Calgary Flames Hot Start to the Morning Vol 11
By Len Nunes
Apr 7, 2014; Newark, NJ, USA; The Calgary Flames congratulate goalie Karri Ramo (31) after their 1-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Good morning Calgary Flames fans!
The Flame For Thought re-introduction series looked at Sven Baertschi last night. The Calgary Flames 13th pick overall of the 2011 NHL Draft fueled his super prospect status after a late season call up in 2012-13. Collecting nine points in ten games to finish the 2012-13 campaign, Baertschi was not able to carry the momentum in last season. Baertschi has not played a Flames regular season game since December 10, 2013. Baertschi collected an assist on the lone goal of a Calgary Flames 2-1 loss to the Boston Bruins. Does the Flame For Thought family believe he is ready to make the jump in 2014-15 to the NHL once and for all?
For the article on Sven Baertschi I used the site DailyFaceoff.com to get some key dates in the youngsters NHL career. Fishing around their site, I found their Calgary Flames season preview. The article includes a ranking of the Calgary Flames Top 10 fantasy hockey options. At the number 10 spot is Johnny Gaudreau. I can’t wait to see him play for the Flames for next season.
In Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Summer Development Camp on Friday afternoon, both Calgary Flames prospects Sam Bennett and Morgan Klimchuk were in the lineup. Canada would lose the game 5-2 to the Czech Republic. Morgan Klimchuk did not collect any points or penalty minutes. Sam Bennett would not collect any points but at the 12:40 mark of the 3rd period would collect a two minute minor for roughing and a ten minute misconduct.
On FanSided’s general hockey site, “Too Many Men on the Site”, a “Where Are They Now” article was written Friday night which included former Calgary Flame goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff. Click the link to see the other two players the article covered but below is the entire Kipper section:
"No one thought that the 115th pick in the 1995 NHL Draft will turn out to be one of the best goalies of his generation. No one would also think that one of the best goalies of his generation would quietly leave professional hockey without muchattention.When the San Jose Sharks traded the young Kiprusoff in 2003 to the Calgary Flames, things took off. He backstopped the Flames to their first playoff appearance in eight years and was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy. He continued his strong play for the Flames until the 2012-13 season, when he slowed down. In his mid-thirties and hurt by a variety of injuries, Kiprusoff retired at the end of that season amid speculation that he told the Finnish national team he would retire. The Flames’ franchise leader in wins and shutouts quietly exited the NHL. Calgary gave him a great goodbye, but many others forget about him.However, Kiprusoff has never left the game. He was recently named the goaltending coach for the Finnish national junior team. He will likely be mentoring young Finnish goalies like Nashville Predators prospect Juuse Saros. Who knows, maybe Kiprusoff will find his way back to the NHL with a coaching job?"
Have a great day Flames fans.