They needed to add a player with size and a scoring touch, especially after Owen Nolan signed with the Minnesota Wild.
Still, the biggest shocker of the summer among the Flames took place with the addition of Todd Bertuzzi via free agency.
Over the past few years, no visiting player has been treated by the fans with as much derision as Bertuzzi. Even before his infamous incident with then Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore -- a sucker punch from behind in apparent retaliation for a perceived cheap shot on Markus Naslund which escalated into a broken neck for Moore and all kinds of litigation -- the faithful in Calgary have lustily booed Bertuzzi every time he touched the puck.
Now, those fans will be forced to cheer him, or at least his team.
As a purely hockey move, Bertuzzi's addition makes sense. His $1.95 million, one-year contract fits into Calgary's salary structure.
He was also recruited and promoted by Flames captain Jarome Iginla.
Nobody can expect Bertuzzi to put up numbers like he did in his hey day -- 46 goals, 97 points in 2002-03 -- but around 20 goals and 50 points would be a big plus if he plays in a second-line role.
However, if he continues to flounder as he has since that incident, it will for sure be a one-year relationship.
Then the fans can go back to disliking Bertuzzi again.
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I have come to grips with the fact that an NHL board on an American web site will be pretty slow during the off season, especially in between the Stanley cup, and free agency. I was just wondering if anyone sees this and they here anything that is happening with the Flames, if they could post it?
Rumors, trades, hirings, firings, c
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Well, we lost in the first round for the third time in a row. We have an aging team, which is funny, it seems that we went from the "young guns" to a "veteran filled lineup" in the matter of a few years with nothing really to show for it. I am just wondering, do we blow it up? get rid of a few bad apples (Huselius, Tanguay)? or do we keep it the same as much as possible?
I just came over here to see how the posts were going and what did I see? Nothing. C'mon Flames fans....I know you're out there......let's get to posting.
With Calagrys comeback tonight after being down 3-0 in the first period im going to have to say that Calgary is going to win this series for sure tonights game has completely taken the heart out of the Sharks. The
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Well, our mini collapse down the stretch cost us the 6th seed. Fortunately we are in the playoffs and we have an opportunity to up set one of the favorites to win the cup. I would be lying if I said that this is who I wanted to face in the first round, but it is what it is, and we get to play San Jose.
What does everyone think of our chances? Why do you think (if you do) we will win the seri
