MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Jarome Iginla struggled in the last few days of the regular season, but the captain reached the 50-goal standard for the second time in his career. He was even better in the playoffs, almost a one-man team racking up points and being an emotional leader.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER
It's a toss-up. Left wings Kristian Huselius and Alex Tanguay both fell well shy of expectations. Huselius played so poorly in the final couple of weeks he was barely used in the final games, while Tanguay improved in some ways -- defensively and at penalty killing -- but didn't generate enough scoring.

FREE-AGENT FOCUS: Daymond Langkow is a front-line center who'll likely be re-signed, but there are plenty of others who may have finished their days in Calgary.

Centers Craig Conroy and Stephane Yelle may or may not be back, but the team needs only one to be in a third-line role. Conroy has more speed and will likely remain at a cheaper price.

Right wing Owen Nolan is the most valuable of the other veteran unrestricted free agents, but he said he wants to see if the injuries he played through -- he suffered several stingers in the neck area when hit -- will go away. If not, he might consider retiring.

Eric Nystrom, who finally appears ready to be a full-time NHLer, is also unrestricted, having played fewer than 80 NHL games in his first three pro seasons.

On the blue line, David Hale and Jim Vandermeer are free to pick and choose.

PLAYER NOTES

--C Craig Conroy will have surgery on his right knee to repair a torn meniscus. The pending unrestricted free agent played half the season with the injury and also suffered a torn oblique muscle in the final week of the campaign. Conroy has publicly stated he wants to return at a reduced salary and knowing full well that he would be in a third-line role.

--RW Jarome Iginla was named a finalist for both the Hart Trophy and the NHLPA's similar honor, the Lester B. Pearson Award. He's not the only Flame among the finalists for league hardware. D Dion Phaneuf is among the top three for the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman.

--A pair of forward prospects has opted to return to Finland. RW Tomi Maki, who played three seasons with Calgary's AHL affiliate and one NHL contest, signed with Jokerit and remains a restricted free agent. Juuso Puustinen, a fifth-round pick in 2006, spent two seasons with the Western Hockey League's Kamloops Blazers, signed with Espoo Blues. Puustinen must be signed by June 1 for the Flames to retain his rights, and they would be held while in Europe.

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