Minor Flames deal nets Nieminen
Jason Morgan, futures sent to Blackhawks

George Johnson 
Calgary Herald
Wednesday, February 25, 2004

This deal isn't going to make anyone's heart stop momentarily or eagerly queue up outside the Pengrowth Saddledome box office utterly convinced that playoff hockey is now, at long last, on the way.

But you do with what you have, right?

The Calgary Flames added left-winger Ville Nieminen from Chicago on Tuesday, giving up next to nothing -- the here-today-gone-tomorrow-back-here-today Jason Morgan and obligatory future considerations -- in return.

With the Blackhawks this year, Nieminen collected two goals, 13 points and was a minus-15 in 60 games.

He's not someone who's apt to sail in and alleviate some of that secondary scoring drought that's plaguing the Flames right now.

And the question sure to be asked is, how bad can it get when a team is trying to improve using players the sadsack 'Hawks are willing to part with.

But the Flames are banking on his savvy being a positive during this edgy stretch run, and, well, more than a few apparently nondescript moves by coach-GM Darryl Sutter have turned out surprisingly well.

So who can tell?

"He's an experienced guy who has been on a Stanley Cup team (in Colorado),'' explained Sutter. "He's familiar with some of our guys -- Dono (Shean Donovan), Stephane (Yelle), Toni (Lydman) -- and he's a guy that can play.

"He's an upgrade. It's that simple. I wanted to sign him last summer but there wasn't enough money.''

The estimable Lynn Loyns, then, draws the short straw and, after another brief stay, is headed back to Lowell to continue life in obscurity as a Lock Monster.

The big winner in all this, naturally, is Nieminen, the former Av, Penguin and 'Hawk, who shoots up from 14th place in the Western Conference to eighth and, for the moment, at any rate, a playoff spot.

Calgary hasn't been a hockey Utopia for a few years, by any means. But it's a sight better than continuing to wallow in the mess on the south side of the Windy City.

"It's been frustrating for sure,'' sighed Nieminen, of the Hawks' miserable 17-31-7-5 record. "Out of 60 games, we were outworked maybe five. And we still kept losing. That's difficult to accept. It's tough to stay excited.

"I haven't played playoffs in two years. Playoffs are the best time in any hockey player's life. We came into this season with high expectations.

"But with Calgary I'm going to a playoff team.''

Uh, convinced of that, are you?

"Oh, yes,'' he replied. "Calgary will be a playoff team. I know that.''

If only everyone else was so certain.
Hello, Nieminen!
Sutter 'upgrades' forward lines by acquiring experienced winger
by RANDY SPORTAK
Calgary Sun
Feb 25, 2004

DENVER -- As The Who song goes: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

 Winger Ville Nieminen was traded from one Sutter to another when acquired by Calgary from the Chicago Blackhawks yesterday.

 Flames GM/head coach Darryl Sutter shipped Jason Morgan and a conditional draft pick to his brother Brian's team.

 At least the Flames' newest forward knows what to expect when he slips on the Flaming C.

 "That's the easiest part," Nieminen said.

 "Brian said, 'It's a good thing you're staying with a Sutter.'

 "It's easy to play for them, leave everything on the ice."

 Nieminen, with the 'Hawks in Philadelphia yesterday, returned to Chicago before heading to Calgary. Not able to get to Denver for last night's game against the Avalanche, he'll meet his new teammates today.

 At least he'll meet the ones he already doesn't know, since he's already familiar with Stephane Yelle, Shean Donovan, Steven Reinprecht, Andrew Ference and fellow Finns Toni Lydman and Miikka Kiprusoff.

 Conversely, they all know what to expect from the 6-ft., 200-lb. forward, who plays both wings and was part of Colorado's 2001 Cup-winning team.

 "Excitement -- the Calgary Flames work hard every night and I can help fill that department," said Nieminen, 27, due to be a restricted free agent after this season.

 "If I can get that game-breaker instinct here and there, that would be good."

 He hasn't done much of that this season, having potted two goals and 13 points in 60 games with Chicago, but that's not all Calgary wants from the member of Finland's 2002 Olympic squad, who has more than 250 NHL games under his belt.

 "The guy's experienced, he's come from a situation where he was on a Stanley Cup team, he's familiar with some of our players," Darryl Sutter said. "He's a guy who can play, an upgrade.

 "I tried to sign him last summer and ran out of money."

 Nieminen will make $600,000 US this season.

 Don't expect to see Nieminen on the top two lines but the addition gives much-needed depth on the wings. Also, Sutter has more options as the intensity level increases during the playoff push.

 "These are the playoffs," Sutter said.

 "It's not about competition, it's who competes and who performs."

 
VILLE'S NHL STATS 

Season  Club GP  G  A PTS PIM
1999-00 Col   1  0  0   0   0
2000-01 Col  50 14  8  22  38
2001-02 Col  53 10 14  24  30
        Pgh  13  1  2   3   8
2002-03 Pgh  75  9 12  21  93
2003-04 Chi  60  2 11  13  40
NHL TOTALS  252 36 47 83 209