The Calgary Flames after Sunday's game sent 7 more juniors home. The list included:
Kevin lelande (Belleville)
Gord Baldwin (Medicine Hat)
Myles Rumsey (Swift Current)
Matt Pelech (Belleville)
Dan Ryder (Peterborough)
Brett Sutter (Red Deer)
JD Watt (Vancouver).
Next pre-season game is tomorrow against Vancovuer in Calgary.
The Flames have confirmed rumours by signing forward Andrei Taratukhin to a two-year entry level contract. Taratukhin recorded 24 points during the 2005-06 season with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv on nine goals and 15 assists while also accumulating 85 penalty minutes.
No real word on his abilities in the real game, probably a year in Omaha will give him much needed exposure. 3rd Line Center we envision.
The 23 year-old native of Omsk, Russia was originally drafted by the Flames in the second round, 41st overall, of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.
Matthew Lombardi, the last standout for Flames signing, was signed to a one year deal worth just under 1 million. It seems Sutter has very high hopes for the the 24 year-old who played one game with the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights of the American Hockey League scoring two points but spen the rest of the season with the big boys.
Lombardi scored 26 points during the 2005-06 season with the Flames on six goals and 20 assists. Lombardi appeared in all seven playoff games vs. Anaheim posting two assists.
The Flames drafted Lombardi in the third round, 90th overall, in the 2002 Entry Draft."I'm getting antsy now. The summer is getting long. I'm excited about getting to Calgary and getting training camp underway," said Lombardi.
Asked about the changes to the Flames line-up, Lombardi said that's all part of the process of improving. "There are always changes. That's normal. They are always trying to make the team better."
As for himself, Lombardi wants to stay healthy for the entire season, so do the fans. If pre-concussion Lombardi comes into form then he will be a great centerman for a million bucks.
The Flames drafted Lombardi in the third round, 90th overall, in the 2002 Entry Draft when they let Jerret Stoll re-enter the draft (the Flames swapped Stoll and Lombardi essentially.)
The toughness question was answered as Calgary signed free agent forward Eric Godard. The deal is believed to be a two way deal that enables Calgary to pay Godard a reduced salary when he plays with the Knights. Godard will likely be a call up to protect our stars while spending time in the minors helping do the same for the young stars.
Godard played in his 3rd NHL season during the 2005-06 campaign posting 4 points and 115 penalty minutes in 57 games with the New York Islanders. In 107 NHL career regular season games with the Islanders, the native of Vernon, BC has recorded 5 points and 260 PIM.
The former Lethbridge Hurricane was originally signed as a free agent by the Florida Panthers, September 24, 1999 and was traded to the NY Islanders on June 22, 2002 in exchange for a third round pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
Adding another defenceman to push for the 7th spot, Darryl Sutter announced the signing of defenceman Brad Ference. The deal is believed to be just under the 1 million dollar point and possibly a two way contract.
Ference split the 2005-06 season between San Antonio and Albany of the American Hockey League scoring 22 points (5 goals, 17 assists) and 135 penalty minutes with the two clubs. In 245 NHL career games with the Florida Panthers and Phoenix Coyotes the Calgary native has collected 34 points (4 goals, 30 assists) and 563 penalty minutes.
The 6’3” 218 lbs and has represented Canada twice at the World Junior Championships (1998 and 1999-Silver Medal). Ference was drafted in the first round, 10th overall, by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1997 Entry Draft. He is best remembered as the player who pissed off Mario Lemieux enough to get him to drop the gloves. Yet another Western Canadian (Calgary for that matter) on the team. Welcome!
