Flames Win Some, Flames Lose Some, Flames Generate Rumors
With two games down on their three game road trip, the Flames are at .500 with the Colorado Avalanche ahead of them. In a much needed win over the Detroit Red Wings, the Flames managed to light up Jimmy Howard four times. Iginla walked away with three points, bringing his goals up to 4 and assists to 3. What wasn’t so impressive was the Flames lack of drive in the game against the Buffalo Sabres last night. With only Henrik Karlsson showing up to play, the team clearly struggled in the 3-1 loss. The Tower cannot score goals and block them, Flames better step it up if they expect to get any where this season that is even remotely close to a playoff berth.
But at you know, I’m not one for really echoing what everyone has talked about. And well, since it’s been over 24 hours since the faceoff, I’m assuming you’ve all read some sort of recap on the game. If you haven’t, I suggest you check out this or this.
Looking ahead, the Flames play the Avalanche on Sunday and then head back to the ‘Dome for a game against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Hopefully the win against the Avalanche on the 26th will carry over when the Flames take the ice in the Pepsi Center. As for the Wild game? Well we can only hope that the Flames do a better job at capitalizing on the defensive heavy Wild and don’t fall the same way they did against the similarly styled Nashville Predators.
So with all that out of the way, I guess it’s time to listen to those who voted and start ranting:
With Phoenix Coyotes‘ center, Kyle Turris, currently out of play due to contract disputes, the rumor mill is churning to see what teams will come up with to pick up a potential first line center down the line. With the Flames being thrown into this mix, all I’ve got to say, HOLY COW DON’T YOU DARE!
Why? Why am I getting all worked up about the potential addition of youth to the Flames? Because Turris is demanding so much money for average play. $3-4 million for an RFA who’s 3 seasons of experience on a team, that let’s face it, isn’t in a city known for high pressure hockey really isn’t a smart move for any team. Adding on to the fact that the Flames have no one of equal value to offer the Yotes, there is a bit of a snag in this idea.
Going through the roster, who do the Flames have to offer? Any one of any worth has some sort of clause on their contract (ie: Iginla, Bourque) and it’s not like Dave Maloney will take cap drain Jay Bouwmeester off the Flames hands. The Flames would have to offer up way more money than Turris is actually worth for the Coyotes to part with him. And you know what? As much as I hate RBQ, I wouldn’t give him up for this little snot. As of now, Turris is at best a third line center, while RBQ is a well established second line center. Turris is going to have spend a few seasons working on getting to Bourque’s level. And Flames don’t have the time to wait for Turris to step it up.
I say, let some other team join The Turris Contract Drama Show. Keep the focus on working with what is on the team now. Work with the prospects that are in the system, work with Roman Horak (where the future of the team rests), and prepare for the retirement of a good portion of the team over the next few seasons. There’s no need to sign all available players, there’s still time. Use your brain, oh holder of the Flames checkbook. Don’t offer this whiny kid an escape from Phoenix. The results won’t be pretty. Don’t agree with me? Leave a comment, yell at me on twitter, I want to hear from you!
Go Flames Go!