Never mind that quiet deadline business …
The Calgary Flames have officially served notice that this is their year, they plan on coming out of the west and they are willing to roll the dice to do it.
The Flames thorugh 10:46 MST have made two impact deals to shore up and injured team and alter the balance in the top heavy Western Conference.
In deal one the Flames moved recently acquired Lawrence Nycholat, prospect Ryan Wilson and a 2nd round pick (acquired from Montreal) for former Flame Jordan Leopold. Then they went out and finally grabbed the inevitable Flame, Olli Jokinen for Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Prust and a first round pick.
Much like the Blue Jays of 12 years ago the arrival of Joe Carter was rumoured for years, but finally happened setting up two champsionship seasons for Toronto, the Flames finally closed the deal on a Jokinen rumour that has existed for 24 months.
When the dust settles the Flames have a true number one center, and another top four defenseman to throw in the mix.
Craig Conroy will slide down to the second line and take Lombardi’s spot, Jokinen will likely join Iginla and Cammalleri for the most dynamic top line in over ten years in Calgary. Leopold clearly makes his way into the top six but at the expense of whom? Does he play with Regehr again or do they keep Aucoin there?
The Jokinen deal makes sense for next season as well, as the Flames – as I’ve been saying for weeks on Calgarypuck Radio – were fixing for a glut in that 2nd and third line center position. With Conroy, Lombardi and Langkow all back next season the team had to figuere out a home for Dustin Boyd that didn’t land as fourth line center between two checkers. Conroy has to be the third line guy and Lombardi just didn’t have any room in the 2009-10 season. And that’s without Backlund making a push.
The most humorous part of the deal is the classic Darryl Sutter rope a dope hits another out of the park.
Not going to trade roster players, not going to do much and then boom, he’s the eye of the hurricane for Trade Day 20
