Calgary Flames

[Stang]

Also - I read last night (TSN I believe) that over 16,000 tickets have already been sold. Crazy.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Not the Flames, but it is at the 'Dome, and it is hockey. Anyone going to the Team Canada scrimmage game tonight? I am. Really looking forward to it.

I wanted to go, but Ticketmaster really screwed the pooch on this one. Originally the only way to buy tickets was the 3-pack, which I wasn't too interested in (out of town for at least one of the other games).

At some point this week this changed and you could buy individual tickets, but the selection was really poor. Basically nosebleeds and high up corner seats.

For a practice? No thanks.

The Flames website did have a link to tickets for this but they never updated it when tickets just for this game became available (at least not that I saw). Would have been nice to know about it. Also would have been nice to email people on the Flames' mailing list when tickets went on sale, but maybe that's too much to ask.

Ah well, pre-season goes on sale on Tuesday.

[Ayreonaut]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Not the Flames, but it is at the 'Dome, and it is hockey. Anyone going to the Team Canada scrimmage game tonight? I am. Really looking forward to it.

I was invited, but can't go since I'm at the coast.

[MichaelS]

Originally Posted by freeweed

For a practice? No thanks.

For a game that will include some of the most talented players in the world. I know it is a "scrimmage", but this will be a great game. I am going, and can't wait.

[lubicon]

Now that I bitched about the whole ticket thing, I just got offered a free ticket so I'm going to go. I'm such a hypocrate!

[jeffwhit]

I'll be there tonight too. Can't wait to get a little hockey fix, and can't wait to see the Iggy/Crosby/Nash line.

[Ayreonaut]

I thought it was Crosby/Nash/St. Louis now. Was Iggy not moved to a different line, or was that just for a day?

[Cowtown_Tim]

^They're still experimenting with the lines. Some of the guys on the radio seem to think that Iginla and Crosby will be together during the tournament.

Last night's crowd was a sellout of 19,000. Pretty impressive for a scrimmage game.

[lubicon]

Pretty entertaining 'scrimmage' last night. Two observations:

1. Heatley was booed mercilessly pretty much from the word go. When they announced his name in the lineup and every time he touched the puck. What's up with that?

2. the concessions in the Dome better do a major shaping up before the Flames season starts. Not sure if the people working there are new and jsut getting the feel of things but it was taking WAY too long to process the lineups.

[Distill3d]

Originally Posted by lubicon

Pretty entertaining 'scrimmage' last night. Two observations:

1. Heatley was booed mercilessly pretty much from the word go. When they announced his name in the lineup and every time he touched the puck. What's up with that?

2. the concessions in the Dome better do a major shaping up before the Flames season starts. Not sure if the people working there are new and jsut getting the feel of things but it was taking WAY too long to process the lineups.

Heatley's not going to be well liked anywhere at the moment, especially when you consider that he asked for a trade because he was going to serve a diminished roll on the team. Then he refused the only trade offer that has come along, not because he would've had a diminished roll on the Oilers, but because the teams that he wanted to go to didn't make an offer. Kinda makes sense that he's going to get booed.

[Stang]

Originally Posted by lubicon

1. Heatley was booed mercilessly pretty much from the word go. When they announced his name in the lineup and every time he touched the puck. What's up with that?

2. the concessions in the Dome better do a major shaping up before the Flames season starts. Not sure if the people working there are new and jsut getting the feel of things but it was taking WAY too long to process the lineups.

The concessions were brutal last night. The ice cream place closed down right before we got to the counter (after waiting 15 minutes in line) and then in the next intermission we went to the other one and they served us runny, mostly melted malts. It just seemed like all of the lineups were really slow all around.

As for Heatley - I don't get it either. Yeah, he's been a bit of a bitch as of late with his trade demand and subsequent decline of the only trade that came up. But shouldn't he be cheered for spurning Edmonton? Or met with indifference at least? It's almost like we're whining for the Oilers in a sense. If he had turned down a trade to another also-ran club, it wouldn't have even been on the radar. Plus, I think it is tacky during a national team event/scrimmage to boo like that...

In general I thought that game was quite entertaining. Better than an all-star game, for sure. It looked like a lot of the players wanted to get a little more physical, but kept the friendly tone of the game.

[lubicon]

The most ironic thing about the whole Heatley situation was that they had him on a line with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. I know the Sharks are one of Danny's 'preferred' teams that he would like to go to, but I think the odds of it happening are pretty slim. Kind of a big 'hey Danny, hope you enjoy playing with these 2 guys at the camp because you'll never get a chance to do it in the NHL. So F.U.!!'

At least that's how I feel.

[Stang]

Originally Posted by lubicon

The most ironic thing about the whole Heatley situation was that they had him on a line with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. I know the Sharks are one of Danny's 'preferred' teams that he would like to go to, but I think the odds of it happening are pretty slim. Kind of a big 'hey Danny, hope you enjoy playing with these 2 guys at the camp because you'll never get a chance to do it in the NHL. So F.U.!!'

Unless there was a little favour asked of someone to put them all on the same line for a little "try before you buy". San Jose dumped some salary today (which benefited Vancouver, unfortunately), so they could be making a little bit of room for Mr. Heatley.

Or... you might be right and it was a little jab to say "look what you could have had".

