Iron Mike moves to Cowtown

1751 Views 17 Replies 6 Participants Last post by zoziw, Jun 17, 2007

GratuitousApplesauce

Discussion Starter · Jun 14, 2007

I feel sorry, — really sorry, — for Flames fans.

It hasn't been made official yet, but seems pretty certain according to media sources, that Mike Keenan has been brought out of NHL banishment to coach the Calgary Flames. Yikes!

Apparently he is close with Sutter so I guess this move is not too shocking. Keenan is a jackass and while his abrasive style might whip the players into some short-term winning, in the end he'll rip the team apart. I predict that he lasts 2 seasons at the most, probably not more than one.

When he was in Vancouver he ran over the team like monster truck and left it in turmoil. He was responsible for alienating and moving Trevor Linden, who was the heart of the team. Keenan has picked fights with important players wherever he's been, so I'd be worried about some the marquee players like Iginla or Kiprusoff. I understand Iggy is in the last year of his contract before free agency. Well, he'd make a nice addition here in BC with the Canucks.

******

In other hockey news today, it looks like Hamilton could be on the verge of receiving the Predators from their new owner. The Hamilton city council has already jumped on okaying a possible deal for Copps Coliseum, should it come. That would be fantastic. The Hamilton Predators would be my new number 2 Canadian team to root for after the Canucks, since I grew up there.

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gwillikers

· #2 · Jun 14, 2007

Keenan's tenure here were the worst years for Canucks fans, and players too. It's a big mistake if it proves to be true. Not that I'm a Flames fan, but still.

Kazak

· #3 · Jun 14, 2007

GratuitousApplesauce said:
Keenan is a jackass and while his abrasive style might whip the players into some short-term winning, in the end he'll rip the team apart.

Couldn't have said it better myself.:clap:

Dr.G.

· #4 · Jun 15, 2007

Say what you want about Mike Keenan, but he helped guide the NY Rangers to the first Stanley Cup in my lifetime. For the record, I am going on 59.

zoziw

· #5 · Jun 15, 2007

Opinion is very mixed here with some saying that he is the closest thing to having Sutter back as coach, which we would all like, and others pointing out what he has done elsewhere for the past 6 years.

His supporters say he is the...fifth, iirc...most winning coach in NHL history, tutored and close with Bowman and Sutter. His critics say he will tear the team apart.

I was actually going to start a thread about this to find out what others think of him as I don't know much and wasn't following the NHL when he was in Vancouver.

Iginla, Kipprusoff and Regher will all hit the free agent market next summer if Sutter doesn't sign them. The local media believe that this summer Sutter will ask each of them if they are committed to the Flames. The ones that say yes he will try to sign, if any say no he is expected to move them early to try to maximize value and avoid a deal similar to the Lowe - Smyth situation in Edmonton at the trade deadline.

It seems possible that we can resign 2 out of 3 but the salary cap will likely result in one getting away...preferably not Kipper.

I wonder if the prospect of playing for Keenan will change any of those answers?

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Dr.G.

· #6 · Jun 15, 2007

"I wonder if the prospect of playing for Keenan will change any of those answers?" I wonder how many of them want to replay the 1988 Stanley Cup victory? We shall see.

GratuitousApplesauce

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 15, 2007

Dr.G. said:
Say what you want about Mike Keenan, but he helped guide the NY Rangers to the first Stanley Cup in my lifetime. For the record, I am going on 59.

I don't believe he's even made the playoffs in any of his posts since NY, or if he has it hasn't been a long run.

I think his style of boot-camp scorched-earth coaching has mostly died off in the NHL. Players, especially the marquee ones, need to be treated with some basic respect. I thought Keenan had burned a few too many bridges in the NHL for any team to consider him again, but I guess Sutter is his buddy. He may live to regret that, as have some former Keenan buddies.

I expect Kiprusoff isn't going to like Keenan's habit of trying to motivate goalies by constantly benching them either.

gwillikers

· #8 · Jun 15, 2007

Well, wouldn't it be wild if he pulled Messier out of retirement, making him the captain, and stripping Iginla of the "C". That would be just too much deja vu.

Seriously though, it remains to be seen which Flames players buy into his hard-ass approach, and which players get isolated. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out, and whether Keenan has softened his abrasive ways of the past. I sincerely hope that Flames fans don't witness the same train wreck that we Canuck fans experienced under Keenan.

Dr.G.

