What type of team do YOU think needs to be on the ice for the Flames to go deep into the Playoffs? Should the club focus on grit, or finesse? Should they concern themselves with which opponent they will face, or just play them as they come? What is the formula for success?
So many people like to compare contemporary Flames teams with the 2004 squad that captured the hearts and minds of so many hockey fans. The Flames have been irrevocably altered from that form with the addition and subtraction of certain players and systems. After the lockout Calgary courted both Roman Hamrlik and Andre Zuzyin on the blue-line; in 2004, Calgary used an all North American rearguard squad (save for Toni Lydman, who only played in a few post-season tilts), even digging into the depth chart and using Mike Commodore and Steve Montador to plug the gaps of injury, but tending towards a stay-at-home, run-em-rough style. Andrew Ference (CDN), Jordan Leopold (US), Rhett Warrener (CDN), Robyn Regehr (CDN) and a soon to be injured Denis Gautier (CDN) made up the defensive roster. Montador and Commodore were true playoff call-ups, having played fewer than 40 NHL games in 2003-04 between them!
As for offense, that '04 team had a very different forward line-up. Iginla was the centrepeice... after him, good but comparatively unknown players made up the balance. If you hadn't been a big Flames fan or hard-core hockey nut, you would not have heard of the Conroys and Donovans that filled in all the points. Conroy had only 8 goals in the regular season, but padded up those numbers with huge assist tallies, and followed it with a total of 6 goals in the playoffs. The forwards were great, but not in the class or price range of some of the men the Flames have brought here since.
It has been pointed out that the Flames of '04 had a new goalie they didn't know yet and had to play full defensive hockey in fronnt of, which cushions your safety margin. The offense was a grinding squad for the most part; many players dropped gloves and managed to play above their physical capabilities every night. At this point there has been the addition of supportive finesse; Huselius dangles on the first or second line, Lombardi has elevated his game to become more well-rounded, Langkow is a tough but talented centre, and the team has been trying to make room for young bucks to have a shot (except in net).
In fact, one of things not to change from '04-08 is who is in the net. But there has been a major change in that department; Kiprusoff has been here a while now, and we and the NHL know what he can do. He is left to his own devices an awful lot, and the defense in frot of him has changed, both in roster and in attitude. Skaters play differently depending on who is backstopping, and the Flames corps have changed their ideas about their netminder.
So, with that being said, do you feel there is a significant difference in team mentality/attitude between the 2004 and 2008 teams? Defense, Offense, Goaltending, all great, but all slightly different. Besides, it is impossible to recreate the magic of Spring 2004. There are no more hard-hats, red afros, or 24-hour parties. But there is still a gleaming silver Cup at the end of the playoff road, and the Flames want it this year just as they have every other year. The secret is to make the team that is HERE NOW work together, and not to worry about re-creations of past glories. Such things are unattainable, but the Cup will always be there, waiting to be fought over and won by the most worthy... of course, in 2004, Tampa was NOT most worthy, but there are exceptions to every rule!
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