Metro - Calgary : Columnist - The Hockey News by Brian Costello

the hockey news by brian costello

Why all the loyalty to Brent Sutter?

February 02, 2012

Watching the Calgary Flames lately, I’m reminded of Shooter’s famous line from the movie Hoosiers: “Don’t get caught watching the paint dry.”

Flames supporting cast not getting it done

January 05, 2012

While surging towards a playoff spot last season, the Calgary Flames were the highest scoring team in the NHL during the second half.

Flames offer reasons to hope

December 22, 2011

Perhaps there is reason to believe the Flames are a second-half team, poised again to make a winter surge and this time qualify for the playoffs.

Surly Sarich can still help

December 08, 2011

The Calgary Flames shouldn’t be so quick to throw Cory Sarich out with the bath water — or keep him anchored in the press box.

Brodie’s stock on the rise

December 02, 2011

I have to admit, all of the attributes I’m discovering in T.J. Brodie are the ones I expected to see out of Jay Bouwmeester when he came here from Florida in 2009.

Next stretch could decide Sutter's fate

November 17, 2011

Jay Feaster will be faced with the toughest decision in his time as Calgary GM over the next two weeks: To fire coach Brent Sutter or not.

Bourque needs to look alive

November 10, 2011

Maybe there’s a reason why Rene Bourque isn’t moving his feet on the ice these days. Since Halloween, Bourque has turned into a pumpkin and pumpkins don’t have feet.

Sorry Flames fans, the Phaneuf deal was a Leafs steal

November 03, 2011

With each passing day and each passing ex-Leaf in the press box, the 2010 Dion Phaneuf trade to Toronto is looking worse and worse for the Flames.

Debunking a Flames blue-line myth

October 20, 2011

I laugh when I hear hockey reporters or analysts describe Jay Bouwmeester as Calgary’s top or No. 1 defenceman.

First impressions of the faltering Flames

October 12, 2011

Not such a great start to the Flames season, is it?

Fresh-faced Flames to keep an eye on

October 05, 2011

The great thing about kicking off a fresh season is getting to see the new faces around the league.

Don’t bank on draft to yield elite centre

June 23, 2011

The Calgary Flames will use the 13th-overall pick in tomorrow’s NHL draft to fill one of two enormous holes in their lineup. Those holes aren’t so obvious now, but they will be in a year or two when the 2011 first-rounder is ready to step in.

Flames must address salary crunch

April 12, 2011

While it’s true the Flames made believers out of the harshest critics — and should be commended for their second-half surge — the fact remains they’re one of the highest salaried teams in the league, yet didn’t make the playoffs.

Feaster stuck with burden of bad deals

April 06, 2011

Unproductive wingers Ales Kotalik and Niklas Hagman will be bought out of their $3 million contracts. For that, the Flames will be charged $2 million against the salary cap each of the next two seasons.

Fate may hang on a single point

March 30, 2011

Here’s what has to happen down the stretch for that to happen. Calgary is battling five teams — Los Angeles, Phoenix, Nashville, Anaheim and Dallas — for four playoff positions. It’s far more idealistic than realistic from a Flames point of view, but at least it’s a possibility.

Dumping Darryl's Duds key to Flames' future

March 23, 2011

With each passing, heart-breaking overtime/shootout loss the Flames incur, the spectre Calgary will miss the playoffs becomes more and more a reality.

Sea of Red set up for a letdown

March 02, 2011

For the Calgary Flames to make anything of this season, they’re going to have to make the playoffs, win at least one round and then do some deft accounting in the off-season.

Future flames barely get passing grade

February 23, 2011

There’s a growing misconception out there that Calgary’s development system, long a weak link of deposed GM Darryl Sutter’s reign, is getting deeper and stronger.

Sizzling Flames a double-edged sword for Feaster

February 16, 2011

Calgary’s recent success is giving Jay Feaster a big headache. But it’s a pain the acting GM is more than happy to deal with.

Flames step up their game like it's May

February 10, 2011

Whether the Calgary Flames makes the post-season or not, fans can at least say they saw them play playoff-style hockey.

Dealing Regehr a no-brainer

January 26, 2011

Regardless of whether Calgary’s drive for the playoffs has legs to make it past the Feb. 28 trade deadline, it’s in the best interests of the franchise to trade reliable and loyal Robyn Regehr.

Too soon for Flames to give up on Kipper

January 19, 2011

While it’s probably true Miikka Kiprusoff is having his weakest season since becoming a Calgary Flame in 2003-04, he’s still a top-notch goalie with plenty of outstanding performances left in him.

Does NHL stand for ‘no hitting league’?

January 12, 2011

I gave up adult recreational hockey 20 years ago because I was embarrassed at what the game I love had become.

Don’t rule out some big names being dealt

January 05, 2011

With most GMs, it’s always difficult to establish whether they’re bluffing or giving the straight goods when they talk about player movement and trade talk.

Time for the Flames to tear it all down

December 22, 2010

The shortest day of the year is also the darkest day of the season for the Calgary Flames. Losing a home and home series to the Minnesota Wild is a dagger in the heart of Calgary’s playoff hopes.

Stajan not to blame

December 01, 2010

Centre Matt Stajan will never be the player Flames fans hoped he’d be when acquired from Toronto last season. He’s a good guy who works hard, but he’s always been miscast as a top-six forward.

Newest Flame needs to show some grit

November 25, 2010

If first impressions count, I wasn’t too impressed with veteran grinder Tom Kostopoulos, who came over from Carolina in the Ian White trade last week.

Time to let go of iginla?

November 10, 2010

If the Calgary Flames’ season heads south in the next few months — or even treads water around the .500 level — then the franchise has little option other than to send captain Jarome Iginla south.

Boo-meester so overpaid it’s scary

November 03, 2010

Instead of discreetly picking on captain Jarome Iginla as the poster boy for underachievers, maybe coach Brent Sutter ought to try to squeeze a little more out of the player once known as Jay Bouwmeester.

Good luck a long time coming

October 27, 2010

The black cloud over the Sutter ranch is finally lifting.