· #9 · Jun 15, 2007

GA, he won the Stanley Cup in NYC. That is all a Ranger's fan cares about in hockey.

zoziw

· #10 · Jun 15, 2007

After listening to the interviews yesterday with Sutter and Keenan, it appears that Sutter thinks the Flames not only can win the Stanley Cup with the team they have but that they MUST do it next season.

Keenan was brought in to light a fire under the players on the team because last year Sutter thought their work ethic was lacking. A lot of local media have been hinting that the team gave up on Playfair last year and that many players were whining about ice time and their roles on the team. Many feel that Sutter is sending those players a very strong message with the hiring of Keenan.

Sutter and Keenan are supposed to have similar coaching styles, although it would appear Sutter has more control over his emotions.

I guess we will see if Keenan lights a spark or creates a giant mushroom cloud over the Flames.

Should be an interesting season.

Kazak

· #11 · Jun 15, 2007

gwillikers said:
Well, wouldn't it be wild if he pulled Messier out of retirement, making him the captain, and stripping Iginla of the "C". That would be just too much deja vu.

Wouldn't be quite the same, since #11 hasn't been retired by Calgary, the way Wayne Maki's #11 got "unretired." It would still be worth it to see half of Alberta up in arms over Messier in red.

Dr.G.

· #12 · Jun 16, 2007

Messier hoisting another Stanley Cup, as he did in NYC as a Ranger would be a grand sight.

MLeh

· #13 · Jun 16, 2007

Dr.G. said:
Messier hoisting another Stanley Cup, as he did in NYC as a Ranger would be a grand sight.

Dr. G, as a Calgary fan, I'm just going to ask you once to STOP with the Messier talk right now. Because if you continue, I'm gonna have to come out there and smack you around. Matter of fact, I think I'm probably have to go see Mr. Sutter and smack him around too just for hiring Keenan. If Kipper leaves, I will.

BTW: The cup was won by Calgary in 1989, not 1988. In 1988 the Flames went to the finals, but lost to Montreal. Some people blame it on the series against St. Louis, which although Calgary was winning 3 games, ended up going to the full seven. Crisp coached the Flames to the cup in 1989, but it was Bob Johnson's team.

Dr.G.

· #14 · Jun 17, 2007

MLeh, the Flames were crowned Stanley Cup champions for the 1988-89 season when they defeated the Montreal Canadiens. They won in 89, but it was the 88 season.

Messier walking down 17th Street. I can see it now .............

"... if you continue, I'm gonna have to come out there and smack you around." I have the secret weapon protecting me. You would not get more than a meter into my home before being destroyed. So, live with it. Messier goes to the Flames and the Flames win the Stanley Cup in the 07/08 season. Sadly, they shall beat the Rangers in game 7 on a penalty shot by none other than Mark Messier. We shall see.

zoziw

· #15 · Jun 17, 2007

In 1988 the Flames went to the finals, but lost to Montreal.

We were swept by the Oilers in 4 straight that season in the Smythe Division finals.

We did win the President's Trophy though.

It was the 85-86 season that we went to the finals and lost to Montreal.

MLeh

· #16 · Jun 17, 2007

zoziw said:
We were swept by the Oilers in 4 straight that season in the Smythe Division finals.

We did win the President's Trophy though.

It was the 85-86 season that we went to the finals and lost to Montreal.

Fair enough. The memories get hazy and confused (they were some great years though, eh?). Which year was the Smith goal?

Kazak

· #17 · Jun 17, 2007

Don't remember the year of the Smith goal (the goal was unforgettable, though).

Montreal's last Cups are easy to remember: 4 in a row ending in '79, then '86, then '93 (seven years apart). Calgary earned eternal damnation for being the only team (other than Montreal) ever to win the Cup in the Forum.:-(

Dr. G.: Sorry, but your weapon is no secret. Probably the worst thing about death by doxie would be being torn apart from the bottom up.

zoziw

· #18 · Jun 17, 2007

So...does Muckler still have a job at the end of the day?

The Ottawa Senators have fired general manager John Muckler in a surprising move that could be announced on Sunday, according to a report in the Toronto Sun.

CBC

“No decision on John’s (future) has yet to be decided .... by any of the parties,” said Mlakar. “And, decisions on multiple fronts, WON’T (his emphasis) be decided until the end of the weekend.”

Mlakar’s e-mail went on to confirm that roles are changing: “The organization continues, and intends to continue, to work through exciting new plans and objectives for all senior management. This is not unusual.”

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