the 4th star

This past summer has been all about the money. There was the unrestricted free agent *frenzy.* That was around the same time the Phoenix Coyotes financial problems came into the spotlight, when BlackBerry billionaire Jim Balsillie threw his two cents into the fray and the league kept talking out of both sides of its mouth. You know, the place they seem reluctant to put their money in.

Screwed up contracts — both legitimate Chicago fuck-ups and the over-spending variety — became commonplace, and some players decided to gamble on the bigger payday in Russia. Terms like “escrow” and “cap numbers” came to be a part of the conversation, too. Then there was even more change — and even less sense — from Patrick Kane, who allegedly tag-teamed a Buffalo cab driver with his cousin over 20 cents.

It seems talk of climbing out of this recession has put money on the mind and our mind on the money, so in the spirit of cash, let’s take a look at all 21 teams 30 teams as training camps get set to fire up this month. Like most financial ventures, some teams will offer a greater return than others.

CALGARY FLAMES

Northwest Division
2008-09 record: 46-30-6, second in the division, fifth in the conference
Cap space: $2.405 million

Tip sheet:
Terrible on the road last year (19 wins)…There is no truth to the rumour that Dion Phaneuf and Pierre McGuire have broken up, nor can it be confirmed that McGuire is late night texting Jerome Iginla…I will never get tired of watching that Bure OT winner in ’94…Flames fans are worse than Oilers fans. Not really a tip, as most of you know this already.

Fun fact:
In 2004, when the Flames went to the Stanley Cup final, then-Prime Minister Paul Martin dubbed them “Canada’s team.” The end of his career soon followed.

You should really invest in this club because…
Iginla. Still one of the best players in the world. When he’s on his game, almost unstoppable. Almost. If Nigel Dawes was smart, he’d follow Iginla around like a lost puppy.

The bottom will fall out with…
Two many players making way too much money. Check this out: Phaneuf and Jay Bouwmeester will make a combined $65.4 million over the next four years. Nothing sticks to Teflon Darryl Sutter. Nothing.

Key acquisition:
Bouwmeester. They traded for and signed the biggest (potential) free agent out there. Now they can recapture that same magic Bouwmeester and Jokinen had in Florida. How do I do that ‘eye-roll’ emoticon?

Bottom line:
Playoffs, for sure, but does anyone think they can win once they get there? Being better on the road would be a start.