Toskala Done as a Flame, Free Agent Update

Vesa Toskala will not return to back up Miikka Kiprusoff next season, Darryl Sutter announced in an interview to air on the Fan 960 at 2PM this afternoon:

"Vesa made it very clear that he wanted to be a one or 1A in the league. The two toughest positions on the Calgary Flames are to play with Jarome (Iginla) and to back-up Kipper because of the expectations."

It's been assumed that Abbotsford 'tender David Shantz is Toskala's heir apparent, but with news that Jose Theodore may not be back with the Caps and a number of other viable NHL back-ups available through free agency, nothing is definite.

Sutter also said that he is waiting for medical clearance on Chris Higgins after the foot/ankle injury he suffered towards the end of the Flames' season before the two sides begin discussing a new deal. When asked about Nystrom, he said discussions are ongoing, but "for an offensively challenged team, we are not going to overpay for a 10-goal scorer."

As for White, Sutter claims that talks are also ongoing between the two sides, and that both parties would prefer to avoid arbitration, but it is still an option.

almost 2 years ago Hayley 23 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Vesa made if very clear that he obviously smokes too much Finnish weed.

by Jeremywilhelm on Jun 9, 2010 12:26 PM PDT reply actions

Yay! Sutter says things I agree with, film at 11.

No surprise about Toskala. I suppose he could find 1A work somewhere in the league if he’s willing to work for cheap.

by Parallex on Jun 9, 2010 12:54 PM PDT reply actions

As an aside if we can get um at same cap hit or lower I’d like one of Auld or Nittymaki please.

by Parallex on Jun 9, 2010 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions

I’ll be curious to see if a goalie or two gets squeezed out this summer in the manner that Afinogenov and Tanguay were last year. The Flames are pretty much stuck being bargain shoppers for a back-up, and I’d be inclined to be patient in this matter.

As for the other stuff, yeah, pretty rational by Daz’ standards, especially re: Nyzerman. I hope he means it.

Matchsticks and Gasoline

by Robert Cleave on Jun 9, 2010 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Definetly, one of Daz less then foresightful moves last year was resigning McHardtoSpell (for two years no less) early and then seeing the market for goalies tank. It was irritating watching Curtis play when there were better goalies then him out of a job who’d have likely worked for peanuts.

by Parallex on Jun 9, 2010 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions

That’s why I say no to a guy like Shantz or any of the goalies in our system. Go get some experience Daz. I will never understand why the hell Daz resigned McBackup like that.

"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.

by KingJafi on Jun 10, 2010 6:16 AM PDT up reply actions

More from Sutter interview (pt. 2 coming up):

-Mike Holditch was in charge of cap/finances
-Says hockey is a young man’s business—looking for someone (asst. GM) with experience but still young.
-Experience of not making playoffs was good for coaching staff
-Flames have 50 players under contract, 15 on reserve list (whatever that means)
-Having 4 picks in the top 100 is ‘good?’ Have traded second rounders for roster players in the past, have to rely on later picks turning out.
-Says he thinks he will qualify all RFAs
-Can’t have 4 high paid D-men, overloaded on D. Most important part is Gio. Doesn’t want to have him, White, and Pardy all UFAs next summer
-Doesn’t want to give any more picks up
-Hasn’t talked to Conroy yet
-Back-up won’t be Leland Irving—still 2-3 years away. Probably won’t be someone from within the org., will depend on who else is brought in

Matchsticks and Gasoline

by Hayley on Jun 9, 2010 1:46 PM PDT reply actions

Part 2:
-Deep draft, good NA players (surprise, surprise)
-Euros will probably be high picks, thinks Kabanov is a good player
-Always looking at unsigned or undrafted prospects, mentioned Broda
-Have to trade a good player or give up picks to get into first round, not willing to do that. Might try to get into second round, but doesn’t know if it’s worth it.
-Teams overpay for UFAs, wants to acquire players through trade route if possible
-Not sure how much change has to be made. Concerned about players who underachieved last season, especially when team was losing; “if you can upgrade, you will.”
-Doesn’t know what his budget is yet

Matchsticks and Gasoline

by Hayley on Jun 9, 2010 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Can’t have 4 high paid D-men, overloaded on D.

