Calgary Flames Daily: Gary Bettman getting involved in arena talks again

With Gary Bettman not leaving the city alone and the Calgary Flames losing a disappointing game last night, they need this holiday reset.

The Calgary Flames had a disappointing loss last night to the Montreal Canadiens. After outperforming their opponents for basically an entire month, they seemed like they were already on vacation last night.

In a much-needed win for the Flames, they couldn’t walk away with any points. The top line hasn’t been contributing as much as they were in October and November, so let’s hope this week off for the holidays will give them the reset they need.

Now let’s talk about something that I really don’t want to talk about: Gary Bettman and the arena situation.

Related Story: Flames already on vacation - lose to Habs

Every time I have to talk about this arena situation, I lose a day off my life. I’ve lost weeks already. But Gary Bettman is getting involved with the Calgary Flames arena situation… again. It was bad enough that he was trying to include himself in a foreign election by trying to intimidate voters to vote a different way. But now he’s bringing it up again.

Via Sportsnet:

“The Senators need a new building downtown and that’s something that’s going to have to get worked out,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said during an appearance on Prime Time Sports on Thursday. “The Flames do need a new building, and that’s something that’s a concern for sure that has to get focused on; and yes, Quebec City has a building, but nobody’s moving right now, we’re not expanding East.”“Calgary’s been very frustrating because the Flames have concluded they can’t make a building deal in Calgary so they’ll hang out and hang on as long as they can and we’ll just have to deal with those things as they come up,” Bettman said.“I think part of the reason that the Flames have stopped pursuing a new building in Calgary is they don’t see any prospect of making a deal for a new building on terms that make sense. And based on my experience up there, I understand why they’ve taken that position,” Bettman said, admitting the situation has “been gloomy.”“And by the way, you can have the world’s best owners—and I think the Flames’ owners are as good, if not better, than owners in any teams in any league, starting with Murray Edwards. But the fact of the matter is, a team, in order to be competitive for the long-term, in order to survive for the long-term, has to have the right facility to play in.”

Oh, Murray Edwards, you mean the guy that left Canada to go live in the UK so he wouldn’t have to pay taxes? Right, he’s a great owner. Or the fact that Bettman says he understands why the Calgary Flames have stopped trying to pursue a new arena. When the city gave a more than fair proposal and more than they should have even offered.

Anyways, now I have a headache. Thanks, Bettman.

Flames Tweet of the day

(Yes, it’s our own Tweet).

Hockey Tweet of the day

Some links surrounding the Flames

No sign of Flames arena talks reigniting, so what’s next? (CBC News).

Gary Bettman calls Flames’ arena situation ‘very frustrating’ (Sportsnet).

Flames prospects on a big stage at world junior hockey championship (Calgary Sun).

Flames hand Habs early Christmas gift (Calgary Sun).

Some links surrounding hockey and the NHL

U.S. finalizes roster for World Junior Championship (NHL.com).

Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews may return to action on Saturday (FanSided).

NHL’s roster freeze allows players to breathe easier during holidays (CBC Sports).

Next: Is Versteeg's absence why Gaudreau's hit a slump?

That’s all in today’s Flames Daily!