Alberta Cow Pies

As the new season approaches and the many prognosticators submit their team predictions I was surprised to see many selecting the Calgary Flames as Division winners and potential Stanley Cup Contenders. While many were also seeing an improved Edmonton Oilers team this year certain to clinch a 7th or 8th seed playoff spot. I however beg to differ....

First the Oilers... now don't get me wrong I can see where the optimism stems from with big time additions of Lubomir Vishnovsky, and Eric Cole, and not to mention a full season (fingers crossed) from last years big signing Sheldon Souray. However there is not addition without subtraction, Jarret Stoll, Raffi Torres were key players in the cup run of 2005, and Joni Pitkanen love him or hate him was a very talented D-man. Vish and Souray will pump up the power play and rack up a good amount of points but neither guy would ever be confused with Denis Potvin in terms of defensive play. I expect the Oilers to give up as many quality chances as they are to get themselves this year. What about the kid line of Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano, and Robert Nilsson you ask? With a look at last year these three were thrust into starring roles after Shawn Horcoff and a playoff spot were lost in the wind and with the extra playing time in meaningless games these kids took the ball and ran with it. The question now is with a smaller role in games that are actually important will they be able to take the next step or will a sophmore slump find its way into their seasons?

Last but not least a look at the goalie Mathieu Garon. I like this kid, he played admirably last season in trying times and was fantastic in shootouts. I'm not sold yet on him being a clear cut no.1, he has been inconsistent througout his career and in the fraternity of goalies I see him as a medium tier goalie at best. So in conclusion I want to say I am not hating on the Oilers this year, in fact if they make the playoffs I will be the first one to watch them as they do play an entertaining brand of hockey. I am just not convinced in the stacked western conference they will have the stones to push for a spot this year.


Now to the Calgary Flames, I will try not to be biased here as it is in my DNA to dislike this team but really I don't get it. Playoff team? ok I'll give you that, cup contender? Ha! To start you have Jarome Iginla a fine player and genuine superstar who will again be counted on heavily. My top concern though is at the center position. They are going to come at you with Daymond Langkow who is a 2nd line center at best and then you have Craig Conroy, Mathew Lombardi, and Wayne Primeau. I don't know of any recent stanley cup contenders that looked this bad down the middle. They also lost this offseason a couple of real talents in Alex Tanguay and Kristian Huselius who both had their issues with Mike Keenan. Now Mike Cammalleri is a viable fill in for one of them but Todd Bertuzzi? C'mon now... what is it in the water in Calgary that will make him play any better then he did in Detroit, or Anaheim? Playing with Iginla is going to make the difference? He had plenty of talented guys to play with in Anaheim and Detroit and did nothing with it. Bottom line is he hasn't been the same since the Moore incident, putting your hopes into this guy is a dangerous game as many a fan have found.

On D you have two of the best with Robyn Regher and Dion Phaneuf but after them there is a severe dropoff in talent. An injury to one of these two big studs and the Flames will be in huge trouble. In goal is one of the best in Mikka Kiprusoff but for whatever reason his play has regressed under Iron Mike. The quick hooks and mind games may be taking its toll on the fine finn. So now to make a prediction for you and a very specific one at that I'll say that Keenans act wears thin by midseason and gets the boot, with Sutter returning to the bench this team will claw its way just barely into the postseason.

For the Hockey Zoo, I'm the Zookeeper