Bertuzzi signs with Flames
1 yr./$1.9M per Canadian Press

July 7, 2008 -- Calgary, AB - Calgary Flames General Manager Darryl Sutter announced today the signing of free agent forward Todd Bertuzzi.

“Todd is a proven scorer with the ability to play both wings,” said Sutter. “He expressed to us that he wanted to play in Canada and that desire along with signing him to a one year deal was important to our philosophy. He wanted to play on a good team and it fit our money. Additionally, our captain, Jarome Iginla, was a strong supporter of Todd and wanted him on our team.”

Bertuzzi, a native of Sudbury, ON, has amassed 793 games over the course of his 12 seasons in the NHL. During that period, the 6’3”, 231lb forward has accumulated 580 points from 240 goals and 340 assists. Last season with the Anaheim Ducks, Bertuzzi recorded 40 points, including 14 goals in 68 games. He has recorded 50-plus points in six of his last eight seasons including a 97 point performance in the 2002-03 campaign. The 33 year old has played in at least 68 games in six of his last eight seasons.

Originally drafted by the NY Islanders in the first round, 23rd overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, Bertuzzi has been chosen twice to play in the NHL All-Star Game (2003 and 2004) and was named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 2003. He has twice represented Canada and the World Championships (1998 and 2000) and also wore Canada’s colors at the 2006 Olympic Games.

Also: Owen Nolan re-signs with Flames: 2 yrs./$5.5M

Jim Vandermeer re-signs; Flames add brother Pete

July 2, 2008 -- Calgary, AB - Calgary Flames General Manager Darryl Sutter announced today the re-signing of defenseman Jim Vandermeer and the signing of free agent forward Peter Vandermeer.

“Jim is a young defenceman who fits in very well with our group and brings us the element of toughness that is important for our team,” said Sutter. “He is clearly a player who plays in our top six. Jim gives us five defencemen still on the up swing and we know we have them for the next 3-5 years.”

Vandermeer, a native of Caroline, Alberta is a veteran of 267 NHL games split between Philadelphia, Chicago, and Calgary. After coming to Calgary last season, Vandermeer played in 21 games for the Flames recording two assists along with 39 minutes in penalties.

Prior to turning pro, Vandermeer played four seasons of junior with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League. In his final season (2000–01), Vandermeer was the captain of the Rebels team that won the Memorial Cup.

Calgary Flames to face Phoenix Coyotes in preseason game...in Winnipeg

MONDAY, MAY 12, 2008  --  Calgary, AB - The Calgary Flames announced today that they will play a pre-season game against the Phoenix Coyotes at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Wednesday, September 24, 2008.

“We are proud of our strong and deep roots in Manitoba and we are very grateful for the support we have received from our western Canadian neighbors,” said Flames President & CEO Ken King. “It’s exciting to be part of an NHL game in Winnipeg, especially against Phoenix and the sentimental history they have with the city.”

Mike Keenan media conference call, April 3, 2008

DAVID KEON: Good afternoon, everyone, I'm David Keon of the National Hockey League's public relations department, and I'd like to welcome you to our call. With us we have Calgary Flames head coach Mike Keenan. Thanks to Mike today for taking the time today to answer your questions and thanks to Peter Hanlon of the Flames' public relations department for arranging the call. With last's night's 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers they have improved their record to 41-29-10, good for 92 points and 7th seed in the Western Conference in the Northwest Division. They trail Minnesota by three points and are one point the behind Colorado with one game in hand. The Flames meet Minnesota tomorrow night in St. Paul, and visit the Canucks in Vancouver Saturday, two games that will go a long way into determining the playoff matchups in the Western Conference. Thanks to Mike for taking the time today to answer your questions. Operator, we'll open it up now.

Q. There's so much parity in the league and so much has to be decided in the last five days here. Do you have any sort of theory on why it's so close? We have seen it now in three straight years since the lockout. I have my own theory, it may have to do with the shootout point, but go ahead and answer that.

MIKE KEENAN: Well, I think I concur, and it's definitely the three-point game, because I was just discussing that with David before we came on the call that here is a team, we are 12 wins above .500, and looking at the East with Philadelphia and Boston both 12 wins and Ottawa 12 wins over .500; and yet it doesn't secure at this point in the season a playoff berth. So it's strictly related to the three-point game, and how that impacts the standings. It looks like it certainly is -- well, it's obviously changed the dynamics of the standings dramatically.

Q. If I'm adding this up right, you need one point to clinch a playoff spot, but if you happen to win twice and then if Colorado beats Minnesota on that final Sunday, and then it all happens in regulation, you still have a chance to finish first in the division. Do you think your players are aware of the math at this time of year, or do you just say, go out there and win the damn hockey game?

MIKE KEENAN: No, we're aware of the math. We have an opportunity still ahead of us, because we're playing Minnesota, it's in our control; and the tiebreaker goes to us even if they go into an overtime situation. So we are focusing on that. A win, which is also controlling our own destiny tomorrow night puts us in the playoffs, which we would be in if Vancouver or Nashville lost, and we can control it and that's what we're going to tell our players and we continue to focus on that possibility.

