Time to Rebuild the Calgary Flames: Who to Go After?

By Dan Marley

            Calgary fans are certain that the team is need of restructuring.

After losing in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals, the Flames have failed to make their championship dreams a reality.  They have missed the playoffs their previous two seasons and have not made it passed the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the preceding four.

This year, they have very few pieces to make some kind of push, but not enough to make any kind of outstanding impact.

            With a weak farm system and a plethora of contracts ready to expire this upcoming season, the time is now to start from scratch.   If they want to compete, they need to emulate the moves and the meticulous patience that their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Oilers, are utilizing.

            The Flames are in need of younger talent that can create an unstoppable core offensively and defensively, especially in a division that is now hard to compete in: Edmonton’s player development is so far a success, Vancouver and Minnesota are firmly established with their rosters and line combinations, and Colorado’s peculiar institution of prospects and veterans are keeping their playoff hopes alive on a daily basis.

            Currently, the Flames are ranked in the bottom five of player development, according to HockeysFuture.com (26^th) and ESPN as reported by Yahoo! Sports (28^th).

            In their farm system, they have prospects who show a lot of grit and heart.  Their known prospects do well on the defensive front and can be utilized on the third and fourth lines.  They are forwards Mikael Backlund, Roman Horak, Greg Nemisz, and Ryan Howse, and defenseman T.J. Brodie. 

            Backlund is probably one of the best young play makers on the Flames roster. He is at best a third line forward; however, he cannot be depended on for goals.

            Horak was acquired by the Flames this past off season in a deal which sent defenseman Tim Erixon to the New York Rangers.  He is having a decent year so far in Calgary, adjusting at a good pace to the team’s style of play.  He too is a future third line center and regular to the special team units; however, he needs to be more physical on the fore check.

            After two years playing for the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League and four years prior for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League, Nemisz is becoming more acclimated with professional styles of play.  A player who could use another year or two of development in the minors, Nemisz has been counted on by his clubs to make plays and contribute at both ends of the ice.

            Howse was a goal- scoring beast for the Chilliwack Bruins of the Western Hockey League (now the Victoria Royals), averaging over 30 goals per season and a point per game.  After he left the league due to age and signed a minor league deal with the Flames, he has yet to show that he belongs on the big club.  As of January 8, Howse has yet to register a point in 17 contests.  It will take a lot of convincing and a mid-season personal comeback for the Flames to have him on the roster next year. 

            After Erixon was traded to the Rangers, Brodie became the number one defensive prospect for the Flames.  He has that all-around defensive quality that many teams yearn for: he has great puck-handling skills, can skate very well on the open ice and around his opponents, and cause havoc without being sent to the penalty box with how well he blocks shots and hits his opponents.  He will definitely be the perfect centerpiece for the new team’s defensive core.

            In net, the Flames also have a good prospect in Leland Irving, who is currently the backup at the pro level.  He is revered as the successor of Mikka Kiprusoff.

            According to scouts, he is one of the calmest goaltenders in the game.  His size and lack of aggressiveness may be an issue; however, he steps up and challenges any shooter that he faces with ease. Before he allowed six goals on 21 shots in a 9-0 loss to the Boston Bruins back on January 5, Irving was 1-0-2 with a 2.23 goals against average and a 94.2 save percentage. 

            Despite this upside, their downside is that they only have one prospect who is first and second-line worthy.  His name is Sven Baertschi, and he is still in juniors.

            The 2011 first- round pick Baertschi is a gritty player with an amazing offensive mind.  The Flames wanted him on their roster opening day; but because of full roster spots and his age, the organization felt that he would be better off improving his skills back at the junior level, which has so far proven to be effective.

            In 25 games with the Portland Winterhawks, Baertschi has scored 12 goals and assisted on 42 with 18 penalty minutes and a plus-9 rating.  Expect him on the team's roster at some point during the 2012/13 season.

            With no one else to look forward to, this upcoming National Hockey League Trade Deadline will provide an opportunity for the the Flames to seek the young talent that they need to develop a chemistry with the above prospects.

            To do this, they will need to part ways with fan favorites like Kiprusoff, forward Jarome Iginla, and defenseman Jay Bouwmeester.  All three have been in the organization for quite sometime, and they have collectively not been able to satisfy the playoff aspirations and expectations of the Flames' fandom.

            Kiprusoff is a good solid goaltender who deserves to be on a contending team that is in need of goaltending; Iginla has leadership that playoff hopefuls can use; Bouwmeester is a solid defenseman and special teams contributor that can help mature defensive cores that need that kind of veteran presence on the blue line.

            Potential and smart teams that should make a push for these three and give up a little extra for 2012 success are the Tampa Bay Lightning (Kiprusoff), Florida Panthers (Iginla), and Dallas Stars (Bouwmeester).

            Kiprusoff will be a perfect fit for the Lightning.

            Currently, their goalie situation is abysmal.  Starter Dwayne Roloson is not playing the style of net minding that the organization had anticipated in the beginning of the season and Mathieu Garon is not starter worthy come playoff time.  Tampa Bay might be able to turn their season around if they go out and get that solid net minder like Kiprusoff.

