They say all great plans must have contingency’s built in, for the Calgary Flames we may be about to find out if that is true. There is rampant speculation that the long term extension that we were told was coming for Daymond Langkow, may not get signed. Sources are strongly indicating that Langkow has been advised to test free agency on July 1st.
I want to point out that it is not uncommon for rumors and innuendo to fly around rampantly with just a few weeks to go before free agency begins, so it maybe a tactic in negotiations, or quite honestly it maybe someone jumping the gun.
This is an interesting situation indeed, Darryl Sutter tends to keep his cards very close to his vest but even he admitted openly at the season of the season that a deal was all but agreed to that would keep Langkow here for around four more years. Daymond himself admitted that the deal was in the works, and Mike Keenan went as far as including Langkow as part of the Flames core moving forward.
This can all be summed up by one word OPPORTUNITY, honestly I have been surprised that more players don’t go this road, they are after all independent contractors. I believe that a quality player who goes the free agent route will more often make anywhere from 20-50% more in an open market. Look at the last few July 1st’s, there was no way Chris Drury, or Scott Gomez would have gotten anywhere near the dollar figure if they stayed with their old clubs, but in the open market with a bidding war they end up making out like bandits. Look at the potential free agents this season, a guy like Langkow will be a day 1 signing.
There is opportunity for the Flames here as well, their first choice is of course to keep Langkow as their number 1 or 2 center, but if he doesn’t sign that will force the organization to go in a different direction this summer. The Flames admitted that if they signed Daymond long term, and with the big 4 locked in long term there wasn’t a lot of wiggle room to re shape the team. While the reported 4 millionish a year that would have gone to #22 isn’t enough o compete for a Marion Hossa, it is cap room they didn’t plan on.
While I am sure the Flames don’t feel this way the big winner in this maybe that segment of the fan base that feels the last 3 years have been like watching the Bill Murray movie Groundhogs Day, the same thing over and over. Calgary would be forced to address the fact that not only do they not have a bona fide number 1 center but they don’t have a proven #2 (Sorry Lombardi fans, he still hasn’t proven himself). The team would then get a face lift, it would be a different looking team and as they say sometimes a change does you good.
It is all speculative at this point, but in this new era in the NHL stuff like this more likely to happen then ever before. My hope is that Langkow stays, I think he is under appreciated around the league and even here in Calgary. He is a stable player in the locker room, not a rah rah leader, but by no means a distraction.
If I can just address the rampant Ollie Jokinen rumors that are out there, early in the week I mentioned that speculation (there is that word again) is that the captain of the Panthers will be traded this off season. If the Flames lose Langkow it maybe harder to land a Jokinen, if I was Florida GM Jacques Martin knows that the Flames are now desperate to land a front line center the price just shot up.
We had him on the air a couple of days ago Peter Loubardias is the new TV voice of the Flames on Rogers Sportsnet; you are going to love him. I have known Pete for a long time and he is a really great guy who makes his broadcasts entertaining and informative. He has a passion for this game like few I have ever met.
Just a note on Roger Millions, I don’t why the change was made as I type this, but I do know this business, it is unforgiving and at time maddening. Roger is a pro, and will be a great host, but my heart goes out to him and to Jamie Thomas.
In this business there is no greater job then being entrusted with responsibility of being the voice of a team.
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Rob, please tell me that The Rocket was making up the Joffrey Reynolds trade rumour yesterday? There seems to be some debate about it, but I was under the impression it was a joke to get a rise out of Stamps fans. Thanks.
- MissTeeksWell if his choice is to leave then see ya later! Too bad he might go that route, as he had his best success playing here with Jarome Iginla…Clearly if he leaves it’s a money decision and not a hockey one…Where else in the league is he gonna play with a guy like Iginla??? Oh well it’s all just speculation at this point…The Jokinen rumors used to be interesting, however they are becoming to much too take!!..It will be interesting to see what Darryl does up the middle here…M.Backlund perhaps???
- BraedonBy the way let’s draft Justin Azevedo with a late round flier!
Hi Rob,
I like Langkow and hope he stays. He is a solid forward and undervalued. Are they thinking of going after someone else form UFA?
I’m wondering if Sportsnet is ever going to give us a permanent color guy. We keep getting flipped around while Edm gets Ferraro.
- kevinHi Rob,
If Darryl is unable to sign Langkow or acquire an established 1st string center, Is there any likelihood of trading a soon to be UFA to a team like Columbus for a first round pick as a stop loss? They need a center, They have cap room, He can play Hitch’s style with Nash & Trading for him gives them one week of private negotiation as opposed to the freeforall that happened with Brunnstrom where ~5 other teams lost out?
Thanks & I look forward to your 2008 Draft coverage.
- ET