OFF-SEASON PLAYER ADDITIONS
Raitis Ivanans, LW (Signed as a free agent, previously with the Los Angeles Kings)
Tim Jackman, RW (Signed as a free agent, previously with the Phoenix Coyotes)
Olli Jokinen, C (Signed as a free agent, previously with the New York Rangers)
Henrik Karlsson, G (Acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks)
Jean-Philippe Lamoureux, G (Signed to a minor league contract, previously with the Buffalo Sabres)
Logan MacMillan, C (Acquired in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks)
Stefan Meyer, LW (Signed as a free agent, previously with the Phoenix Coyotes)
Ryan Stone, C (Signed as a free agent, previously with the Edmonton Oilers)
Alex Tanguay, LW (Signed as a free agent, previously with the Tampa Bay Lightning)
OFF-SEASON PLAYER LOSSES
Brad Cole, D (Unsigned Free Agent)
Nigel Dawes, LW (Signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Thrashers)
Andy Delmore, D (Unsigned Free Agent)
Carsen Germyn, RW (Signed with EHC Olten of Switzerland)
Chris Higgins, LW (Signed as a free agent with the Florida Panthers)
Jason Jaffray, C (Traded to the Anaheim Ducks)
Jamal Mayers, RW (Signed as a free agent with the San Jose Sharks)
Brian McGrattan, RW (Unsigned Free Agent)
Garth Murray, C (Unsigned Free Agent)
Eric Nystrom, LW (Signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Wild)
Brett Palin, D (Signed as a free agent with the Nashville Predators)
Colin Stuart, LW (Signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Sabres)
Vesa Toskala, G (Unsigned Free Agent)
David Van Der Gulik, RW (Signed as a free agent with the Colorado Avalanche)
2009-10 Season Finish: 3rd Northwest Division, 10th Western Conference, 90 Pts.
2009-10 Playoffs: Did Not Make Playoffs
2010-11 Prediction: 2nd Northwest Division, 7th Western Conference
The Calgary Flames started off the 2009-10 season strongly, but began to struggle around the second half of the season as their offense began to play sluggishly. In an attempt to pull the team out of its slump, GM Darryl Sutter shook up the team in a series of trades that saw defenseman Dion Phaneuf head to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a seven-player deal and forward Olli Jokinen to the New York Rangers in a four-player deal. However, the trades were not enough to shake the Flames out of their slump and they missed the playoffs by five points. In an attempt to get back to the playoffs in 2011, the Flames brought back a couple of familiar faces this past summer to help them out offensively. Just months after being traded to the Rangers, Olli Jokinen is back in Calgary. Despite lacking consistency, Jokinen brings good face-off skills and some scoring talent to the lineup. Alex Tanguay returns to the Flames after a rather disappointing season in Tampa Bay in 2009-10. Despite his struggles last season, Tanguay brings plenty of speed, versatility, and excellent passing skills to the forward lines. Team captain Jarome Iginla remains the team’s top player with his exceptional offensive skill, goal-scoring ability, toughness, and leadership. Daymond Langkow brings plenty of offensive depth and passing skills to the lineup, while Matt Stajan provides some goal-scoring skill to the forward lines. Rene Bourque, who had a fine season in 2009-10, brings plenty of two-way skill, speed, goal-scoring skill, and toughness to the team, while Niklas Hagman brings speed and offensive skill to the wing. Ales Kotalik brings a good shot and offensive depth to the wing, but given his inconsistency and pricey contract, he could end up in the minors or Europe for the 2010-11 season. Curtis Glencross brings plenty of toughness, goal-scoring skill, speed, and skill to the power play and penalty kill, while David Moss provides some size, versatility, and offensive depth to the wing. Newcomers Raitis Ivanans and Tim Jackman bring a wealth of toughness, grit, and physical play to the lineup, while Craig Conroy provides plenty of two-way depth and grit to the team. Brett Sutter will look to make the roster full time at training camp with his gritty play, while Mikael Backlund will also look to secure a role with his two-way skill and offensive upside. Other prospects looking to make the Flames’ roster for next season include John Armstrong, Greg Nemisz, Mitch Wahl, Lance Bouma, and Logan MacMillan.
The Flames’ defense remains intact from last season and should help keep the team competitive defensively in the Western Conference in 2010-11. Despite struggling in his first season with the Flames in 2009-10, Jay Bouwmeester will look to have a comeback season in 2010-11 with his excellent skating and offensive skill on the blueline. Robyn Regehr provides plenty of defensive depth to the team, as well as toughness, mobility, and leadership skills. Ian White brings lots of toughness and offensive skill to the Flames’ defense, while Cory Sarich provides lots of toughness and grit as a stay-at-home defenseman. Mark Giordano possesses plenty of offensive skill and toughness, while Steve Staios brings lots of toughness, grit, and leadership to the blueline. Adam Pardy provides plenty of size, some toughness, and mobility to the team’s blueline as a depth defenseman. While the Flames are pretty much set on defense for next season, several defensive prospects will look to make the team next season, including Staffan Kronwall, Keith Seabrook, Gord Baldwin, Matt Pelech, and John Negrin.
The Flames’ goaltending remains fairly strong for next season with Miikka Kiprusoff set to return between the pipes once again. He is a solid goaltender in net, is very competitive, and can handle heavy workloads. Newcomer Henrik Karlsson could end up being the backup to Kiprusoff next season with his incredible size and has some upside to becoming a starting goaltender, but will have some competition at training camp from Matt Keetley and Leland Irving. However, given the lack of NHL experience from the aforementioned goaltenders, the Flames should look at adding a stable backup that can help down the stretch to the playoffs, as Kiprusoff is prone to wearing out late in the season from playing so many games.
TEAM STRENGTHS
- Possesses some talented goal-scorers.
- Lots of grit and toughness on defense.
- Very strong starting goaltender in Kiprusoff.
TEAM WEAKNESSES
- Too many inconsistent scorers on offense could sink the team offensively again in 2010-11.
- Could use a little more offense on their defense.
- Need a more proven, stable backup goaltender.
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