Fleury Fit to Fly Flames' Coop
Theo Fleury is set to test the free agent market starting on July 1.
That's what he told the Calgary Sun this week and it looks to be
certain that Flames fans are seeing their last season with feisty No.
14 in the lineup.
"People have to realize I'm just playing by the rules right now. I
think anybody in my position would do that. I know the situation in
Calgary for me is great, I'm going to play a lot and have a lot of
support from my teammates and coaching staff. But there has been a
certain level of frustration with how things have gone in this
whole situation," said Fleury.
He's referring to the Flames' seeming inability to offer him a
renegotiated deal last year when he was very interested in
staying. Now it's too late to deal and too late to trade him
unless some playoff desperate team needs him as that last cog in
the machine for a May/June run for glory.
When Fleury signed his last deal, which pays $2.4 million this year,
he gave the Flames a discount because he wanted to stay in Calgary.
He still does, but circumstances have conspired to drive him into the
arms of free agency. The Flames management may have miscalculated
that the loyal Fleury would once again sign up at rock bottom prices.
In 1989, when the Flames beat the Habs for the Stanley Cup, Fleury
was a rookie. He is the last link to those glory days when the
Oilers and the Flames made Alberta the dreaded black hole in any
team's western road trip. He will be missed.
Holy Goalies
Ken Wregget is still not totally well, but he's working out again.
Andrei Trefilov's better and back in the "I" with the Detroit
Vipers. Ty Garner is also well and back with the Oshawa Generals
of the OHL. Fred Brathwaite has a spot until Wregget gets better.
Tyler Moss, by virtue of his one-way contract, has held onto his
spot while Jean-Sebastien (Just Call Me Jean) Giguere, the rookie
with the two-way contract, got a ticket to New Brunswick and the
AHL.
But wait... Wregget has a history of injuries, so the Flames may
still need two guys. Will Freddy's Fabulous Comeback end with him
back between the pipes with the Manitoba Moose? Can he stick
around and win a deal with one of them there expansion teams? Will
Jean Giguere continue to impress and command a spot with the big
team? Stay tuned, eh?
All-Star Break Report Card
Forwards - Once you get past Fleury the pickings get might
slim. Andrew Cassels, Valeri Bure and Jarome Iginla are solid
second line players but cannot supply the offence the Flames need.
Rating: C-
Defence - An interesting mix of old and young. Steve Smith
and Phil Housley are playing well. Likewise, youngster Derek Morris
and Captain Todd Simpson are solid. This team doesn't usually lose
because of bad D. It's the low scoring offence. Rating: B-.
Goalies - The Flames have dressed eight different twine
minders so far this season. No rating is possible, although you
have to like Moss and Giguere.
Power Play - Yech! Rating: D
Penalty Killing - Against the Avalanche on January 21 the
Flames surrendered a league-high 51st power-play goal against.
Rating: F
Andrei the Giant
He's 6"5' and 230 pounds and he's just flown in from Tampa Bay.
He's Andrei Nazarov. You know, the one who got into a rhubarb with
Eric Lindros in a parking lot... the guy who tossed a linesman so
he could get at Bryan Marchment... the goon who got suspended for
head-butting. Yeah! I knew you knew who I meant.
"Our smaller players have to feel comfortable," said coach Brian
Sutter. "We looked at Vancouver and the L.A. defence and a lot of
other clubs in our conference and we knew we had to add more size.
Well, this guy is a big unit."
Gone in the trade to Tampa is the mercurial Michael Nylander. It
sure looks like the Flames lost on the deal in the skill level
department. Who knows how this one will turn out.
"We Wuz Robbed!"
With 4.8 seconds on the clock and the Flames holding a 3-2 lead over
the Sharks it looked good. Only problem is that the timekeeper in
the Shark Tank neglected to start the clock for 2.2 seconds and
Patrick Marleau netted the tying goal with one tenth of tick on the
clock.
Referee Paul Devorski apologised to both Coach Sutter and GM Al
Coates and offered that the Flames could file a protest. In the
end, though, there's little chance that anything will be done.
Final result: 3-3 tie.
