The Case for Trading Kipprusoff

The Battle of Alberta has a terrific analysis of who the best dance-partners are for a Kipper deal.

The basic facts are that with Iggy getting big money, Phaneuf needing big money, and guys like Tanguay, Regehr, and Langkow making well above average cash, the chances of being able to sign Kipper to the near max deal he deserves is going to be difficult/impossible.

Something is going to have to give.

However, when you see the analysis that BOA have done, you realize that the chances of a deal are very, very low.

If I were Sutter?

Trade Langkow and/or Huselius and/or Tanguay for young punks/picks to free up the needed cash for Kipper and Phaneuf. All of the above have had decent ppg seasons, and still have clearly got decent trade value. None of the three are elite players (though Tanguay is the closest), and the returns on these in trades would be more likely to be substantial.

The bad-side is that these three are exactly the depth players the Flames have needed to become an elite team.

But looking for talent to pad out the 2nd lines is a heck of a lot easier than looking for an elite goaltender who can win you games.