Godard.

Great line yesterday by a San Jose TV guy, I am not sure which one but it went something like “What amazes me the most is that sifter being here in 2004 and the Red Mile and all of the Red Jerseys you would think that after a couple of years it would kind of run it’s course. I think I saw more Red Jersey last night then the last time we were here!” Quite a compliment I think to the fans of this city.

For the record as the Flames began their morning skate, it was Curtis Joseph in the goal were the starter goes, and Miikka was at in the goal the back up usually occupies. So based on that one wonders if Cujo is the starter, well wait a second how come all of the shots have been on Kipper so far. I think that Iron Mike is playing a few mind games with some in the media today.

So far the Flames haven’t run any lines so at this point there are no apparent changes to the line up for game 4.

Flames held an optional skate today about a dozen players participated, Miikka Kiprusoff skated Curtis Joseph did not. Any speculation that there was a goaltending controversy was nipped in the bud pretty quickly today.

An Interesting tid bit from the Flames today about what transpired last night.

The only other time the Flames won a playoff game in which they trailed by three goals (or more) was exactly 24 years earlier, April 13, 1984 at Edmonton. The Flames, who trailed 4-1 late in the second period, scored four straight goals to take a 5-4 lead (Steve Bozek put them ahead with 1:33 left), only to have the Oilers to the score with 33 seconds to play on a goal by Wayne Gretzky with Grant Fuhr off for an extra skater. The Flames won in overtime, 6-5, on a goal by Carey Wilson.

We were also today that Joseph was the first goalie to win a play off game for 5 different teams, St.Louis, Edmonton, Toronto, Detroit, and now Calgary.

ESPN is reporting that the Sharks are only the 2nd team in NHL play off history to blow a 3-0 lead in the first period and lose the hockey game.

Sharks held a full practice today, and held about 3 on ice meetings, the room seemed fine today, and nobody seemed to on edge after last night’s loss.

A lot of talk today about the Sarich hit on Marleau with both sides of fence represented in the debate. There are a number of people who felt the hit was a penalty and borderline dirty at least that is the feel from the San Jose side. The Calgary side was equally determined that it was a clean hit, I have seen it couple of times today, I am shocked there was no penalty. Not from the stand point that it was an illegal hit, but more from the position that the league has called those hits most of this year, but even more intriguing was the fact the Flames ended up with a power play, usually in the even up NHL that would have been 2 penalties for both teams. If your keeping track at home the Flames were mad after game 2 about the referees, San Jose mad after game 3 and it ain’t over yet.

Interesting debate today at the dome about Sean Avery and his antics, Coaches and broadcasters didn’t like it and thought there was no place for it in the game. The players that I talked to about it thought it was great, both Craig Conroy and Joe Thornton thought it was great and just a hockey play. Well the NHL didn’t think it was that funny, they quickly acted today adding to the interpretation of unsportsmanlike minor to penalize exactly what Avery did. I really didn’t have that big a problem with what Sean did, but by all rights the Devils should be head hunting him the rest of the way, but then again that really isn’t part of the game anymore.

The Flames appear real loose after staring the series on the road with a split. There is a confidence around the team that hasn’t been there all year long. Yesterday when they practiced off site and even today at the morning skate they had some fun, were loud, and their were lots of smiles, not like they are just happy to be here, but like things are working out they way they had hoped.

Lines Today

Tanguay Conroy Iginla
Huselius Langkow Nolan
Yelle Lombardi Primeau
Nystrom Nilson Moss

Phaneuf Vandermeer
Regehr Sarich
Aucoin Hale

Out Godard, Eriksson, and Warrener

After practice Moss stayed out late and Godard was off early, so don’t be surprised if Moss is out and Godard is in.

Mark Smith was hit by Derek Boogaard in a game at the Dome on March 22, and hasn’t been seen since. He has suffered what we think is a fairly significant concussion since he isn’t even skating yet, but with all of the play off talk he has become an after thought.

The Sharks are a funny bunch; they have decorated their dressing room like a 12 year olds bedroom. They have banners up from their pacific division titles, they have “you are in Sharks Play off territory” signs all over the room, and they have a toilet seat with their logo hanging up in their room. No idea what the toilet seat means, but man their pr department went out of their way today to tell us how much fun the Sharks are having in the play offs.

Ron Wilson caught everybody off guard today, while during his pre game scrum was asked about the ice conditions at the Dome, he said the ice was good but thought it was awfully warm inside the Saddledome perhaps to try and slow the ice down. Then proceeded to give us the scientific explanation of why heat in a building like this isn’t good for the ice, it was weird.

I love home play off hockey; to me it’s the best part of my job all year long to be here when the Flames play at home. It is loud and red and just a ton of fun to be part of.