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Okotoks, AB • Canada •
First, let me start by saying that Alex Tanguay is one of my favourite players - he always has been.

Alex Tanguay is a great NHL hockey player. Before this year, he was a Power Play specialist, had a great shot, great passer and never complained (and still never complains). When the deal was heard that Tanguay was traded to Calgary for Leopold, Calgary was ecstatic.

"Is this the same guy that made Kipper look like a fool last year in the shootout against the Avs?"

"This is the guy that plays with Sakic right? He's awesome, he makes any line better!"

And what does he do for Calgary? Goes out and gets a career high 85 points. Most fans reactions?

"He doesn't shoot enough!"

"He doesn't dig in the corners, play the tough game"

Ultimately, the new role forced on Tanguay by Keenan has practically kicked him out of Calgary to most fans. He now kills penalties (very well), plays on the 2nd line (with a mixture of players, mostly the veterans Conroy and Nolan) and sees very limited PP time. Do you hear him complain? No. He mentions that PK was something he never did before and he is enjoying becoming a better defensive hockey player.

But because he makes $5+ million a year, fans here expect him to pot 40+ goals while chipping in over 50+ assists. He's never done it before...but because of his salary and the expectations (probably due to Huselius being so damned good) fans expect it.

So for Tanguay's sake, trade him. Let him flourish with another NHL team. Fans and Keenan have written Tanguay a 2nd line LW, PK specialist role and he doesn't deserve that. He will prove to us all that we made a mistake by trading him.

Just like Chris Drury, we expected too much from him too soon. I forget how Drury is doing these days....

I welcome all comments and appreciated HockeyBuzz giving me this forum to vent my frustrations on all the anti-Tanguay talk in this City.

Here's to hoping he gets back to a team that will let him flourish using the skills he has.
Filed Under:   Tanguay   Flames   Drury   Trade  
January 31, 2008 10:40 AM ET | Delete
Correct me if I'm wrong, bit isn't the reason Tanguay pretty much HAS to go is because Sutter has almost 40 million dollars committed to 14 players next year? With Phaneuf and Langkow and Huselius to still sign (congrats on the Dion signing today BTW!). They don't want to choose better their number one center and their number two winger on the number one line - but if they don't clear Tanguay's 5.3 salary, they will have no choice but to let one of them walk. Not attractive when Iginlia has been playing arguably his best hockey in years with those two guys. I understand your frustration with a 5.3 million dollar guy who's not performing up to snuff, but the reasons he HAS to leave have very little to do with his talent - and what he is or isn't doing. Right?
January 31, 2008 11:03 AM ET | Delete
Yeah, he's the odd man out with a hefty 5.3 mill salary for sure. What I'm saying is the reason he will be the odd man out is because the role they gave him this year says "Well you make $5 mill plus, what have you done for us lately?" Huselius has proved to be very valuable as has Langkow...
January 31, 2008 11:12 AM ET | Delete
For some reason the guy just can't win. He is a solid contributor, but the same things were said about him here in Denver. He always looked to pass, didn't shoot enough, and it was compounded by the fact he has sniper talent. I'm still pissed about the Avs trading him for Mr. Glass, especially since the reason they dealt him was to clear cap space for Blake, Foote, or Forsberg. Oops.
January 31, 2008 11:42 AM ET | Delete
Weird, he's so talented but he can't buy himself a break on a regular number one line. Strange, when you guys acquired him I thought it was a ground-making trade for the Flames. At least his salary isn't horrific, so moving him shouldn't be too difficult.
January 31, 2008 12:38 PM ET | Delete
he won't be replacable with equal talent for less money....one of the best 5 on 5 players in the game (based on the numbers)..and he actually spent very little time on a line with Sakic in Colorado....I think he played a lot with Laperierre?
January 31, 2008 4:07 PM ET | Delete
Seems like a nice player but that price-tag is rough.
January 31, 2008 7:04 PM ET | Delete
trade him to the sens for redden but you would need to to throw a dman in tooredden
January 31, 2008 9:36 PM ET | Delete
I can't pretend I'm not disappointed with Tanguay's points output this year. He's gradually declined in stats since being traded here, as tends to happen with players on Calgary (see: Chris Clark, Steve Reinprecht, etc) based on the way Calgary plays. And I do believe he might have better worth during the playoffs than Huselius. Unfortunately, his output and his cap hit just don't coordinate the way they should, especially with Dion's new deal. Hopefully Sutter trades him at the draft this year.
February 1, 2008 9:58 PM ET | Delete
I am with you in being a huge fan of Tanguay, always have been. He has an amazing shot when he does shoot, and he is an excellent passer.Flames fans have put ridiculous expectations on him (and no offense to most fellow Calgarians, but their philosophy on hockey is still stuck in 2003-04). If I could have a line of Tanguay, Huselius, and Iginla, I'd be happy. But that isn't happening. Tanguay is relegated to winger, which isn't his game. He plays a center's game. If we can get Jokinen, I won't complain. But re-signing Langkow is not worth losing Tanguay.
February 7, 2008 7:05 PM ET | Delete
sstrang Ducky is the Nick name of Hall of famer Dale "Ducky Hawerchuck" you obviously need to do some research on the greats of the game. Anyways Tanguay is much like Hemsky. The main reason he gets moved if he does at all is because the flames need a center and Tanguay is the only tradable assest to get them that center. He has time remaining on his contract and he makes others around him play better. Owen Nolan has really picked his game up since playing with Tanguay. If he gets moved its not his play as much as Sutter needs a #1 Center to play alongside iginla.
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