Salim Nadim Valji
@salimvalji
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@TSN_Sports Calgary Bureau Reporter 📸: 💌snvalji @gmail .com
Calgary, Alberta
Joined January 2011
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W/ Tony DeAngelo’s NHL future up in the air, it’s worth talking about how the New York Rangers enabled & promoted him the past 4 yrs, despite knowing his history of racist comments & current problematic behaviour that includes COVID denials & that the American election is rigged.
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Interestingly, David Rittich in fact flew with his ex-teammates on the Calgary Flames plane to Toronto to join his new Maple Leafs teammates.
Lucic says that there were some chirps on the plane & that he appreciated getting to say a proper goodbye to Rittich.
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Respectfully…I have friends @ Sportsnet/CBC who are wonderful, talented, hard-working humans, but Ron MacLean not asking NHL commissioner Gary Bettman about the Chicago Blackhawks sexual assault coverup allegations is an ENORMOUS dereliction of journalistic integrity & duty IMO.
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BREAKING - I can confirm that the Seattle Kraken have chosen Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano as their pick at the Expansion Draft, to be announced this evening.
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Matthew Tkachuk, on brother Brady’s character assessment of Brendan Lemieux:
“He’s not wrong.”
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Nikita Zadorov spoke to Calgary media today about the War in Ukraine.
Zadorov:
#Flames
“I probably can’t go back [to Russia] anytime soon until Putin isn’t the president or that regime is still there. So I can’t go back to my home country, but Florida home for me now.”
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It is too much, apparently.
I've reached out to at least 6 NHLers, incl Crosby/McDavid multiple times, this season asking to chat about race & been rejected. Pens PR: "I’m not sure why you are pushing this with us"
I've asked NHL why plyrs remain silent & not gotten a response
Is too much to ask for just one white NHLer to tweet something like, “What Akim Aliu went through is unacceptable. We have to do better. I stand with Aliu against racism in hockey.”
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Again, worth noting the admirable thought of Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers, in the heat of the moment w/ his team was about to lose, to wall off other players so that Jake Evans would be untouched.
Who knows what could've happened to Jake Evans if Ehlers hadn't done that.
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Rasmus Andersson, who has spoken out in support of the LGBTQIA2S+ community in the past, today on the NHL's ban of pride tape at games/warmups/practices:
"It sucks. It’s something that’s close to my heart and something I would love to support, but it is what it is."
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Hockey (and journalism and everything else) is for everyone…all should be represented and thrive 🏳️🌈🌈
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Kadri: “He’s a guy (Steve Simmons) who’s a little dated in his writing.”
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Darryl Sutter on Flames' "we haven't made the playoffs yet" mentality:
"You'd better make sure you make the playoffs bc if you don't have that in your mindset…then you're gonna play Colorado as a wild card & you'll get the shit kicked out of you, & I'm not interested in that."
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Found a discrete, hole in the wall spot for sandwiches in Montréal…highly recommend!
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Incredibly moving memorial service for Chris Snow today. His wife Kelsie and others spoke about how wonderful and resilient a human being he was. As Brad Treliving put it, he taught us the difference between being alive and living. Rest In Peace, Chris.
#SnowyStrong
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The NHL’s marquee & most-visible American franchise shouldn’t have been promoting, marketing, and aligning with Tony DeAngelo so unabashedly, all while knowing firsthand of the values he stands for.
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It also warrants further open discussion who in hockey/the NHL is deemed a ‘problem’ or ‘not a fit’ & who is given 2nd/3rd/4th chances. Tony DeAngelo is a prime example of getting multiple opportunities, opportunities that surely wouldn’t & haven’t been extended to everyone.
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It’s worth remembering that the New York Rangers Rangers were the 2nd-last NHL team to publicly comment on the killing of George Floyd (& never actually referenced it in their 2-sentence statement).
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Some news - Victor Mete, who has been scratched in each of the Montreal Canadiens' seven games this season, has officially requested a trade from the team.
Agent Darren Ferris and the Montreal Canadiens will work together in finding a trade partner.
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At his media avail today, Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter is wearing a Logan Boulet Humboldt Broncos jersey in honour of
#GreenShirtDay
to raise awareness about organ donation and registration
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Despite that above past & present, the Rangers continued to commit to DeAngelo, both on and off the ice. The past 4 seasons, the New York Rangers have given DeAngelo his own digital content series, featured him in marketing campaigns, and even promoted his
#Wyt
podcast.
