Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
The shortened NHL season will end for the Calgary Flames on Friday night and after another season of not making the playoffs, Calgary has many decisions to make. The first decision would be a very easy one to me. It is getting rid of Miikka Kiprusoff one way or another. There have been rumors that he may consider retiring after the season and his contract will pay him just $1.5 million next season. He has said that he will think about it at age 36 and being in his 12th season in the NHL.
Calgary is going to need to either trade him or hope he just retires. It was an awful year for Kiprusoff in net with an 8-14-2 record and a 3.44 goals against average. I’m sure he would prefer not to go out this way but his play is proving that the time has come. I would think that retirement is the best option right now but if he would want to play another year, the Flames should try to trade him.
Kiprusoff had refused to waive his no-trade clause this season due to family concerns so that may be easier said than done. I would politely just go to Kiprusoff and tell him that it is either retirement or sitting on the bench a lot next season if you don’t want to be traded. No one wants that conversation to take place though because it helps out no one in the end. It is time for Calgary to turn the page on Kiprusoff and move on with a new goalie next season.
Andy Schmidt is a columnist/writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ASchmidtSports, like his Facebook page or add him to your network on Google.
