Saturday, August 13, 2005

Keeping it together in Calgary

Flames fans can add a couple of familiar names to their list of returning Flames, as Darryl Sutter slowly builds his team from the blue print of that remarkable run 15 months ago. Sutter welcomed back Mikka Kiprusoff and Rhett Warrener to Cowtown as the Flames firmed up their back end on Friday.

Kiprusoff was rewarded with a three year 10 million dollar deal, while Warrener told his banker that he'll be 9.4 million richer over the next four years. Both were vital players to the Flame charge in the 2004 Stanley Cup challenge and should pick up where they left off.

The Best news of all for Flames fans is the declaration by Sutter that he's not done building yet. With a burning desire to win a Championship, Sutter is hoping to have further announcements in the very near future. Sutter wants to build a championship team able to challenge immediately yet be one with a long term outlook for domination over the next few years.

The Flames are off to a pretty good start in that plan with the renewal of the Iginla contract, addition of some free agents in Amonte and McCarty and Friday's return of Kiprusoff and Warrener. The pieces are falling into piece one by one and Flame fans must be getting anxious for that first puck to drop in the new era.

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