Morning Wrap: Calgary Flames With Worst Own Goal Ever This Week

((ht: nhl.com))

It's never good to put the puck in your own net, but in hockey and a few other sports it happens from time to time.

But you are not likely to see an "Own Goal" like this one.

Saturday night, the Calgary Flames put one in between the pipes when goalie Jonas Hiller left the net unattended after a delayed penalty call.

Which in hockey happens quite frequently. When you know a penalty is coming, you try to run an extra attacker out there until the whistle blows.

Here's the problem: A Flames defender got the puck and launched it back towards the blue line.

Nobody was there.

The puck kept sliding down the ice and yup, it goes in the net. Vancouver Canucks defender Yannick Weber, the last Canuck to touch the puck gets credit for the goal and all Flames coach Bob Hartley can do is shake his head.

Henrik Sedin Scores The Best Empty-Netter This Season

((HT: NHL.com/Sportsnet))

The Vancouver Canucks had a season opener with Calgary last night.

And the Flames were down late, but the Canucks had other ideas.
Henrik Sedin scores one of the prettier, more-hard working empty netters you'll see


See...???

We told ya...

NHL Hockey is Back: Now With Ref Cams

((ht: cbssports.com))

So, one of the many reasons we love hockey is that they are willing to try stuff other major sports may not be willing to do.

And Wednesday night was the official kickoff to the 2014-15 NHL season. Which for us, is cause for celebration.

Check out what the fine folks at the Sportsnet Canada decided to try this season.

Helmet cams on the ref--

Here's the puck drop at the Toronto Maple Leafs/Montreal Canadiens game:



Pretty cool, eh?

Or there's this. Referee Tim Peel brings you into a scuffle between the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames.

Yes...

We like this view.

A lot...

Brian Burke Went All Brian Burke On The Calgary Chamber

((HT: CBC/The Score))

Calgary Flames President Brian Burke thinks that there's one building in the National Hockey League worse than his own at present- the Nassau Coliseum. And when you think that only a building that leaks and has rats is better than yours, you're trying to make a point.

With their Alberta neighbors in Edmonton having their own new barn being built, Burke had an opportunity to say his peace in a lunch with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

Some of the key conversation:

"We need a new arena in Calgary. There is absolutely no reason we should watch a new building going up in Edmonton, and we should play in a 1988 arena here.

"Lower bowls in a newer arena are nine thousand seats minimum. Ours is what, six? So we are not generating revenues like other NHL buildings are," Burke said. "The weight load that the roof will bear is tiny, so a lot of the big stage acts don’t come here. So it’s not just what a hockey team gets, what it adds to a hockey team, it’s what it does to a downtown core."

Well, okay, sure...

This video, put out by a firm called Populous earlier this year gave folks hope- only with a central logo on an ice surface and not even mentioning publicly the idea of a new arena.

Calgary Flames President Ken King denied any talks were ongoing about a new barn. The City Council has even gone public saying there's no new money for a building even if there were talks going on.

Torts Fired In Vancouver After One Year

((HT: Sportsnet))

Surprising no one, really, John Tortorella was fired after one year coaching in Vancouver...

But the "Hockey Central" guys think that one night against the Flames may have done the deal...

And the HQ would agree...
It's all on Trevor Linden now...

Voice Of The Flames Retires After 34 Seasons

((HT: Global Calgary))

Most hockey people know Peter Maher...

The voice of the Calgary flames ever since they left Atlanta, he retired yesterday after calling over 3,100 straight games


Before he went to the Flames, he spent three seasons as the play-by-play in Toronto. And the HQ appreciates his Maple Leafs joke...

He was also inducted into the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame as a media honoree in 2006. He also won the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award.

Flames president and CEO Ken King said a tribute to Maher is being planned for next season.

As well there should be...

So Much For The Abbottsford Heat

((HT: Sportsnet))

It was a relationship that wasn't working...

The city of Abbottsford, British Columbia was in a deal with the Calgary Flames to have their American Hockey League team be in the arena as the primary tenant. There was a ten-year deal that had been signed and, without the attendance figures matching what the city thought they would be and what the Flames wanted- the deal is over five years early.

The Heat are in the AHL playoffs, and when they're eliminated the moving sign is up...

"The economics did not turn out the way any of us intended, despite the tremendous efforts of many men and women who made it their mission to convert the allegiances of local hockey fans, at least at the American Hockey League level, to the Heat.

"Notwithstanding economics, our experiences in the Fraser Valley have been good," King said in a press release.

The team had moved from the Quad Cities and, with all the looks of it, they'll be headed to either Glens Falls or Utica, New York. They were the only team in the AHL that played in the western time zone.

The mayor at the time, George Peary, guaranteed the Heat owners almost C$6-million a year to play in the city's new 7,000-seat arena. So, taxpayers have been paying a little over C$7-million in subsidies to the team to make up for team losses.

