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About Mike Cook

Mike Cook spends much of his time writing about politicians and pucks. In addition to his full-time job covering the Minnesota House of Representatives, he does freelance sports writing – including pro and college hockey – for the Associated Press and other entities.

A lifelong resident of the State of Hockey, he grew up a fan of the Minnesota North Stars and still misses Met Center. He looks forward to when his three young children are on skates at 6 a.m. practices.

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Iginla likes Calgary signings of Jokinen, Tanguay Print
Northwest
Written by Mike Cook   
Thursday, July 08, 2010 00:06
Jarome Iginla’s new linemates are old teammates.

And the face of the franchise is trying to put a positive spin on a pair of signings that have been questioned by Flames fans.

On the opening day of free agency, center Olli Jokinen signed a two-year contract, and left wing Alex Tanguay a one-year deal, to return to Calgary, which finished 10th in the Western Conference last season and ranked near the bottom of the league in goals.
AROUND THE NORTHWEST

“When I spoke with Olli today, he was thrilled at the thought of returning to Calgary,” Flames GM Darryl Sutter said July 1. “I believe that Olli and Alex complement each other and it was very important for us to be involved in signing both of these quality players. This really ties our center ice position together nicely. Adding Olli gives us a good mix at centre ice with (Matt) Stajan, (Daymond) Langkow and (Mikael) Backlund.”

Jokinen had a rough 75 games over two seasons in Calgary, scoring 19 goals and adding 31 assists before being traded to the Rangers in early February. The 31-year-old scored four goals in 21 games for New York, but missed in the shootout on the season’s final day that could have sent New York, not Philadelphia, into the playoffs.

"When Olli was here, he had an off-year," said Iginla. "Our chemistry wasn’t maybe as good. I’ve said it before – he’s a huge shooter, and I think he felt pressure to be the playmaker on our line. We played together for some of it with (Michael Cammalleri), obviously, a great shooter. And I think (Jokinen) felt pressure to distribute it out of the middle."

Sutter said Jokinen would be pursued if a salary number was workable. Jokinen’s deal calls for $6 million over two years.

“Usually when you get traded they never call you again, they want to get rid of you,” Jokinen said. “I was flattered when he called and I started thinking maybe I did something right.”

Because Iginla and Jokinen are shooters, Calgary needed someone to set them up.

“After discussing it with the players – Jarome, Olli and Alex – that’s what they felt they missed was that playmaker with them, and certainly Tanguay’s capable of that,” Sutter said.

Tanguay, whose one-year deal will pay him $1.7 million, had a team-leading 59 assists and scored a career-high 81 points with the Flames in 2006-07, but had more of a checking role the ensuing year and his point total dipped to 58, including 40 assists. He was traded to Montreal on June 20, 2008. He had 16 goals and 41 points in 50 games with the Canadiens and 10-27-37 with Tampa Bay last season.

“When they called, I wanted to be there,” Tanguay said. “Last summer, I was almost a Calgary Flame again. Jarome was calling me a lot last summer and wanted me to get back. … We were a good fit together when we played together.

“He’s a shooter and I like to pass the puck. Jarome being the shooter he is, if you put the puck anywhere within 10 feet of his stick he’ll find a way to put that puck in the net.”

Iginla couldn’t be happier.

“I was definitely thrilled to find out that we were going to get to play together again.”

Sutter expects Jokinen and Tanguay to prove their hunger is still there.

“The bottom line is, (they're) players that we know can produce more and they know can produce more and believe it,” he said.

They had better, else Sutter could be gone – something many in Calgary wanted three months ago.

Iginla understands the frustrations of the Calgary faithful. While their team has signed a pair of aging veterans, the fans that fill the Pengrowth Saddledome have watched Edmonton choose Taylor Hall with the top draft pick, while Vancouver acquired center Manny Malhotra and defensemen Keith Ballard and Dan Hamhuis to bolster the defending division champions. Even Minnesota got better by signing center Matt Cullen and gritty left wing Eric Nystrom, who spent the last four seasons in Calgary and last year had a career season of 11 goals and eight assists.

"We didn’t expect it to be an easy summer, no matter what the signings were," Iginla said. "If I was a fan, I’d probably have a wait-and-see attitude, too. We understand the fans – we didn’t leave them with a good taste at the end of the year. We are definitely a better team today than when we finished the season. Until we go prove it on the ice, it’s just words."

Notes

Listen to Wild GM Chuck Fletcher and Cullen talk about the center returning to his home state. Cullen led Moorhead High School to the state tournament three times and starred at St. Cloud State. … Taylor Hall, the top pick in the 2010 Draft, signed his three-year entry-level contract with Edmonton Monday. Hall gets a base of $900,000, the maximum annual salary for entry level players; however, with all the performance bonuses written into his contract, he could collect as much as $3.75 million. … Edmonton G Nikolai Khabibulin appeared in an Arizona court Wednesday for charges of speeding and driving under the influence, but his case was put over to July 21. … Vancouver announced Wednesday that the team will retire Markus Naslund’s No. 19 sweater Dec. 11. He will join Trevor Linden and Stan Smyl as the only Canucks to have their sweater retired. … The home of the Vancouver Canucks will now be known as Rogers Arena. Canucks Sports & Entertainment and Rogers Communications Inc. announced Tuesday a 10-year strategic alliance giving Rogers the arena naming and telecommunications sponsorship rights. The company also operates the Toronto Blue Jays as well as the Rogers Centre and Rogers Sportsnet. … Colorado signed restricted free agent Brandon Yip Wednesday to a two-year contract through the 2011-12 season. Yip was 11-8-19 in 32 games during his rookie campaign and led all rookies in goals per game at 0.34. He had two goals and two assists in six playoff games. Free-agent forward Ben Walter was also inked to a one-year deal with the Avs. D Kyle Quincey and F Daniel Winnik each signed to a two-year contract Friday. Both players were restricted free agents.

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Last Updated on Saturday, July 10, 2010 19:16