10 WEEKEND THINGS

Taking shots …

1 – Saturday was not the best of days for Canadian teams as the Flames, Oilers, Canucks and Canadiens all lost. On the positive side, the Senators won and the Jets pulled off a trade to acquire winger Nino Neiderreiter from Nashville, which should serve to solidify their top two lines. We’ll get a good idea Sunday afternoon when the Jets host the Islanders (*UPDATE* Jets lost 4-0 without Neiderreiter, who was dealing with a work visa issue). The NHL Trade Deadline is on Friday so buckle up for a wild week.

But the biggest concern is in Calgary …

2 – The Flames dropped four points out of a playoff spot with a listless 4-1 loss at Colorado Saturday night. The Avalanche scored on their very first shot of the game and Flames defenceman Nikita Zadorov said that personally, it was a bad time for him to have the worst game of his career (-2). Jacob Markstrom was on the hook for the loss in goal for the Flames and the Stanley Cup champion Avalanche were missing the NHL’s top defenceman Cale Makar (concussion protocol), so they didn’t even have a full deck.

The best answer to solve the Flames goaltending situation right now is to score more goals. There’s no one better available ahead of the trade deadline and this isn’t the time to call up Dustin Wolf from the AHL.

You can’t fire 20 players but you can fire one coach and Flames fans want that to happen NOW with 22 games remaining. But it won’t happen. Calgary GM Brad Treliving needs to let this play out and allow Darryl Sutter the chance to salvage the season. If not, then these are off-season decisions.

Beginning March 13 The RP Show will be back at Grey Eagle Resort & Casino in Calgary with the chance to either follow a fun playoff run, or perform the autopsy! I’m looking forward to getting back to Alberta where we’re treated so well, especially by the Stampeders and Flames.

3 – One multiple Stanley Cup-winning scout was in Regina’s Brandt Centre this week and we were discussing the plight of the Flames and their massive makeover going into this season. “These things take time,” he shrugged, and he’d know well. Trouble is in Canada, fanbases don’t give their teams time and that’s why it’s a revolving door of coaches. Maybe that’s why no Canadian team has won a Stanley Cup since 1993. This scout won all his Stanley Cups with U.S.-based teams.

4 – How bout those Pats? Regina’s hockey team has won four in a row following Saturday’s 6-3 home triumph over the Brandon Wheat Kings and one hockey person noted this week that he could see the Queen City Kids going all the way to the Eastern Conference Final. We had Pats boss John Paddock in the bunker at IKS Media this week on the RP Show and even he seemed skeptical that this team could pull off a magical run (due to injuries) but it’s clear the Pats have everyone’s attention. It’s fun to follow!

Meanwhile my commentary this week mentioning a possible sale of the Regina Pats this summer got a lot of people stirred up but it was nothing more than hockey arena buzz. It was what was floating around the Brandt Centre this week, but people just like to talk don’cha know? Especially when it’s minus-38 outside. Quick math shows that, at these ticket prices, the Pats gross roughly $250,000 per home sellout and they’ve had a lot of them in the second half. There potentially won’t be ANY sellouts next year so if the goal is to make your money and run, then that’s why people are putting 2 + 2 together. Nothing more.

5 – Try not to get so worked up over the rumour mill. I saw on national TV this week where one of the top insiders said Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane wants to be traded to either Vegas, Dallas or Edmonton. Within a day we learned Kane only wants to go to the New York Rangers, and the trade details are currently being worked out as he’s being held out of the lineup. I heard this winter that the Riders’ quarterback in 2023 was going to be Dane Evans. However now Dane’s a BC Lion. 

As a trusted hockey man once said to me, “Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.”

6 – I have him muted on Twitter so no I didn’t see it. But thanks for inquiring. If you haven’t noticed, I’ve left the playground.

7 – If I had a nickel for how many times I’ve been asked over the past three weeks, “How are the Riders gonna do?”, I’d have at least enough for a Starbucks coffee. I’ll write here what I told them: bravo to the Riders for signing QB Trevor Harris because if you have a quarterback, you have a chance. But frankly they had a QB last year, however due to being the CFL’s most-penalized team and a problem team culture, they gave themselves no chance. Is Trevor Harris going to change that? Time will tell. Fabulous guy though and I’m pulling for him.

8 – Quote of the week goes to Hall Of Fame Riders President Jim Hopson when I asked him on The RP Show how he’d have handled Chris Jones if the two were together in Saskatchewan. “Honestly, I probably couldn’t have hired him,” Hopson quipped.

9 – For the first time in 24 years, an airline lost my luggage. The last time was on our way to Boston for the 1999 NHL Draft and frankly, back then I hoped they’d never find it. That way they’d have to buy me new clothes! (Isn’t that the policy?) Anyway this time it happened while returning to Florida and thankfully, of the bags lost, it wasn’t my broadcast equipment so we’ll back on air as usual Monday at 12 pm ET on Game+ TV, WQEE, IHeartRadio and YouTube Live from South Florida. The old me would’ve been tearing people new ones but I’ve learned to go with the flow. Don’t get me wrong; if I was embarking on a cruise today like so many people I travelled with, I’d be violent! But WestJet has been very accommodating, apologetic, and promised to deliver the suitcase to my house as soon as it arrives. Easy peezy!

10 – RANDOMS: I’ve got no time for negativity, and am too worn out to fight! Been that way since I turned 50. Loving it. … Glad to see a crowd of around 9,000 turned out for Saturday’s Saskatchewan Rush Pride Night. If there were protests or boycotts, I didn’t hear of them. And once again, bravo Rush. Unfortunately they lost to visiting Aaron Bold and the Vancouver Warriors. … Nice touch Rush Nation, giving Bold a standing ovation for all he did for the Rush. … If you find the rotating digital ads on hockey boards distracting, then you’re not a hockey fan. … People will find anything to complain about. … The Blue Jays opened the Grapefruit League schedule with a 9-7 win over Pittsburgh and Vlady homered. How bout that? … Larry The Cable Guy obliterated MLB on Twitter this weekend for its new rules which he wrote “make no sense”. I’m glad somebody said it! Perhaps people with platforms like that can call out the nincompoops currently ruining sports, and have some success. … CFL deep thinkers thought it was a good idea not to have a full interlocking schedule this year and thus, fans are robbed of Bo Levi’s return to Calgary and Cody Fajardo’s return to Sask. But hey — we don’t know anything. I get told that all the time. … First Rob Vanstone and then Murray McCormick leaving the Regina Leader Post. All within less than a week. WOW! What a devastating blow for Regina sports coverage. … Thanks, by the way, for stopping by this column today. … WestJet is back to hiring funny flight attendants who crack jokes on the mic. I like it! … AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen