Conroy sees some 2004 Flames in the 2008/09 version of the Flames

From Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun:

"We're not in the offensive mode like we were with Juice (Kristian Huselius) and Tangs (Alex Tanguay), but we're kind of like getting back to the team of '04 with grit," said the veteran Flames centre.

"We'll make it really uncomfortable to play against. Do you really want those guys like (Todd) Bertuzzi and Iggy coming at you and those young guys flying at you, too? I'm starting to see a lot more similarities."

Ever since the Calgary Flames went to the Stanley Cup final four years ago, one of the most popular exercises in town has been drawing comparisons between that team and the current squad. As Conroy essentially points out, the common ingredients missing the last three campaigns revolve around grit, tenacity and intimidation.

Read the entire article here.

I'm not so sure I buy Conroy's comparison, but it sure doesn't hurt to toss out those comparisons and raise expectations for next season. The Flames should be a tougher team to play against next season, at least physically.

Flames re-sign four

From TSN:

The Calgary Flames announced Friday that the team has re-signed centres Craig Conroy and Daymond Langkow, left wing Eric Nystrom and goaltender Curtis McElhinney.

"Conroy and Langkow are two of our top centremen who are strong role models for our team both on and off the ice," said GM Darryl Sutter in a statement. "Especially with more young wingers in our line-up next season, their experience and leadership will be important. We are happy to be able to make it work by fitting them into our salary structure."

Read the remainder of the article here.

The Langkow signing has been rumored for months now. The terms have not yet been released, but the initial word a few weeks back was 4 yr, $20 million. As for Conroy, he will continue to be a solid defensive center, whose scoring days are behind him. Nystrom's contract is believed to be for two years, as the Flames are hoping he can improve on his consistency and consistently play on one of the top three lines. Finally, McElhinney is going to get another chance to back-up Miikka Kiprusoff.

Morning Musings

Here are the morning papers:

• The Wild played an uncharacteristically undisciplined game and fell to the Kings 4-3 in a shootout last night. Meanwhile, Wild coach Jacques Lemaire says that he has "extreme confidence" in Mikko Koivu right now.
• The Kings finally got their first win in North America writes Lisa Dillman of the L.A. Times.
• The Avalanche stormed back from down 4-0 and defeated the Flames 5-4 in a shootout last night. Avalanche forward Milan Hejduk missed last night's game with a back problem and is now listed as day-to-day.
• The Flames know the Avs got a few lucky breaks but as Flames' forward Craig Conroy said, "you make your own breaks." The Flames road trip was going to be labeled a complete success until they blew the 4-0 lead writes Jean Lefebvre of the Calgary Herald.
• Tomas Vokoun was tremendous for the Panthers in their 2-1 come from behind shootout victory over the Habs. According to Panthers defenseman Mike Van Ryn, the Panthers "had no business winning that game."
• Many of the Habs believed this was their most well-played game to date, yet they let it slip away; Red Fisher of the Montreal Gazette has the story. Coach Guy Carbonneau needs to improve on his communication skills with his players writes Pat Hickey of the Gazette.
• A rejuvenated Jeff Carter scored for the fourth time this season and led the Flyers to a 4-0 victory over Atlanta on Tuesday.
• The Thrashers are still without a single point to show for this season and they have already played six games.
• Unheralded Kent Huskins has turned himself into a consistent NHL defenseman in Anaheim writes Curtis Zupke of the Orange County Register.
• As Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe explains, Zdeno Chara is playing less than last season but is hitting more. Also in the Globe this morning, Dupont wonders if the Bruins are in on the Danny Markov sweepstakes. Over at the Boston Herald, Rich Thompson looks at the relationship between new defensive partners Aaron Ward and Zdeno Chara.
• With Chris Drury and Daniel Briere out the door, the Sabres have decided to abandon their "no negotiating extensions during the season" policy and yesterday they signed Jochen Hecht to a four year contract extension.
• Both of the Hurricanes off-season acquisitions have made terrific contributions so far this season; Luke Decock of the News Observer has the story.
• Hawks' coach Denis Savard has been very happy with his team's play so far, but is still reminding everyone that it is very early on in the season.
• The Blue Jackets have a number of players with groin injuries currently on their roster including Rick Nash and Fredrik Modin. Here are the Blue Jackets' projected lines for tonight's game versus Dallas.
• In order for the Stars to improve on their goal scoring output, Jere Lehtinen needs to pick up his game and nobody knows that more than Lehtinen himself.
• Ken Holland is looking to sign long-time Red Wings Kris Draper and Nicklas Lidstrom to extensions writes Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.
• As Joanne Ireland of the Edmonton Journal tells us, both Andrew Cogliano and Sam Gagner are one-two in the rookie scoring race so far this season. The Oilers have remained positive through their early season slump writes Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun.
• As Jessica Hopp explains in this morning's Tennessean, when it comes to goaltending, it is all about the mindset.
• Until his stats are good, Martin Brodeur won't be taking a look at them. Brodeur will be in between the pipes for tonight's game versus Pittsburgh.
• The Rangers are working to gain consistency writes Don Tomasino in this morning's NY Post. It may be only a matter of time before youngster Marc Staal moves up to the Rangers' top defense pairing this season.
• Ted Nolan has decided to flip-flop Bill Guerin and Trent Hunter in the Islanders' lineup.
• After signing Randy Robitaille, Sens' general manager Bryan Murray says this acquisition does not end his quest to add a top-six forward. Jason Spezza is among the league leaders in points, yet the star centerman has not recorded a goal this season.
• Coyotes' rookie Peter Mueller was a healthy scratch over the weekend and is going to use the benching as motivation to play harder writes Jim Gintonio of the Arizona Republic.
• Darryl Sydor has admittedly struggled during his first few games with the Penguins, but he understands that it takes time to adjust to a new system and new surroundings.
• The Sharks appear to be planning their second home opener writes David Pollak of the San Jose Mercury News.
• It looks like Jay McKee will return to the Blues' lineup for tonight's game versus the Blackhawks reports Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Dispatch.
• Lightining superstar Vinny Lecavalier, turned into a superstar off the ice by giving a more than generous three million dollar contribution to the construction of a new Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg.
• Darcy Tucker stood up for his longtime teammate Bryan McCabe to the Toronto media after practice yesterday. Lance Hornby sure doesn't hold back on his criticism of McCabe in this morning's Toronto Sun. Damien Cox of the Toronto Star says that the Leafs don't have an identity.
• The Canucks have demoted youngster Mason Raymond to Manitoba of the AHL.
• Joe Motzko could find himself playing alongside superstar Alexander Ovechkin writes Tarik El-Bashir of the Washington Post.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.