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As hockey attempts to become more diverse and welcoming to different communities, it’s important to think about who the sport associates with, the people teams choose to promote, & when second/third/fourth chances are given out.
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Jacob Markstrom now has 4 assists this season.
Notable NHL skaters who have the same or fewer assists as the
#Flames
goalie…
Trevor Zegras
Jake Neighbours
Tyler Johnson
TJ Oshie
Patrik Laine
Jeff Carter
Erik Johnson
Matt Dumba
Connor Brown
Marc-Edouard Vlasic
🤯🤯
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Some context:
The Vancouver Canucks were also fined $250,000 for Todd Bertuzzi-Steve Moore incident in 2004.
A team issuing a statement calling for an NHL employee to be responsible for his on-the-job decisions = same fine as plyr breaking opponent's neck & ending his career
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Jonathan Huberdeau will have over 30 family in the Saddledome tonight…and his sister will sing the American anthem
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Not a great week for N.H.L. broadcasters…
-Boston Bruins pxp Jack Edwards saying Polak's injury "had hockey karma"
-Chicago Blackhawks pxp Pat Foley: plyr Ortega "sounds like he ought to be a short stop"
-Jim Hughson on Matthews arrest & "
putting a little prob behind you"
I have tremendous respect for the Bruin players that sent best wishes. All class. As for Jack Edwards, to say Roman’s injury was “bad hockey karma” while he was laying on motionless on the ice, you are truly a piece of shit and an absolute disgrace.
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I asked Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter today if he'd read Tyler Toffoli's recent story in The Players' Tribune that mentioned his coaching approach in Los Angeles.
Sutter's answer, paraphrased:
"I did not read it. Most of the stories I read are in the Bible."
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Jacob Markstrom, Elias Lindholm, & Calle Jarnkrok had sleepovers as kids.
Markstrom:
"We talked about this not long ago, me & Lindy…when we retire & our old, we can buy a division team in Sweden & get all our friends together. We just figured we'd do it here instead."
#Flames
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Darryl Sutter this morning on Johnny Gaudreau, who of course was not nominated for the Hart Trophy:
“Johnny has been really good in the playoffs. For me, he’s taken that step. You could see it during the season and now during the playoffs. I’m proud of Johnny.”
#Flames
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Also important:
According to the story, Coyotes draft pick Mitchell Miller never personally apologized to Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, who he made eat candy out of a urinal & whose head he smashed against a brick wall, & Arizona Coyotes didn't reach out to the Meyer-Crothers family.
Important to note that Arizona Coyotes CEO Xavier Gutierrez was named to the NHL's Executive Inclusion Council.
New owner Alex Meruelo was lauded by league for being first Latin-American owner…I believe Meruelo is first visible minority majority owner of NHL team too.
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Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield, about to make his National Hockey League debut, comes out for the traditional solo lap players now do before their first game
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Pierre LeBrun:
"I hope my colleague Rick Westhead gets a followup on this call"
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A source says Mackenzie Weegar has a “strong, genuine desire” to re-sign in Calgary…I believe both parties will engage next week in conversations about an extension for the Flames defenceman
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Hockey media seem to have taken a pledge to never criticize Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid, but when it comes to the sport's issues with diversity & racism, both have failed in their constant refusal to comment on issues or say anything public.
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@jfrobergeQc
@Malala
@UNESCO
Mr. Roberge, how would you respond if Mme Yousafzai wanted to become a teacher in Quebec?
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Mind-blowing stat of the day: Sean Monahan has more points this season than Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri…combined 🤯
#Flames
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Some women’s hockey news:
I’m told the Calgary Flames are now official partners with the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association on an upcoming Canadian Showcase game…an announcement will likely come this week with further details.
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Sounds like it’s been an incident free night in Edmonton, per a few cops. No riots or anything of the sort.
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Nazem Kadri’s full reaction to the Steve Simmons article discrediting the racims Akim Aliu has faced in hockey:
“It’s unfortunate when a guy like that tries to discredit somebody and, you know, act like they’ve been there and know it [experiencing racism in the sport].
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DeBrincat, on Bowman resigning:
"Probably a change that needed to happen…probably a good thing we parted ways."
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More of an interesting thing for me, but I asked Nazem Kadri if he was fasting during Ramadan…
He said he did during minor hockey, but given demands of the NHL, he doesn't fast during the season…not eating wasn't an issue for him, it was moreso not drinking water
#Flames
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"Over the last two years I have begun the journey of dismantling trauma from my past that have been present since my childhood."
