HockeyFinding method in Flames' madness

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Okay, let's start with a question: When Calgary traded its first-round pick in 2010 as part of the package for Olli Jokinen, how many of you thought the Flames would be picking before the Coyotes?

Me neither. 

But that's where things stand for this franchise after a terribly disappointing season that will result in major change.

One bit of advice for ownership: The smartest people in sports (and business) say the worst mistakes are made in emotional times. Yes, the fan base wants blood. Maybe they should get it, but not right now. The smartest thing Hotchkiss, Edwards et al can do is take a deep breath, really investigate why things went wrong and - if the decision is to gut the organization - wait a week or two before snapping the guillotine.

Some very hard decisions must be made in Calgary. If Darryl Sutter is fired, the next GM inherits a difficult job. Some things that must be addressed:

Cap Flexibility  

Made a few calls today to ask people around the league what they thought about the Flames. I was kind of surprised, but all said the same thing: "They got old." The team just slowed down.

Sutter felt loyal to the core of his 2004 Stanley Cup finalist - Jarome Iginla, Craig Conroy, Robyn Regehr, Miikka Kiprusoff - and rewarded them (Conroy got a big contract from Los Angeles, but Sutter reacquired him when it didn't work with the Kings). It made sense since they were one victory from winning it all. The only problem with this approach is that if you don't win, long-term deals can become anchors.
 
Kiprusoff continues to be one of the best goalies in the league. We'll talk more about Iginla shortly. Now 38, Conroy, one of the league's great people, is an unrestricted free agent and at the end of the line. Regehr, like two other big-ticket Sutter signings - Daymond Langkow and Cory Sarich - slowed noticeably this season. All three of them are locked in for at least two more years. Both Regehr and Langkow have no-move clauses.

Sutter clearly realized the lack of speed was a problem. He made a great call on Rene Bourque, signing him to a good-value extension with the Maple Leafs looking to swoop in on the winger this summer. He also upgraded the skating quality on his blue-line with Jay Bouwmeester (We'll also dedicate a section to him later), Ian White and Mark Giordano - the latter two on cap-friendly contracts.

However, Sutter's greatest success of the season was followed by his biggest mistake. The worst position for any GM in a cap world is to have a struggling team that's right at the ceiling. That's where Calgary was on January 31, when he pulled off the Dion Phaneuf blockbuster. Phaneuf, a talented but polarizing player signed through 2013-14, went for three guys the team could walk away from and a fourth with a manageable deal. It was a bold but necessary move.
 
That's why it was so astonishing when, one night later, the Flames essentially traded Jokinen's expiring contract for Ales Kotalik, an underachiever with two years left. Sutter would later extend Matt Stajan at $14 million for four years, eliminating much of the wriggle room he'd created.

The Flames are now committed to $53 million for 17 players next year; $47 million for 12 in 2011-12; and $30 million for six (!) in 2012-13. White is a restricted free agent this summer, Giordano a UFA next year. This is not going to be an easy roster to manage.

The Captain

Admittedly, it's tough to be critical of Jarome Iginla. No one needs to tell him he didn't score enough goals. He's well aware of it. But the same people who pointed out that the Flames look slow and old included him in that group.

There are two ways to approach this since the status quo is not acceptable. Method No. 1 is to do whatever you can to find an A-1 centreman/winger to play alongside him. Conroy had great chemistry with him, but Calgary's never had another player of Iginla's calibre during his time. The biggest problem with that theory is that it's really freaking hard. "Those guys just aren't available," one GM said. In most cases, those are guys you have to draft and develop and even then there's no guarantee. Michael Backlund could be a No. 1 centre, but by the time he's ready Iginla's window will be closed.

Look at all the different ways the Blue Jackets have tried to find a Robin for Rick Nash's Batman. They've made trades (Sergei Fedorov). They've drafted guys (Derick Brassard). They've probably tried cloning. They're still looking.

Method No. 2 is to quietly ask Iginla if he wants a change (He has a no-move). I'm not saying he does. But I think the captain and the ownership owe it to each other to have an honest, serious talk about, well, everything. For example, does Iginla want to be here if the Flames choose to rebuild? Does Iginla want to go to another team with a better chance of winning a Cup? If the Flames knew they could make a trade to one of those teams, should Iginla accept it in exchange for good young players/cap flexibility? And, most importantly, if the choice is a trade, is there a way both sides can make each other look good so that it doesn't devastate a city and a franchise like Ryan Smyth and Edmonton?

You're stepping into dangerous territory if you ask him to pick a coach or discuss personnel and I'm not certain Iginla would be comfortable with that, either, but you can have a frank discussion about direction. Honest conversations like these can have a positive impact.
 
The Defenceman

Sutter is getting murdered for signing Jay Bouwmeester, but I really don't think that's fair. Flames fans were overjoyed when it happened and reviews were overwhelmingly positive. Much to our surprise - and the Flames disappointment - we've learned that Bouwmeester is probably never going to be the game-changing defenceman many of us thought.

He has a no-trade so, unless he hates playing in his home province, you can forget that idea. When Brian Campbell signed in Chicago, Dale Tallon told him, "Forget about your salary number and just play." It's hard for fans and media to do that, but it's the best thing that could happen for Bouwmeester, too.
 
He can still skate the puck out of trouble and maybe his drop to three goals is just a one-season negative. I don't know if his personality prevents him from achieving his best (as some have guessed), but that looks like the way it's going to be.

Not the most satisfying answer, I know, but the fact Bouwmeester's incredible skill level has led to zero success is a mystery to a lot of people.

The Coach

One person I spoke to really stuck up for Brent Sutter, saying, "He's a lot more positive a person than you see publicly." Alright, but Sutter certainly leaves the impression he's got a really hard edge.

The Flames' last four coaches - Brent and Darryl Sutter, Mike Keenan and Jim Playfair - seem very similar. It is time for a new approach, especially if those who've been through all of them are back. Is there another Dan Bylsma/Bruce Boudreau out there? A person who can crack the whip when necessary, but generally preach a more positive environment?

Pittsburgh and Washington are proof that method can lead to immediate change for the better. Which leads us to...

The Direction

Another person pointed that the Flames "have brought in so many new players so quickly that it's difficult to find the right chemistry." It is possible that letting the same group gel during training camp in a more outwardly positive environment could work. The problem with that theory when it comes to Calgary is this: The best players on Pittsburgh/Washington were younger ones with great upside. The best players here aren't.

Because they don't have a lot of cap room/flexibility or high-salaried players without no-trade/no-move clauses, the organization may have no choice but to go that route. But that's the easy thing to do. If Calgary really wants to change things - and it does appear as if the window for this group to win it all has closed - drastic and difficult decisions must be made.

If San Jose has another bad playoff, is Joe Thornton available? If so, can you get it done? If there's no one of his calibre available, do you consider giving up with this group and dealing Kiprusoff (his no-move runs out after next season) for a king's ransom? It sounds ridiculous, but these are all scenarios that should be discussed.

The Flames appear headed for the "dreaded middle," where you're not good enough for greatness and not bad enough to pick the best prospects. It's a terrible spot to be. You're going to have to consider everything in an attempt to radically redesign.

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