[tdurden5573]

Originally Posted by lubicon

Pretty entertaining 'scrimmage' last night. Two observations:

1. Heatley was booed mercilessly pretty much from the word go. When they announced his name in the lineup and every time he touched the puck. What's up with that?

2. the concessions in the Dome better do a major shaping up before the Flames season starts. Not sure if the people working there are new and jsut getting the feel of things but it was taking WAY too long to process the lineups.

I loved the fact he was booed. I cant believe he thinks he can bitch and moan and get his way. He would have been the center piece for the Oilers AND had a fat salary. He wants to play for a super contender and have a fat salary - sorry Danny, not going to happen. I lost all respect for him, his excuses were weak, just admit you want a fat contract for a contender. Reminds me of Lindros. He may be from Calgary, but he sure isnt conducting himself like an Alberta boy should. I would rather him not being on team Canada.

Look at Iggy, gave up money to re-sign with Calgary, and didn't flintch when Camalari took some of his thunder last season - totally the guy you need on your team. I say Edmonton is better off getting back Smyth - at least when he crys its more respectable.

[Bigtime]

I love Iggy, but I'm starting to feel sad for the guy. There he is at the Team Canada orientation playing along some younger guys (Crosby, Staal, etc) that have gotten the joy of lifting the cup.

As each year goes by I look back at 2004 and it actually makes me sad that we were so close. I really want Iggy to get it, he DESERVES it.

[Distill3d]

Originally Posted by tdurden5573

I loved the fact he was booed. I cant believe he thinks he can bitch and moan and get his way. He would have been the center piece for the Oilers AND had a fat salary. He wants to play for a super contender and have a fat salary - sorry Danny, not going to happen. I lost all respect for him, his excuses were weak, just admit you want a fat contract for a contender. Reminds me of Lindros. He may be from Calgary, but he sure isnt conducting himself like an Alberta boy should. I would rather him not being on team Canada.

Look at Iggy, gave up money to re-sign with Calgary, and didn't flintch when Camalari took some of his thunder last season - totally the guy you need on your team. I say Edmonton is better off getting back Smyth - at least when he crys its more respectable.

I couldn't agree more. Team Canada should be comprised of the top Canadian players who exemplify what it means to be a Canadian. At the moment, Dany Heatley is acting like a spoiled rotten American. Sadly though, even if we sent him to play for Team Germany (where he belongs by birth), he'd probably get on the top line and be their best player.

[SubwayRev]

Originally Posted by Distill3d

I couldn't agree more. Team Canada should be comprised of the top Canadian players who exemplify what it means to be a Canadian. At the moment, Dany Heatley is acting like a spoiled rotten American. Sadly though, even if we sent him to play for Team Germany (where he belongs by birth), he'd probably get on the top line and be their best player.

I don't think what it "means to be a Canadian" includes wanting to play for a couple of teams that are in the toilet with no chance of winning anything of significance for several years.

I think he's probably pissed off that when the contract was signed, Ottawa was a contender and there was probably an understanding that would continue. Now that the organization has failed their part of the bargain, he wants out. I don't think any of us would stay with a company that was going down the tubes, because it was "the right thing to do." If there was the same position at the successful growing company across the street, for the same amount of money...we'd all head over there. (or at least want to head over there)

If Ottawa and Edmonton were replaced with Atlanta and Phoenix, there wouldn't be a story here...but for some reason, we as Canadians feel this is a slight to us as a nation.

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by SubwayRev

I don't think what it "means to be a Canadian" includes wanting to play for a couple of teams that are in the toilet with no chance of winning anything of significance for several years.

I think he's probably pissed off that when the contract was signed, Ottawa was a contender and there was probably an understanding that would continue. Now that the organization has failed their part of the bargain, he wants out. I don't think any of us would stay with a company that was going down the tubes, because it was "the right thing to do." If there was the same position at the successful growing company across the street, for the same amount of money...we'd all head over there. (or at least want to head over there)

If Ottawa and Edmonton were replaced with Atlanta and Phoenix, there wouldn't be a story here...but for some reason, we as Canadians feel this is a slight to us as a nation.

Big difference is that he signed a contract to provide his services to the Sens for a specifeid time. He can't just walk away from that contract and play somewhere else, just like any one of us who signed an employment contract to work somewhere can't just walk away to work for a competitor. Yes, he can walk away if he is willing to sit for the remaining length of his contract but he can't play elsewhere.

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I love Iggy, but I'm starting to feel sad for the guy. There he is at the Team Canada orientation playing along some younger guys (Crosby, Staal, etc) that have gotten the joy of lifting the cup.

As each year goes by I look back at 2004 and it actually makes me sad that we were so close. I really want Iggy to get it, he DESERVES it.

I hate the Flames with a passion, but Iggy is a first class guy. While I'd hate to see the Flames ever hoist a cup, I understand what you are saying. Guys like Iggy DO deserve to get that feeling.

[freeweed]

Some of the nicest, classiest guys in hockey retire without ever hoisting the cup. Hawerchuk comes to mind.

It's sorta sad, but also inspiring to see guys go out, have great careers, and not act bitter about not getting the big thing. You know Iggy wants it, but at the end of the day I think he realizes he'll be a hall of fame shoe-in, unlike plenty of guys who've won the cup and really done nothing else of note.