A week ago in this space we talked about the stupidity of professional sport in the way they pay athletes to do something that most, if not all, of us would do for free. And while this may sound like I’m now speaking out of the other side of my mouth, I think Calgary’s Flames should be ready to cough up some big-time money to keep what could be the only thing they have left to right what is obviously a sinking ship. Evidence for this, is a non-playoff run that is simply not acceptable to the paying customers.
We’re talking about enticing goalkeeper Miikka Kiprusoff to come back and play out his last year with two purposes: 1. To be healthy for a whole season and backstop his team that elusive playoff position and 2. To teach a promising bunch of young netminders how to play the position.
“Kipper’s” situation is quite simple in that when he signed a long-term deal, most of the money was made in the early years leaving him with one year left and the cost to the club would be a modest $1 million, which is a drop in the bucket to today’s athlete. I mean it’s hardly worth playing for a mere million.
So what I’m suggesting, and hoping for, is the powers that be up the ante and give him $3 or $4 million to play out that final year but, at the same, time teach the youngsters. He has been a superstar twine-minder since then-coach Darryl Sutter stole him from the San Jose Sharks.
On the active roster right now are Kipper, Joe MacDonald, who was impressive at times in filling in for Kipper in the shortened last season, and Leland Irving, the Barrhead, Alberta-born goalie the Flames did not treat very well last season when he was given a chance to shine.
So, basically, they have Kipper and MacDonald. But the stable is overflowing with talent for the future.
They have a Czech in Reto Berra, a Canadian in Larent Brossoit, an American in John Gilles and a couple of Finns in Joni Ortio and Kari Ramo.
All have impressed to the point that Flames management feel any or all will one day play in the National Hockey League, the best league in the world, of course.
Now whether any make it is a tough call in that not many can really realize a dream of being an NHLer because the odds are simply too high with only a certain amount of jobs available each year.
It’s a tough ladder to climb.
However, any of the aforementioned five youngsters would do well to serve any kind of time under the tutelage of Kiprusoff. He, without question, is one of the quietest hockey players I have ever dealt with in my years in the sports writing and sportscasting game. He does not like to give interviews. He seems uncomfortable with the media.
But that does not mean that he wouldn’t be a great teacher. And, what these young hopefuls need is someone like that over and above the goaltending coach who is Clint Malarchuk.
Give Malarchuk and Miikka a chance to teach, and this club could be “Golden” for years to come in that all-important goaltending area.
But I think the only way Miikka comes back is if more money is put on the table. Up to now he has made enough money to take care of his family and all of his relatives, and could probably pay off Finland’s national debt if that country had a national debt. Playing for $1 million is not something he would want to do. To be honest it’s not worth going through all that hassle for.
When the Flames rid themselves of the Jarome Iginla and Jay Bouwmeester contracts at the trade deadline they opened up a big number in the salary-cap game. My suggestion is to use some of that and give Miikka a raise and then look to the future with promise. The great hockey clubs all have top-notch goaltending. The answer to changing ways is to solidify that position even if it means getting one guy a new contract.
Today’s joke is about the little boy from the city visiting a farm outside Cochrane and being amazed at all the farm animals he was seeing for the first time. After watching for a while he said: “No wonder the mother pig is so huge. There’s a whole bunch of little pigs blowing her up like a balloon!”
