FanHouse MikeKeenan

After stepping down as head coach of the New Jersey Devils two weeks ago, rumors instantly started to fly about Brent Sutter taking over behind the bench of the Calgary Flames. After all, Brent's brother, Darryl, is currently the general manager in Calgary, while the team recently had its head coaching spot become available after Mike Keenan was fired following the Flames' opening round loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.

According to TSN, the Sutter family reunion is close to happening, as reports are indicating Brent is nearing an agreement to take over as the Flames' bench boss.

On the same day his team's main rival in Alberta named two familiar and formidable names to their coaching staff, the Calgary Flames may have taken a step toward filling their opening.

Last week, Mike Keenan was axed after two years, with general manager Darryl Sutter saying that the team wanted to move in a different direction as they try to bring Calgary a Stanley Cup. That direction might be backward, as Sutter is sending overtures that he wants his old job back.

After loading up at the NHL's trade deadline with Olli Jokinen and Jordan Leopold, the Calgary Flames went from run-of-the-mill playoff team to a legitimate contender in the Western Conference. Or so we thought. After being knocked out of the first round in six games against the upstart Chicago Blackhawks, the Flames have decided to part ways with head coach Mike Keenan after just two years on the job.

The Calgary Flames face elimination Monday night at home. They'll play the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 6 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series.

When they take to the ice, they hope to have star defenseman Dion Phaneuf available to play. Phaneuf left Game 5 after his head clonked that of Blackhawk Troy Brouwer. His status became cloudier when he was nowhere to be found for practice Sunday.

The math says a team that leads an NHL playoff series 3-2 goes on to win the series 80% of the time. With Chicago and Calgary tied at two wins apiece heading into Saturday's fifth game, a lot was obviously on the line.

While the Blackhawks easily won the game 5-1, it was not the big story of the night. That would end up being the obvious tension between Flames head coach Mike Keenan and the starting goalie he pulled in the second period, Miikka Kiprusoff.

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On Monday night, the Calgary Flames defeated the Chicago Blackhawks for the first time this season, cutting the deficit in their Western Conference Quarterfinal in half. Late in the third period -- with 13 seconds remaining, to be exact -- Chicago's Adam Burish decided to break his stick in half across Rene Bourque's face.

Matthew Barnaby spent his entire NHL career getting under the skin of every player and coach in the league. He was a pest, an agitator and a troublemaker that nobody enjoyed playing against. Basically, he was the Sean Avery of his time, only far more entertaining on the ice (and without the incredible sense of style and fashion off of it).

Even in retirement, Barnaby appears to have found a way to get on the nerves of those in the league, as Calgary Flames head coach Mike Keenan took exception to Barnaby's reporting on TSN prior to Wednesday's trade deadline.

When the Ducks bit the bullet and bought out the final year of Todd Bertuzzi's inflated contract, I wondered what team would actually take a chance on the guy and be suckered into a bad deal. If Brian Burke got sick of the guy, who else would want him?

Well, it appears that the Calgary Flames have bit the bait, and signed Bertuzzi to a free agent deal worth $1.95 million.

"Todd is a proven scorer with the ability to play both wings," Flames general manager Darryl Sutter said in a release. "He expressed to us that he wanted to play in Canada and that desire along with signing him to a one-year deal was important to our philosophy. He wanted to play on a good team and it fit our money. Additionally, our captain, Jarome Iginla, was a strong supporter of Todd and wanted him on our team."

As much as I dislike Bertuzzi, I will say that this is actually a solid signing for the Flames. They haven't committed much for Bertuzzi with just a one-year deal, and $1.95M for an offense-minded forward, albeit one with many liabilities, is not too pricey for a guy who scored 40 points last season, and is easily capable of more.

The Flames are giving Bertuzzi the chance and the incentive to put up some bigger numbers, and you have to figure that Bertuzzi will fit in well with his old mentor, Mike Keenan. I wouldn't bet on a BIG season with Bertuzzi, but the big slug ought to be reasonably expected to put up 50 points with the Flames.

When Mike Keenan resigned his GM position as a member of the Florida Panthers' organization, it was rumored that Jacques Martin, his so-called 'friend', cozied up to the owner and had Iron Mike shoved out the door.

Given Martin's close relationship with Panthers' owner Alan Cohen, it isn't too surprising that the Panthers decided to give Jacques a lucrative extension through 2012.

Martin, who also was the team's coach the past three seasons, was asked by Cohen last week to vacate the post after Florida missed the playoffs for the seventh consecutive campaign. Cohen did, however, offer Martin the opportunity to keep his job as GM.

"I put considerable thought into (the decision to stay)," Martin told the Sun-Sentinel. "I did really enjoy coaching, but I did feel this year, with all the different issues, it made it difficult. It was clear (the dual role) was too much for one person.

I could never understand why owners would allow anyone to have both the roles of GM and coach, given how much time and dedication is needed to do just one of the jobs at a satisfactory level. It's just silly, and reeks of egotism.

Every day from Monday to Saturday, The Ice Sheet will take a look at the biggest stories in the league that happened on the ice and elsewhere the night before.

It's not often that the average hockey fan from a small prairie town gets a chance to make millions and shoot pucks on a NHL Ice Surface.

Well, Darwin Head of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan had that very chance during last night's Avs/Canucks tilt. Standing at center ice, with a stadium full of spectators and the legendary Bobby Orr watching, Head buried enough biscuits to win himself a cool seven figures.

Head scored 15 goals – the exact number needed – in 24 seconds into an open net from the far blue line at General Motors Place to win $1 million in a one-time payout.

"This is just unreal. I can't wait to have a huge party and celebrate with my family and friends back home in Prince Albert," said Head. "And it feels so great that my wife and I will be able to look after our kids' futures with this money."

I think Mr. Head could probably buy the entire town of Prince Albert and have enough change left over for a 2-4 of Molson Canadian.