Heartbreaker

Yeah, but you've followed the team long enough to know that if they even sniff playoffs, they'd never trade a player like 55. Love.

I would definitely be kicking tires there. Looks like there might be some good options out there. Yesterday Steinberg was saying from the Doug Lacey Basement Systems Downtown Studio that the Flames should be looking at Alex DeBrincat as well. I mean, who knows what the cost would be to acquire these types of players, and I would be extremely wary of throwing too many high picks around, but they seem like the right targets. You'd want to know in advance, of course, whether or not they'd be interested in signing long term in Calgary. Where our situation is unique is that with so many players coming to term at the end of next season, and the rumours about the salary cap going up substantially, the Flames might be in a position to go shopping where not every other team can. Love.

You know, I hate to say this, but I could see Toronto winning a cup with Treliving driving the bus. He's a smart guy, and we just might really miss him. Love.

I don't know about that. He did an interview a few days ago with Steinberg in the Doug Lacey Basement Systems Hot Stove Lounge, and I didn't get the impression that it would be a great fit from either side. That said, he seems like a guy that you'd want to give a job to after his playing days are over. Love.

Yeah, I liked Lomberg at the time, and had hoped that he'd stay. You're right about Bennett, and I've said this before, but one of the most frustrating things to have watched - and it's a long list of frustrating things, having been a life-long Flames fan - was the development of Sam Bennett. I'm not sure if fumbled is the right word... more like spiked. I don't buy the bit about Tkachuk, though. Specifically, around his playoff performance. He absolutely could have been that player here, and what we're seeing now is a much more mature Matthew Tkachuk. Forwards tend to hit their prime in their late 20s, and he's not even there yet. He was always going to improve, and we have seen that year over year. Unfortunately, I think that we're left with sour grapes on that one. Love.

Červenka, actually. Love.

Obviously, I won't say who that is, but I will say that I like him too. My pops used to cook for them, and he asked him one time if he could sign something for me. The next time he saw him, he gave him a game-used stick signed by everyone on that team. It's the coolest piece of sports memorabilia that I have. Even cooler than the 7' Pronger poster in full Oilers regalia. Love.

Yeah, I hear you. I am cheering loudly for Florida, but I'm really sad that their boys, who were ours, aren't here anymore. Personally, I would not have signed Nazem Kadri, but I suspect he'll be fine, and he is what he is. Jonathan Huberdeau has a lot more to bring, and he'll be a great player for us. Still, last summer, my entire Flames jersey collection was made obsolete, and I'm sad to see them gone. Love.

Pfft! Why you gotta be such a buzz kill? Two year retool. Oilers suck. Love.

I agree with pretty much everything you've said here, except for two points. I would be pretty open to exploring the possibility of moving Tyler Toffoli. If he's to be extended, I would be extremely cautious about the term on that contract. I see that you said walk Backlund to UFA, but it's not clear if you mean that you would just let him go when it's over, or if you'd explore options with him at that time. I might be overly sentimental, but I don't have a problem with guys playing their entire career with one team. It's pretty rare, and if 11 wants to chase a cup, I would give him that option - but if he's willing to stick around on a series of short term deals, I'd be happy to have him. He's a pillar to the community, and an excellent mentor for younger players. Basically, he's a beauty! Could probably give him a good office job when his playing days are done, too. I know you know all that, but he's one of very few players that I no longer think of as "an asset". Love.

That's the bit I always worry about, too. Every time a low seed does well, I think it inspires Flames management to push the "You just have to get in!" ideology. Love.

I thought that was an excellent press conference. I realize that the introductory ones are always inspiring, but I genuinely believe that our team is in good hands. I like that he didn't shy away from direct questions about players that decided they didn't want to be Flames, and I felt his enthusiasm, and his passion for the city and organization. This summer has already been another roller coaster, but this feels like a real high point. Love.

Oh my Gawd... please be Conroy. Love.

Inflation... and maybe he's saving up for something. Love.

You know, I'm really glad you said that. It's one of my more controversial hockey opinions (the other is, sorry... there was no conclusive evidence that the puck crossed the line in Game 6 in 2004). I think for all his faults, Gary Bettman has done a great job growing the game, and teams like Arizona are really good for hockey. Fact is, Leafs fans, there would be no Auston Matthews if there was no Phoenix Coyotes. If we can find a way to make the game more accessible, as in, lower the barrier for entry into minor hockey, I think we'll start to see more of that. It's awesome to see both Florida teams doing really well, and after the 2006 Stanley Cup win, there was a major surge in minor hockey in Carolina. I'm a big fan of sharing our game, and it grows, and makes a better sport when people outside of Canada, and in non-traditional markets have success. Love.

Ooh! I love when they go off the board! 🙄 Love.

My music brain got really confused, and thought that you were delighting us all with some musical metaphor. In traditional traditional music theory and notation, there is a convention of capitalizing Major, and not capitalizing minor. Of course, there are conventions that we follow, and the difference between those things is not technically a difference of opinion, but I thought we were going to go into the weeds, as C Ionian (Major) and A Aeolian (minor) are made up of the same collection of notes, and could then, theoretically, be a difference of opinion. Of course, that's also how grammar works - you capitalize the first word of a sentence. It appears purely coincidental that those were the first words... unless I've missed something much deeper. Love.

I have no love for Principe, and while I didn't mind Harnarayan Singh when he was calling the Flames games, I started to cringe every time I heard him yell about "a bouch-bomb!" Love.

Funny you say that. I watched the press conference with Jay Woodcroft after the game, and he said: We scored two goals five-on-five. That should be enough to win. I thought of Darryl Sutter immediately, and the objective to win the game 2-1. Love.

Excellent meme game over on the Flames subreddit. Love.

If nothing else, it should be an excellent series. This is the AHL heavyweight bout that everybody was hoping to see in the Pacific Division Final. The Wranglers and the Firebirds placed 1st and 2nd, and played each other 8 times this season. In those 8 games, each team won 4 in regulation. Both teams lost 17 games in regulation this year, and 4 to each other. There are a couple of points to consider - The Wranglers lost to them a couple of times early in the season before hitting their stride Seattle are still in the playoffs, so the Firebirds don't have NHL reinforcements Those factors considered, I think that the Wranglers will take this series, but it's going to be hard fought. Love.

Ha ha ha! Boorish.

Yeah, as far as I know, he is being considered, but as Phoenix says, it is a decision that will be made by the GM. I don't know a whole lot about him as a coach in terms of rapport with the players, and I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to the Carolina Hurricanes when he was the head coach, but in Calgary one of his primary responsibilities was the power play. Hopefully if he's named head coach, that's a duty that will be delegated. Love.

I don't know about that, Man... things were pretty lean in the 90's. And who are all these fans that they are losing? I know that there's a lot of criticism in the comment threads on the Rick Bell article, and a lot of talk (from you too, even) about whiny players not being able to play for a hard coach, but if the organization is hemorrhaging fairweather fans, I'm pretty sure that it's nothing a win streak won't fix. That being said, there is plenty of good reason to be critical of Flames ownership, and direction. If nothing else, this is an interesting time to follow the team. Even though sometimes it feels like cutting myself. Love.

If it were a choice between the two, I'd hope he made that choice, too... sadly, what I mean, is that I don't think that the Flames are for sale. Love.