Powerful words from
#Flames
blueliner Oliver Kylington:
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Darryl Sutter on his Jack Adams award nomination : “I’d rather see a guy like Gerard (Gallant) win…if I had a vote, I know who I’d vote for.”
#flames
#StanleyCup
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A sight Calgary Flames fans surely will smile at:
Oliver Kylington practicing in a Flames jersey [posted on Atunya Academy Instagram page]
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Random thing I learned today at the office [apologies if this is common knowledge; I had no clue till now]:
Apparently it's pretty common for NHLers, if they're shooting a meaningless, long-distance shot in the dying seconds of a period, to yell CORSI as they shoot it😂
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"Kids, I'm gonna tell you an incredible story. The story of how I met your mother."
Rest In Peace, Bob Saget 💔
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Regarding the report that Johnny Gaudreau and the Calgary
#Flames
have recently agreed to a long-term deal, his agent this evening said of that report: “There is no truth to it.”
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Rasmus Andersson on if the crowd/atmosphere was intimidating or a factor: “Not really. The Saddledome is way louder.”
#BattleofAlberta
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One of the ways Calgary Flames blueliner Chris Tanev has passed time during the Pandemic? Working on his degree. He played a year at RIT before turning pro.
“Took me 10 years to go back to school, but once the Pandemic hit I had a lot of free time on my hands,” he laughed today.
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A fun, feel good Sunday story:
Calgary Flames blueliner Oliver Kylington, who is half Eritrean, and former NHLer Johnny Oduya, who has Kenyan roots, visited the Kenya Ice Lions Hockey Team to play roller hockey this weekend 👇🏾
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🗣️“Last night, he would have been standing outside his office doors waiting for those two to run into his arms & give him their signature running hug”
I teared up writing this…Chris Snow, accomplished hockey exec but first-family man
#Flames
#SnowyStrong
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Jonathan Huberdeau on relief Jakob Pelletier isn’t out long-term: “I’ve got to take care of my son.”
#flames
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It's been 14 years since the Calgary Flames last played a Game 7…April 22, 2008 in San Jose.
#Flames
lost 5-3.
Jarome Iginla, Owen Nolan & Wayne Primeau scored. Adrian Aucoin had two assists & Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 26 of 30 shots.
The game winner? Scored by Joe Pavelski.
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Had a brief chat with Calgary
#Flames
blueliner Rasmus Andersson this morning on Ivan Provorov refusing to wear the Philadelphia Flyers' Pride warmup jersey last night.
Part of the conversation:
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As hockey becomes more open to being vocal about social justice, Canadian players/teams should be vocal about the many Indigenous rights issues in 🇨🇦
I don't believe ANY Canadian NHL teams acknowledged
#OrangeShirtDay
& Montréal Canadiens didn't acknowledge Joyce Echequan death
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As someone who grew up in Alberta, I never would have thought that our two biggest cities' mayors could possibly both look like me.
Still surprising, in a great way, to see the results of the Edmonton and Calgary municipal elections.
What a night.
#abpoli
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🗣️"Hopefully, they can feel the support from me."
Zadorov, on the dynamic between him & other Russian NHLers like Alex Ovechkin:
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Let's not forget that when the hockey race stories came public, no NHLer said as much as, "Racism doesn't belong in the sport." Crosby, McDavid, many others were completely silent.
There weren't any NHLers taking to social media like they do other causes.
Something that's struck me, from many a convo w/ different people in the sport:
For every Kim Davis & Akim Aliu, there are dozens of others, including lots who work for NHL & teams, who push back & don't see anything wrong w/ hockey, and/or don't see value in pushing diversity
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A relevant experience I had in reporting on the NHL & diversity -
A few weeks ago I reached out to the league & all 31 teams asking for diversity demographics & diversity initiatives within their organizations…less than a handful wrote back & none gave me any info whatsoever
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Just had a fun chat with Johnny Gaudreau for an upcoming story on TSN. Sounds like he's still tight with Sean Monahan.
Gaudreau:
"I went to dinner with him the other night. He got to meet my daughter who was just born, got a picture. He was holding her, so that was awesome."
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Exactly 11 years ago today, Sidney Crosby scored the game-winner in overtime against the United States to win gold for Canada in men's hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and Chris Cuthbert had the call of a generation…
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Sutter: “We were told it was a boring series last time, so I told the players yesterday if we score 7 to 10 goals and that they score 5 to 8, that we’d win.”