Q. Your record against Minnesota was pretty good this year. What has been the difference?

MIKE KEENAN: Well, they have been all tight, really tight. I think we've played better defensively against this team than any other team in the league, and I have no explanation why. Maybe because they've got some explosive players, particularly Gaborik that we are really aware of his skill set and we know he's a shooter. So I think we've got a good handle on them and we've just been really tight defensively, and I think that's why we've been able to have the success against them to this point. Now, at the same time, I think you were there when we played Minnesota, they have heavy artillery and we are able to at least match up to that, so that was probably another factor.

Q. Being such a competitive division where it's such a dog fight ask going to the last day, do you feel that will help you in the playoffs, or is there concern it could leave you a bit worn out?

MIKE KEENAN: I don't think it wears a team out. I think you get energized when you make the playoffs. I can recall some of the experiences, but in particular, one; the older people on the line would remember. We won one game in the 80th of the season in overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs when I was coaching Chicago, and that really vaulted us into a playoff momentum because we had struggled and worked so hard just to get there. And when we did, we ended up going to a final four, and, in fact, Calgary beat us and went on to win the Stanley Cup. So I think if you're in that mode already, you're prepared for playoffs. But all of the teams that are going to make the playoffs, with the exception I guess of Detroit and maybe San Jose who have kind of eased into it, are going to have a little bit of an edge because of the push that we've all had to put on here in the last three weeks.

Q. Have you ever in your 19 seasons experienced such a fight for playoff positions before in a week as you have this season?

MIKE KEENAN: Well, we have, personally as I said in terms of my coaching experience with a team in Chicago. But overall looking at the standings and the impact that a lot of teams will have upon each other in this final weekend, I've never seen it quite like this. Again, I made the comment, I don't know if you were the line, I think it's a complete reflection of the three-point game. You've got teams 12 games over .500 still aren't in the playoffs at this point. That's exactly the reason that we are not.

Q. Do you think there's such a thing as gaining momentum for a team heading into the playoffs?

MIKE KEENAN: I think so, but if you finish strongly, it doesn't guarantee any success in the playoff format. But I think you can build some momentum because you've had to play with a posture or an attitude or an awareness of how important each and every game is, and then in the case of those games and the impact of those games, if you're successful, which you have to be to get in the playoffs, has you playoff-ready.

Q. And there's been a lot of talk about Washington's Ovechkin, but how valuable has Jarome Iginla been this season?

MIKE KEENAN: He's a valuable player and has been for years here in Calgary. He's hopefully going to be able to score 50 goals. He needs one more to set that record. He's in the top scoring in the league, and he's a contributor on and off the ice for us. So he's a real -- we call him impact players, or game-breaking players, and I think he's had a really strong season in that regard.

Q. The concept of playoff coaching, you have 91 career playoff coaching victories and I was just wondering if anything changes behind the bench in terms of a best of seven series against a single opponent, as opposed to Edmonton today and Minnesota tomorrow and then Vancouver on Saturday in terms of preparation and game plan and differences; what are the fundamental differences regular season vis-a-vis playoffs from a coach's preparation point of view?

MIKE KEENAN: Well, the first thing that you have that I think plays into your hand or your advantage is that you are focused on one group only. Every other night we have to have a complete set of different strategies for each night that we are playing now. We go into a series, and then you gain the familiarity of those series, and some of those series you get a better understanding and a feel for the bench management of the other coach, how he's going to deploy his players in every situation. Certainly, you get a real clear image of their goaltending, and I think it's just the concentration of playing one team, it makes it easier than what we are doing right now for all teams. Q. And as a professional coach, do you like that, sort of the game within the game?

MIKE KEENAN: Yeah, I think that's the most exciting part about coaching. I think bench management, I've probably been around too long, but that's the part of the game that is probably the most fun for a coach.

Q. No other sport rewards teams for losing; I think it's false parity. Do you think there's any appetite for changing this until we get a better read until what are the true top eight teams?

MIKE KEENAN: We probably are going to have that discussion. Again, I don't know if the NHL is prepared to step back and go back and revisit the two-point game. They could have all the aspects that we have in the game now and still end up with a two-point game; one, if you're tied after regulation, and one more if you win in overtime or shootouts. So those are the things that are in place now, and quite frankly I think they should review it and get more clarity on the standings. On the other hand, I guess if you're a salesman and trying to promote the game, this is probably what advantage one would hope for is that it goes down to the last weekend, and at the same time, provides a great deal of excitement for the fans across the league.

Q. I know you didn't play terribly well in Vancouver on Sunday; were you a lot better last night in Edmonton?

MIKE KEENAN: We were better, but we can be better yet. I think we've had some fluctuations that every team has and we hit a little bit of a down cycle going into Vancouver, and I think you can't be in that mold very long. So we responded pretty well. It's always a tough game to play when you're in a situation where a team is going to be eliminated and to win a game like that, and particularly on the road, that's a real tough win to come up with. So I'm pleased about our results last night, for sure.

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