On paper, the 2008-09 Calgary Flames was considered the dream team favoured to win the Stanley Cup, but it failed to move past the first round of the playoffs — again. The expectations are no less for 2009-10.

“We weren’t happy the way last season ended,” confirms Jarome Iginla, “and keep trying to get better as a team. Defense is going to be important but also to be able to control the puck more.”
Robyn Regehr also expects big things from his team. “We need to have a really good start in order to give ourselves the best possible chance to make it.”

This year, it’s a whole new look.

Up front, Brent Sutter comes in as head coach, replacing Mike Keenan. His reputation is similar to General Manager Darryl Sutter: attention to detail, demanding, and commitment to win. His supporting cast includes Dave Lowry, whose Calgary Hitmen missed the Memorial Cup by one series; Ryan McGill (was head coach of AHL Quad City); and returnees Rob Cookson and Jamie McLennan (goaltending coach).

Among the more notables gone from the lineup are Adrian Aucoin, Todd Bertuzzi, Mike Cammalleri, Wayne Primeau, Andre Roy, and Anders Eriksson. One might think the loss of some of those individuals will leave a hole in the roster. However, some of the newcomers should fill the void.

The addition of Jay Bouwmeester from Florida has made the Flames defensive corps the envy of the league. Note that three of them — Bouwmeester, Regehr, and Dion Phaneuf — were at the Canadian Men’s National Team orientation camp in August, along with Jarome Iginla.

The Flames accounted for about 10 per cent of the 45 NHLers invited to the Team Canada camp, and if you count Olli Jokinen and Miikka Kiprusoff who were also named for the Finnish roster, this year’s Flames team is definitely world-class.

Although Regehr doesn’t think it matters how many Flames were at the Team Canada camp. “The important thing is the guys get out here and they feel good for the start of training camp. It will help get your game in order a little bit. It’s all going to help down the road.”

That said, historically, players attending Olympic orientation camps tend to elevate their games when they go back to their club teams.

Flames play-by-play man Peter Maher says it is one thing to assess a team on paper, but once you translate it to the ice, that’s when you get a better read. “It looks to me like it’s a very good team. The defense is solid. The goaltending with Kiprusoff and McElhinney is solid, and up front, there are some sleepers there that I think might be able to help the team in ways that many people aren’t thinking.”

One of those sleepers could be Keith Seabrook, who played last season for the Calgary Hitmen. He will challenge for that seventh defensive spot. Also, watch out for left wing Nigel Dawes. His NHL career thus far hasn’t turned a lot of heads, especially last season when he only registered 10-11-21 in 64 games between the New York Rangers and Phoenix. But he did have a 50-goal season with the Kootenay Ice. With some Sutter influence, who knows what can happen?

And speaking of career seasons, look at Jarome Iginla’s after he attended the 2001 Team Canada orientation camp as a last-minute call up when the Olympic Winter Games were on North American soil. He scored 52 goals, 44 assists for 96 points and cleaned up in the NHL awards department with the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, the Lester B. Pearson Award, and was narrowly outvoted for the Hart Memorial Trophy. With the Games in Vancouver this February, Iginla is a strong candidate as Canada’s captain. Iginla’s success historically translates to the Flame’s success.

However, the management tandem of Brent and Darryl Sutter offers an interesting ingredient that is expected to cement the team’s direction in the standings.

Maher explains, “I always say about the Sutters, they’re not only the coach of the team, they’re the captain. They take control of the dressing room. They really get the attention of everybody to get the maximum out of them. These guys have a pretty good read on players.”

Individual tickets to regular season games, including the home opener October 1st against the Vancouver Canucks, are available through Ticketmaster. Check http://www.flames.nhl.com for more information.