So, for the record... here's the last regular season game in Abbottsford Heat history...
((HT: The Heat their own selves))

Torts Has Choice Words For Hartley... Again...

((HT: Sportsnet))

It was the end of the regular season and Vancouver and Calgary...

And Bob Hartley and John Tortorella do not like each other...
They don't like how each operate and they don't like each other teams and how they operate...

If this Sunday was the last press conference by Torts as Canucks coach, then he went out with Tortorellian flair...

Another Night Of Edmonton Sweater Toss And Exploding Water Bottles

((HT: Hockey Night In Canada/CBC/NHL))

There is no breaking news here...

The Edmonton Oilers are a bad hockey club...

And one of the ways the rabid, loyal fans have been protesting is this way...


And it didn't get any better for the Oil as Curtis Glencross got a hat trick and Matt Stajan had a four-point night on his own (considering everything he and his family have gone through... Good on you, Matt) as the Flames won 8-1

The night got even more interesting as Taylor Hall had issues with his water bottle and, then, his head coach Dallas Eakins...


But Eakins, really, should be Coach of the Year for having to put up with all this crap...
Here's the highlights...
((HT: Sportsnet))

Kypreos: Tort's Behavior "Disgraceful..."

((HT: Sportsnet))

Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella has no regrets over his epic nutty the other night against Calgary and head coach Bob Hartley...

Even telling Hartley, who didn't engage him in the bench discussion, that "you don't fight that way..."

Sportnet's Nick Kypreos was less than enthused over Tort's behavior...

DEVELOPING: Torts Gets 15 Days Without Pay, Hartley Fined

((HT: NHL on TSN))

For this...among other things...


From the league itself:

"Mr. Tortorella's actions in attempting to enter the Calgary Flames locker room after the first period were both dangerous and an embarrassment to the League," said NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell. "Coaches in the NHL bear the responsibility of providing leadership, even when emotions run high, and Mr. Tortorella failed in his responsibility to the game."

Mr. Tortorella's suspension is effective retroactive to January 19 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 2. He will miss six games. He is not permitted to have any interaction with his club prior to, during or after games.

And Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley got fined $25,000 for this...
Among other things...
((HT: CBC/Hockey Night In Canada))


From the league again:

The fine was issued in accordance with By-Law 17.3 (a) for conduct prejudicial to or against the welfare of the League.

In issuing the suspension, NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations, Colin Campbell stated: "We are holding Mr. Hartley responsible for the actions of Flames' right wing Kevin Westgarth, who took the game's opening face-off and attempted to instigate a premeditated fight with an unwilling opponent -- the Canucks' Kevin Bieksa."

Will this fix things...???

Nope...

Fun to watch...but not solving anything...

Canucks-Flames Line Dance: The After...

((HT: TSN/NHL))

Well, conventional wisdom is that Canucks coach John Tortorella is going to get some kind of suspension for the outbursts last night...

Here's what he said about why he did what he did...
((HT: Canucks TV))


And from inside his locker room...
((HT: Canucks TV))


And from Calgary head coach Bob Hartley...
((HT: Flames TV))


There actually was a game played...
Vancouver won in a shootout, 3-2...
Now, all we need to know is how long the suspensions will be for this classic...

Let's Dance! Flames-Canucks Go With Line Brawl Off The Top... (UPDATED W/Tortorella Nutty)

((HT: CBC/NHL via Josh Rimer))

It has been a long couple of days for John Tortorella and the Vancouver Canucks...

But "Hockey Day In Canada" wrapped with a first period line dance among heavyweights...

The amount of figuring out the do-se-do gets a little long, but the desired effect was a real piece of work...


And the HQ loves how Bob 'artley didn't engage Torts at all...

132 minutes in penalties were doled out by the time they were done...
And here's a longer version...


There were 178 penalty minutes total in the first...

And, in the intermission, Torts charged the tunnel and still wanted a piece of the Flames...
((HT: Some Hockey Videos/TSN))

Flames Blow Up Front Office, Burke Now Caretaker...

((HT: Sportsnet))

Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley admitted that you can't win a Stanley Cup playing young'uns...

And, in most cases, he's right...

So, with the Flames disastrous start, the front office got blown up today.
GM Jay Feaster and Assistant GM John Weisbrod were shown the door and Brian Burke is the caretaker GM...

For now... the team has been given permission to talk to Joe Nieuwendyk...

Burke took time with Bob McCown and Damien Cox on "Prime Time Sports..."
Calgary was 11-15-4 and 13th out of 14 teams in the Western Conference when Feaster and Weisbrod were relieved of duty. "If you look at our record, it's not where we want to be and we have to change it as players," Flames captain Mark Giordano told the press. "You could call it whatever, but the bottom line is this: as an organization, I've been here for a while now, and right from our owners down, we want to win. "Nothing else is acceptable. We've got to start winning hockey games and push this forward."
The HQ will be interested in seeing just how much patience Burke has...with anybody...

