I have no reason to doubt the truthfulness in the long held assumption that the Flaming C, was in fact representative of the city of Calgary.
After all the fire used to surround an “A”, for Atlanta, and with the team moving Alberta Bound it only made sense that they’d adjust the vowel to a curved consonant to reflect their new home.
Lately however, a strong case can be made for a new tie in for the latter that adorns the front of the newly minted silks walked out at Flames Central yesterday (or leaked out by an over zealous web creator at the Saddledome earlier in the day), as in “C” for Change.
Nothing stays the same in today’s NHL, one of the first things predicted by Calgary GM Darryl Sutter when the new salary system was introduced was the fact that 20% of each team’s roster would turn over each and every season, and lo and behold the curt helmsman was dead on with that prediction as the Flames welcome many new faces this fall including; Owen Nolan, Adrian Aucoin, Cory Sarich, Anders Eriksson, and a new rookie backup goaltender.
That, however, isn’t where the Change comes to roost, with a much greater transformation always happening in the background of Calgary’s hockey team.
The feel, the chemistry, the very essence of what this hockey team should be seems to be in a constant state of flux from campaign to campaign.
When Sutter opened his first training camp in Calgary he pushed hard on the term identity, turning the Flames from a listing franchise into a team that every other club knew to be a pissy, difficult club that you didn’t want to play. That persona built to a crescendo that featured a Stanely Cup appearance and a complete rebirth of pro hockey in the Stampede City.
The season after that, the 2005-06 campaign, was met with a whole new set of expectations and a deeper roster, and adjustment that had the Flames still an air tight club, but not one that was going to catch anyone off guard. The team was solid, but didn’t get it done in the playoffs.
Last fall the Flames retransformed themselves again, adding a rookie coach in Jim Playfair and a slew of offensive options to change that club’s tested identity from defense first to run and gun, a change that left them in 8th spot and once again out of the playoffs early.
The underachieving team was a disappointment to many, resulting in yet more change this fall, both in personnel and in off ice direction. Stepping aside to an associate role, Jim Playfair was replaced by NHL veteran Mike Keenan this summer in a move that caught many by surprise. It’s been interesting to note the media’s metamorphosis from quick critique to a more thought out support of the move as the Flames look to get the most out of their players this fall and return to the “favourties” tag of expectations.
The alteration isn’t saved for the coaching room however.
A deeper look at the team reveals a nasty make over at the expense of skill, something that should send the Flames back to a more recent traditional game style and away from the fancy pants club that entertained at the Dome, but were slaughtered on the road last season.
On defence the team moved out puck moving defensemen like Roman Hamrlik, Brad Stuart and lately Mark Giordano and replaced them with harder nosed defenders like Adrian Aucoin, Cory Sarich and deadline pick up David Hale. Anders Eriksson rounds out the mix. Aucoin and Eriksson can put up points, but the group as a whole took a decidedly more physical direction, something that should cut down on goals against, but likely hurt the transition game.
Up front enforcer Erik Godard was retained and will start the season in Calgary with a brand new one way contract; a change from his mid season call up of last season. Owen Nolan, a skilled veteran with a penchant for pushing the aggressive envelope from time to time gives the team a fiercer element its top two lines.
The presence of high skill forwards like Alex Tanguay and Kristian Huselius are still on the roster, so don’t perceive said change to be a complete rework of the club, but the edge will be a little more defined when camp opens this week at the Saddledome.
The big question to this writer is the extent to which this physical line will be pushed.
Last season, it was quietly understood that the Flames core physical players had a “no fighting” ban put on them by Sutter, or Playfair or both. The club moved from 76 fights in the 2003-04 season to less than half of that (36) in the 2006-07 campaign. When you consider Darren McCarty and Godard represented 14 of the 36 bouts it becomes clear that the Flames were not the physical team of previous seasons. Dion Phaneuf had four fights, Robyn Regehr three, and Jarome Iginla just two.
To make the most of a more physical roster this fight ban has to be lifted. Much was made last season when Jarome Iginla was hurt in a game in which he fought, but further review showed his twisted knee occurring in a hit that preceded the scrap and not the scrap itself. Injuries happen to fighters, its part of the risk, but it’s not as common as one would think.
Owning a roster with top minute players that can and will defend themselves is a great opportunity to ratchet up the physical game and own the tools to answer the bell when push literally comes to shove.
This isn’t to suggest that the Flames should usher in a return to the 70’s when fighting became a circus distraction to the actual game of hockey. But the game has always had an undercurrent of intimidation, and using said intimidation is simply common sense if you have the roster that suits it.
Iginla, Phaneuf, Regehr, Rhett Warrener, Cory Sarich, Owen Nolan will all spend a good chunk of each game on the ice and are willing to defend themselves. It’s an advantage that needs to be utilized and not marginalized when the season starts. If things get out of hand the Godards, Brandon Prusts and Wayne Primeaus of the world are there to provide support.
So the seeds of change are well in place for what could be a very unique season in Calgary.
Here’s to hoping the change is seen in style of play and not just style of player when the puck is dropped for real in September; if that’s the case look for some change in the standings and the road record as well.
