Flames Sign Owen Nolan

[blackngold]

Calgary, AB - Calgary Flames General Manager Darryl Sutter announced today the signing of forward Owen Nolan to a one year contract.

Nolan, a fifteen-year NHL veteran, was a member of the Phoenix Coyotes last season. He played in 76 games for the Coyotes scoring 16 goals and adding 24 assists for 40 points while accumulating 56 penalty minutes.

"I'm excited. It's a good team. It's a tough team to play against," said Nolan in an interview.

"It's the way that Darryl Sutter builds teams."

In 991 career NHL games with Quebec/Colorado, San Jose, Toronto and Phoenix, the 6’1”, 208 lbs right winger has recoded 775 points including 365 goals.

Born in Belfast, Ireland but raised in Thorold, Ontario, Nolan was originally drafted first overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.

The 36-year old has represented Canada at the 1997 World Championships and the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, capturing a gold medal on both occasions. In addition, Nolan has played in five NHL All-Star Games.

Sutter was the head coach of the San Jose Sharks when Nolan had some very productive seasons.

"I would play for Darryl anywhere, anytime," said Nolan.

While Nolan has had some injury problems throughout his career, he doesn't plan on changing his hard-nosed style of play.

"You are never going to be the same as you were when you are young but you can't change your mentality or how you play the game. You have to go 100 per cent hard all the time," he said.

Owen is married to Diana, has a daughter Jordan and makes his off-season home in San Jose, CA.

[WildyCoyote34]

He actually did good last year. Wasn't as physical as I expected but he was solid all around. Was on the penalty kill but then again its the coyotes.

[Wes McSnipes]

Nolan may be on the down side of his career but I've been a slight fan of him and I've always enjoyed watching him play. He plays physical and he's a good, girtty veteran that fits the style of play for the Flames. I figured they would pick him up because he's a "Mike Keenan type of player". Tough, hard-nosed, mean, etc. I would definitely pick him up for cheap, and IMO this was a good move by Calgary. $2 million seems about right, and if he wants more it was smart to include incentives because you never know how Nolan will play, especially at his age right now.

[Thrillhouse]

Haha, what is going on? I can't figure out why they'd do this.

[bengino]

Nolan gets 2 mill including bonuses.. Smolinski gets 2 mill no matter what... i'd take Nolan before Smoke personally... but then the Habs have had a hard on for Smoke since last year when they wanted to deal for him and Aucoin (the rumor was Aucoin and Smolinski for Rivet and Samsonov)

[BGDDYKWL]

This is a good signing for any team looking to contend IMO. Nolan looked pretty good last year on a horrible Yotes team, and despite not being quite as physical as I would've hoped (as Wildy mentioned), overall you'd have to say he had a productive year. He won't be 36 until next year, and he did play in 76 games last season, so his injury woes were at least quelled to some degree. I'd love to have the guy on my team, and the price here was about right.

[Isles4life]

If he has a crap year, he won't make all the money. Seems like a decent way to try to get some secondary scoring for the Flames. Not sure it'll work, but in theory it could.

[canuckfan]

Calgary's third line just got a helluva lot older, slower, and a tad more fragile I think this could be one Sutter will regret by mid-season, like the Amonte or McCarty signings from last year. Depends how Keenan uses him of course, but this one doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

[Kingdog819]

Originally Posted by canuckfan

Calgary's third line just got a helluva lot older, slower, and a tad more fragile I think this could be one Sutter will regret by mid-season, like the Amonte or McCarty signings from last year. Depends how Keenan uses him of course, but this one doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

I agree I dont understand why they would sign him.....

[Podollan]

They have a tough Team in guys like Nolan,Iglina,Regher...
if they play Godard,they have one of the toughest teams.