MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Jarome Iginla. Questions abounded when the Flames captain struggled down the stretch last season and then managed just two goals and six assists in the first 15 games. However, Iginla went on a tear the rest of the way. He reached 40 goals for the fourth time in his career during a season in which he managed better than a point-per game. He also eclipsed the 1,000-point mark and is closing in 500 career goals.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER
There are no shortage of candidates when you have a team with Ales Kotalik and Niklas Hagman both making $3 million per season and combining for just 15 goals. However, Matt Stajan has been a complete bust since coming to the Flames in the Dion Phaneuf trade. The center, whose salary this season was $4.5 million, barely cracked 30 points and has been relegated to fourth-line duty and 14 minutes per game.

BIGGEST NEEDS
So much depends on what happens with Alex Tanguay. If the Flames can't re-sign the top-line winger, they'll be in the market for somebody to play alongside Jarome Iginla. However, if Iginla decides he's willing to be traded, the dominos will fall everywhere. Calgary's biggest need is for players within the system to earn a promotion to full-time NHL status.

FREE AGENT FOCUS
The Flames have a solid collection of pending free agents, in numbers. Not in name. The biggest is forward Alex Tanguay, who came to Calgary for a $1.7 million contract and put his career back on track with nearly 70 points. Tanguay's passing ability and chemistry with Jarome Iginla makes him very important to the Flames. However, he could price himself out of the city. It is a solid match, and both sides will try to make it work. Of the other forwards, Brendan Morrison and Freddy Modin both ended the season injured, so their futures are up in the air.

On defense, veteran Steve Staios will be looking for work due to his age, Adam Pardy will be in tough to find a new deal due to injuries, but Anton Babchuk and Brett Carson are on the radar. Babchuk showed well after being acquired in a midseason trade, but his asking price will be a factor. Carson was claimed off waivers at the deadline and becomes an unrestricted free agent because he hasn't played 80 games through three pro seasons at age 25. The Flames would like to keep Carson, who has potential to be a second-pairing defenseman, and certainly could be on the third pairing.

Backup goalie Henrik Karlsson had a solid first NHL season, but didn't prove he's a full-time starter. The Flames will be forced to make a decision with Karlsson since 2006 first-round draft choice Leland Irving had a very strong season in the minors and earned a look at the NHL level.

PLAYER NOTES

--LW Curtis Glencross had the opportunity to leave. The forward who surpassed the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career, was due to be an unrestricted free agent but decided to re-sign with the Flames even though he was looking at a bigger raise than the four-year, $10.2 million contract he signed to stay close to his family in Alberta.

"We're really lucky being in the situation we are and the place that I am playing, doing my dream, but can still have time for family and friends," said Glencross, whose extended family is within a couple of hours of Calgary.

--LW Alex Tanguay is probably the club's biggest pending free agent, and the Flames are admittedly hoping to sign him before July 1. Tanguay, whose career seemed off the rails two seasons ago, had a rebound year in Calgary with 22 goals and 69 points while playing mainly with Jarome Iginla. Tanguay could chase bigger money elsewhere, but the Flames are hoping he'll be happy to play in a good situation -- a big role with the sniper Iginla -- in exchange for less money.

--Expect some bonding time for the players and their dads next season. GM Jay Feaster admitted he would like to see the team do a father-son trip, which the club hasn't had for more than a decade. Even though other teams regularly do it, the Flames kiboshed such ideas when they lost both games to start a slide under the watch of Darryl Sutter in January 2003.

MEDICAL WATCH

--C Brendan Morrison (left knee) had surgery when the season ended. He's due to be an unrestricted free agent. Sadly for him, he had a strong bounce-back season before being hurt.

--C/RW David Moss (ankle) should be recovered from a high ankle sprain that took him from the lineup in mid-March and be ready for a bigger role next season.

--D Adam Pardy (shoulder) suffered two major injuries this season. He is due to be an unrestricted free agent, and could be in tough to gain a one-way contract due to a growing injury history.

--LW Niklas Hagman (concussion) was hurt late in the season. The former 20-goal scorer had a horrible season with just 11 goals. He was even put on waivers at one point. He should be fine to return next season, but the Flames may be trying to find another home for him.

--LW Raitis Ivanans (concussion) was injured in the first game of the season and appeared close to returning in late November before having a setback that shut him down for the season. It's not known whether the enforcer, who has another year on his contract, will be able to return next season.

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