            Also, the Tampa Bay/ St. Petersburg market depends on winning.  Their consistent inconsistency of winning and losing seasons have created a fluctuation of attendance and popularity amongst their market and the NHL since they won the Stanley Cup back in 2004.  If this issue does not get resolved, long-term financial and player development issues are sure to arise.
            This bit of knowledge can make the negotiation process go in favor of Calgary.

            Two prospects that the Flames might target in a deal with Tampa Bay are forwards Brett Connolly and Vladislav Namestnikov.

            Connolly is a good goal scorer and a great play maker, someone that the Flames can use as part of their rebuilding process.  He is so far adjusting well to the professional level, registering eight points in 29 games for Tampa Bay.  He is projected to be a second line center.

              Namestnikov is a skilled forward who harnesses the power to shoot the puck accurately and create plays at both ends of the ice.  He is making the most of his development with the London Knights of the OHL.  He is a bonafide second liner, according to scouts, but has the potential to be an effective first- line center.

            For the first time in as many years, the Panthers have a chance to make a strong push for the Cup.  However, if they want this, they need to improve on their goal scoring.  The presence of Iginla on the Panthers can improve the team’s offensive output, as well as provide leadership for the younger players.

As of January 8, the Panthers are 24^th in the NHL in goals and have a goal differential of minus-8.  This is the worst in the league amongst division leaders.  In a first line that includes Iginla with Tomas Fleischman at center and Kris Versteeg on the wing, the Panthers can finally get the scoring touch that the future Hall of Famer can provide.

In exchange, the Panthers can offer the Flames their expendable prospects. Their desperation for goal scoring can too lead to a first round pick coming Calgary’s way.

Some expendable prospects in the Panthers organization that could fit well in the Flames farm system are prospects Quinton Howden, Rocco Grimaldi, and Alexander Petrovic.

Howden has been known for his speed and contributions to the special team units.  According to scouts, he has the potential to be an effective second-line forward with a chance of competing for a first line spot.  Currently with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL, Howden has registered 29 points in 22 games.

University of North Dakota forward Grimaldi has a lot of upside to his game.  He has an accurate shot and is one of the fastest players in the NCAA.  Because he is relying on college hockey to further his development, he is one of those perfect cases of “hit-or-miss” players.  This is a player that the Flames will be very careful with if they want to get the best out of him and his skill set.  

Petrovic is a solid defenseman and enforcer who is heavily relied on by his team to come up big in games.  Besides his physical strengths, Petrovic can too contribute offensively.  His shot at the blue line is one of the hardest in his league and can set up great passing plays to generate effective scoring chances.  With the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL, Petrovic has registered 26 assists and 59 penalty minutes in 36 games.

Dallas needs more help on the power play.  Their struggles on the man advantage hinder their chances of making it to the playoffs.
Also, with financial issues on the horizon with low attendances and desperation to sell tickets, something needs to be done.

Currently, they are 24^th in the league in this category at 14.4 percent.  Bouwmeester is a perfect candidate for Dallas’s power play woes.  The reason why is their absence of a player on their roster that can keep the puck into the offensive zone for the full two-plus minutes and feeding it to the open man cleanly and putting it on net.

With Calgary and Florida, Bouwmeester has been revered for his contributions to the special teams.  Since the 2002/03 season, Bouwmeester has registered 105 points with the man advantage, amongst the best for defensemen.
Not only can he be counted on during the power play, Bouwmeester can also be utilized on the penalty kill.  On the penalty kill, he can hit and block shots.

What also makes him a perfect fit in the Lone Star State is Dallas’ collection of veteran talent. 

After former captain Brad Richards left for the Big Apple, Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk dove into the free agent market and signed a collection of players who have playoff and leadership experience.  These players include forwards Radek Dvorak, Vernon Fiddler, and Michael Ryder and defenseman Sheldon Souray.  Each player contributed to the team's early season success. 

However, they are in need of a better defensive presence, given that their team's defense is filled with NHL journeymen and rookies.  Currently, four of their defensemen have a plus/minus rating of minus-1 or worse. 

Calgary, in exchange, can get those rookie defensemen and give them a chance to properly develop and not worry about rushing to become superstars.  

Two defensemen that the Flames should push for on the Stars roster are Philip Larsen and Mark Fistric. 

Larsen is a confident, solid defenseman who is not afraid to challenge his opponents and avoid the penalty box (2 penalty minutes in 19 games).  If the Flames do acquire him, he can see himself on the same pairing as Brodie.

Fistric is a physical player who plays well on the road.  A team like Calgary that has struggled on the road can use a guy like him.  As of January 9, Calgary is 8-14-3 on the road, and a player with great confidence away from his home venue like Fistric can help a team like the Flames regain lost ground in the standings.

Calgary has a lot of options to rebrand and fix this club for the future, but the time to do it is now.  If they continue to do what they are doing now, their chances of competing in the future will look bleak.