Tyler Seguin Nets Four vs. Calgary

((HT: NHL.com))

This is what happens when you get shunned for Team Canada camp...

People go off...

In the Calgary-Dallas game last night, Jamie Benn had six points (4 assists) and Tyler Seguin had four goals for the Stars in a 7-3 blowout of the Flames...

Here's your highlights of all the carnage...


The Stars have won five of six...

Saddledome Row 8: Where The Flood Line Is...

((HT: Calgary Flames/CBC))

Flames President and CEO Ken King held a press conference today to discuss the status of the submerged lower-half of the Saddledome. He also says that the building will be ready in nine days for Calgary Stampede activities.

Here's one of the photos released from the inside...

"We had a recovery action plan put in place immediately," King explained. "Our executive group met this morning and went through a number of tasks as you can expect, including everything from dealing with our staff communication, to shareholder communication, stakeholder communication and what we are going to do to recover this building as quick as possible.

"We have equipment, the biggest water pumps in North America, on standby for us and many of them. We have people on standby ready to go work but they can only go to work, and the equipment can only be put in place once we see the river subside."

The NHL has also said that they will give any kind of assistance necessary to help the Flames get everything together for the beginning of the season. Even as everything, currently, below Row 8 is a total loss...

Here's the King presser...
((HT: CBC))

Saddledome In A World Of Hurt From Calgary Flooding

((HT: SI.com/Muir))

Full disclosure: The HQ has friends in the industry who are working this story and we hope that they're safe in all of this, but the Bow and Elbow rivers have pole vaulted their banks from rain in Alberta province and the subsequent flooding.

The Saddledome, a venue where the HQ has covered events in the past, is flooded...

Not just "basement flooded," but "flooded to the 14th row of lower bowl seats and having the private boxes in jeopardy" kind of flooding..."

Julie Van Rosendaal of CBC Radio tweeted out the picture from Scotsman's Hill...

The Calgary Stampede is set for July 5th, but it may be in jeopardy as well...

According to reports, in the Dome, the visitor locker rooms and the media room, which run scoreboard operations have been heavily damaged.

The Saddledome is the home of the NHL's Calgary Flames along with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League and is used for the annual Stampede event. There are also several significant concerts booked over the next several weeks.

The Stampede starts July 5th, which doesn't leave much time to get the arena and area in good working order. The challenge is, the water has yet to subside and it's not known when that is going to happen.

Video and story by The Canadian Press:



And here's the local CBC Evening News from Calgary- scary stuff...

DEVELOPING: Iginla Says Goodbyes Tomorrow in Calgary...??? (UPDATED To Pittsburgh With Good-Byes)

According to TSN's Jermain Franklin, via his Twitter:

Iginla will say his goodbyes in a formal setting tomorrow

After being listed as a healthy scratch in tonight's game versus Colorado, Calgary Flames legend Jarome Iginla left the Saddledomer arena to avoid any kind of circus that could occur in line with an impending trade to Boston for Boston prospect Alexander Khokhlachev (who is a scratch for Providence tonight), Matt Bartkowski, and a #1 pick.

Iginla had played in 441 straight games for the Flames before tonight, the first game he missed in almost six seasons.

David Pagnotta over @TheFourthPeriod is saying that the Bruins could have an announcement after their game with Montreal. But eyewitnesses in Calgary are saying that Flames GM Jay Feaster was seen walking the halls with his head down- looking like someone kicked his dog...

It's reminiscent of when the Boston Bruins traded Ray Bourque to Colorado- trying to get a hero a solid and give him the chance to win a Stanley Cup before his career is through.
((HT: ABC Sports/NHL))


And all hell may have broken loose for the remaining week of the trade deadline...

Then, Bob McKenzie at TSN gives this caveat:

This comes with usual "anything can happen" qualifier but multiple sources saying not to expect a Jarome Iginla trade tonight

AM UPDATE: There was some backdoor chatter that the LA Kings would swoop in at the last, but no one would have expected Ray Shero and the Pittsburgh Penguins to do it after the Brendan Morrow and Doug Murray deals...

Of course, except for Ray Shero and the Pittsburgh Penguins...

Iggy goes to the Pens for college forwards Kenneth Agostino and Ben Hanowski and Pittsburgh’s first-round pick at the 2013 draft.

“We as an organization owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Jarome, not only for what he did for the franchise during his tenure as a player here and as our captain, but also for the fact that now as we recognize that despite our best efforts, and despite the work we’ve put in, we’ve fallen short of the goals we set for ourselves as an organization,” Flames general manager Jay Feaster said in a prepared statement.

Yep, all hell just broke loose...

PM UPDATE: Here's Part 1 of the good-bye press conference...
((HT: Sportsnet))