Gee Darryl, way to go… nice that you figured this out after trading for a 37 year old bottom pairing d-man who makes just shy of 3M per.

-Euros will probably be high picks, thinks Kabanov is a good player

Sutter said something nice about a Russian? Surely you jest. How did Kabanov come up? I know he’s falling in draft stock but not so much that we could get him in the third.

Teams overpay for UFAs, wants to acquire players through trade route if possible

Yeah Daz, you got a real underpay in that Kotalik guy you traded for yes?

by Parallex on Jun 9, 2010 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Sutter said something nice about a Russian? Surely you jest. How did Kabanov come up? I know he’s falling in draft stock but not so much that we could get him in the third.

The guys started asking him about the draft and the Kabanov v. his agent thing came up; Sutter said he thought he was a “very good player” that could “slide around” in the draft. I think Kabanov is the only European prospect he knows by name. He kept referring to “that Swedish defenceman” or “the little Finnish centre.”

Matchsticks and Gasoline

by Hayley on Jun 9, 2010 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions

No word on Higgins eh? I’ll be pissed if he’s not signed, he’s the only reason the Kotalik trade is defensible (even then).

His budget had better damned well be enough to demote a couple guys into whereaver the Heat get relocated :-)

by R O on Jun 9, 2010 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Staios at an absolute minimum, right? It’s not worth it to buy him out, so straight to Abby and put that 2.7 mil back on your cap for next year.

Matchsticks and Gasoline

by Robert Cleave on Jun 9, 2010 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Staois needs to be gone. Like, yesterday.

by Jeremywilhelm on Jun 9, 2010 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Nothing on Higgins apart from the “waiting for medical clearance” bit.

Matchsticks and Gasoline

by Hayley on Jun 9, 2010 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions

-Flames have 50 players under contract, 15 on reserve list (whatever that means)

You can have 50 players under contract, and as many as 90 total players on your reserve list, so as many as 40 unsigned juniors, college players and Euros.

Matchsticks and Gasoline

by Robert Cleave on Jun 9, 2010 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Gotcha, thanks Robert.

Matchsticks and Gasoline

by Hayley on Jun 9, 2010 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Interesting that they only have 15 on reserve list, if that’s referring to unsigned but drafted players. Seems low…actually, not really, I guess, since junior guys need to be signed within 2 years and the Flames don’t draft Euros or college players very often. More I think of it, allowing up to 40 seems really high, and there can’t be many teams approaching that number.

Matchsticks and Gasoline

by maimster on Jun 9, 2010 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions

So playing Vesa so much at the end of the year was worth it then.

Honestly, they need an experienced backup. Enough of these McBackups which is exactly what Shantz would be, a McBackup v 2.0.

"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.

by KingJafi on Jun 10, 2010 6:14 AM PDT reply actions

-Mike Holditch was in charge of cap/finances

i’ve been saying for over a year that rumour had it the cap debacle was holditch’s fault in the end. how the the guy then gets promoted from cfo to asst gm is hilariously beyond me.

by walkinvisible on Jun 10, 2010 9:06 AM PDT reply actions

He sure does know his maths hyuk hyuk

The 4th Line Blog
Go Flames Go

by Justin Azevedo on Jun 10, 2010 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions

Maybe I haven’t paid attention in past years but has Darryl ever done anything like this?

Where the Windsor Spitfires destroy the WHL.

by CofRed on Jun 10, 2010 11:03 AM PDT reply actions

yes, and as a rule of thumb everything he says should be taken with a grain of salt***.

*a grain the size of everest]

by walkinvisible on Jun 10, 2010 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Precisely

Matchsticks and Gasoline

by Hayley on Jun 10, 2010 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Flames Schedule

Last 5 Games

Anaheim Anaheim Calling	Sat 04/07	W 5 - 2
Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	Thu 04/05	W 3 - 2
@ Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	Sat 03/31	OT - L 2 - 3
Colorado Mile High Hockey	Fri 03/30	L 1 - 4
Los Angeles Jewels From The Crown	Wed 03/28	L 0 - 3

Network Bar

Matchsticks and Gasoline -

We made fun of Luongo before it was cool