Victoria Royals look to instill WHL tradition back in the B.C. Capital

y Daniel Marley

*This article was retrieved from my previous blog.  It was written back on August 25, 2011.  Enjoy.

         A proud Western Hockey League era came to an end in 2011 with the Chilliwack Bruins relocating to the British Columbia capital of Victoria.

The sudden move of the Bruins came earlier this year with the expiration of the lease to Chilliwack’s Prospera Centre and the fear of a National Hockey League relocation of a team to Winnipeg, which would have resulted in a relocation of the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose to Victoria.

According to reporter Allan Maki of Globe and Mail, the relocation of the Bruins was done to preserve the popularity of the WHL in the league’s British Columbia Division and prevent an AHL team from relocating there and “hogging up” all of the media outlets in the province.  

Fortunately for all leagues involved, the Moose relocated to the Newfoundland and Labrador capital of St. John’s and the WHL market in the Western Canada province was not disrupted.

For the second time in WHL history, semi-professional hockey will have operations in Victoria.  Fans will be graced with the physical style of play that the Bruins fans have adored since their inaugural season in 2006, leading the league in penalty minutes last year with 1,553.

Last season, Chilliwack finished third in the B.C. Division and sixth in the Western Conference with a 33-31-8 record for 74 points.  They made the playoffs, only to lose to the Spokane Chiefs in the first round.

This year, the Royals look to generate their new fan base by preserving their physical game while incorporating a stronger offensive core and restructuring their goaltending for a better push towards their Ed Cynoweth and Memorial Cup dreams.

With the loss of key players like forwards Roman Horak and Ryan Howse and defensemen Brandon Manning and Jeff Einhorn to league age restrictions and regulations, the Royals have done almost everything to fill in these missing roster spots.

The Royals’ restructuring began at the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft and the WHL Bantam Draft early in the offseason with the selections of Czech Republic center Lukas Kralik and defenseman Joe Hicketts respectively.

The Royals were relieved to see Kralik still up for grabs by the time they made their selection.  He is highly revered for his offensive production and physical presence.  According to Hockey Scout and Analyst Dan Sallows, he is a “strong skater who has a good shot, nice hands, and displays good puck protection, reminding hockey fans of a young Ilya Kovalchuk.” Expect him to make a push for a spot on the top line and for his talents to be utilized on the special teams units.

The selection of Kamloops native Hicketts is the perfect compliment for the loss of Manning for his effective two-way defensive game.  Scouts view him as a dominant force that stands up for his team and puts points on the board.  With the Kamloops Jardines Blazers Bantam AAA in 2010/11, he registered 18 goals, 41 assists, 54 penalty minutes, a plus/minus rating of 98, 300 hits, and 33 blocked shots in 51 games.  He also showed great leadership with his Triple-A club, and if he proves himself this year, he will earn a captaincy down the road.

Other 2011 Victoria draft picks include defenseman Zach Peterson of the Edmonton SSAC Bantam AAA club and center Brendon Benson of the Lethbridge Bantam AAA club.

After the draft, the Royals continued their tweaking by trading for defenseman Hayden Rintoul of the 2011 Ed Chynoweth Cup Champion Kootenay Ice and goaltender Keith Hamilton of the Western Conference Champion Portland Winterhawks. 

Rintoul’s strength on the blue line was a key component to Kootenay’s championship run.  The perfect replacement for Einhorn, Rintoul will catch the interest of Victoria fans with his defensive zone concentration and leadership.  In 51 games last season, he registered 24 points with 51 penalty minutes and a plus-16 rating.

The loss of Chilliwack goaltender Lucas Gore made the Royals trade for a goaltender like Hamilton.  After serving as Marc Carruth’s backup in Portland, Hamilton has shown that he deserves the starting role with the Royals.  For three Bantam draft picks, the Royals got a player who is known for his positioning and eye for the puck.  In 28 games played, Hamilton recorded a 17-6-2 record with a 2.91 goals against average, a 91.4 save percentage, and one shutout.

There are two players from last year’s roster that will make a huge impact this year in their new home.  They are forwards Kevin Sundher and Robin Soudek.

Former 2007 first rounder Sundher now has the role as primary goal scorer with the departures of House and Horak.   He is well known amongst the Chilliwack fan base for his offensive mindset and consistency.  He can generate plays in the offensive zone and make accurate passes to his teammates on the ice. 

Last season, Sundher registered 52 assists and 76 points in 70 regular season contests and seven points in five playoff games.  He had a career best in the month of February when he shined offensively with 19 points in 12 games.

Soudek has seen his offensive production and his physicality increase since he left the Edmonton Oil Kings after the 2009-10 season.  His point totals doubled, as well as his time in the penalty box.  In 61 games in 2010, Soudek scored 25 goals and assisted on 32 with 70 penalty minutes.

 Other key players include forward Brandon Magee (12-17-29) and defensemen Mitch Topping (5-11-16) and Tyler Stahl (1-9-10).

The Victoria Royals open up their inaugural season with a home-and-home series on September 23 at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver and September 24 at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria against the Vancouver Giants.