#flames
#BattleofAlberta
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Initial thought is that this is a shockingly low return on a proven veteran coming off a career season and is highly thought of around the league for his leadership abilities.
Trade request or not…I'm a bit surprised there's not more coming back to the
#Flames
for Tyler Toffoli
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Touched base with Brad Treliving, who had this to say about Craig Conroy's imminent appointment as Calgary
#Flames
general manager, which will likely be official on Tuesday:
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Calgary Flames reactions after their first practice with Darryl Sutter…
Chris Tanev:
"Definitely the best practice we've had in a while."
Matthew Tkachuk:
"All business, no messing around."
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I asked Calgary
#Flames
head coach Darryl Sutter point-blank about the possibility of recalling Matthew Phillips, who leads the AHL in scoring…
Full exchange:
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Different
#flames
news:
Oliver Kylington skated at the Saddledome this morning with Kevin Rooney, Jakob Pelletier, and Michael Stone
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Fun moment—
#flames
goalie Jacob Markstrom spent the last 3 ish minutes of warmups giving pucks to fans at both sides of the rink.
Even when he’s backed up, I’ve never seen him do that before, ever.
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Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft, on the decision to start Stuart Skinner over Jack Campbell:
“I think he has a chance to help us win the game.”
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Some interesting stuff from Flames scrums today…
-Jonathan Huberdeau is selling his 4 cars in Florida and now has a pickup truck
-Sonny Milano said the team told him there was a top-9 slot open, which made Calgary more appealing to him than other spots
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This. I really hope Canadian sports media tweeting about race become more aware of their own journalistic practices & how they frame athletes of colour and race/inclusivity stories.
A big example of this to me - hockey media coverage of Patrick Kane vs Evander Kane.
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Just touched base with Dan Milstein, Yegor Sharangovich's agent, who said:
#Flames
"Yegor, his wife Darya and baby boy Christian are extremely excited to join the Calgary Flames! They look forward to settling in and embracing new community."
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Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter, paraphrased, when asked about the team's confidence development as it's now won 3 straight games:
"Our team doesn't have a confidence problem, it has a problem with playing at the pace the rest of the league's playing at."
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Probably some recency bias, but is this Jonathan Huberdeau's best game as a
#Flames
? Engaged in all areas of the ice, a few points, strong underlying numbers, winning board battles, contributing in d zone coverage…
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After Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask wore a Boston Police cap during an intvw on Tuesday [& Bruins releasing a statement about racial equality], teammate Brad Marchand insulted a reporter for pointing out the conflict.
Will Bruins reporters question Marchand & team about it?
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Arguably the ugliest day in National Hockey League history.
I wonder what went through the head of Kim Davis after Gary Bettman decided to continue with games today.
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Jarnkrok will wear # 91 for the
#Flames
…and will be the first Calgary Flame ever to don that number
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Dan Vladar, who played just five home games last season, on winning at the Saddledome:
"It's awesome…after a win, I can go home, celebrate with my girl. I didn't have that last year."
#Flames
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Some news on the Calgary Flames -
Per sources, I'm told that impending free agent goalie Cam Talbot wants to return to the Flames & that the Flames have already indicated that they want him back as well.
No formal contract talks have started but are expected to fairly soon.
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Added that Simmons would not have wanted to see the Hockey Diversity Alliance group chat after Simmons’ column came out.
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Per the Calgary Flames, blueliner Chris Tanev and s expected to be ready & healthy for the start of training camp in 9 days
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Hearing this will likely get announced on Tuesday.
A massive accomplishment for Conroy.
I'm told the search was VERY thorough, with an initial list of close to 40 candidates. The
#Flames
consulted with Gary Bettman and Colin Campbell as well.
Conroy earned this, 100%.
Busy week ahead for a couple of Canadian teams. Craig Conroy will be named the GM of the Calgary Flames, while the Maple Leafs begin their GM process in earnest. Expect other additions in Calgary as well.
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Some comments from
#Flames
general manager Craig Conroy about Chris Snow, on a sad day at the Saddledome:
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🗣️"Never did he have a bad day, considering what he was going through. And he continued to do his job to the best of his ability every day."
🗣️"We just want to go out and play for him"
This one hurt to write, on Chris Snow:
#Flames
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New city and new life, but the tradition of hanging my entire careers-worth of media and press passes on my Christmas tree continues!
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Tkachuk said that after he allowed the 6th goal, Markstrom told teammates he would shut the door the rest of the way
#Flames
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Good news for Calgary Flames fans…Oliver Kylington is on the ice this morning at practice
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