Calgary Flames - S18

Stay at Home with Ken Daneyko

Welcome back to Stay at Home with Mr Devil himself, Ken Daneyko. Today we welcome the GM of the Calgary Flames, Derek Hisaoka.

Derek, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to be here todays. Sincerely appreciate it!

How are things going in the land of the Flames these days? How are you and your family doing and adapting to a world with a Pandemic going on?

Derek: Thank you. The pandemic has provided an impressive number of obstacles for everyone. I’m working diligently to try and overcome each and every one, just like everyone else.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

Derek: Burnaby, Burnaby and still more Burnaby to this day.

What’s your take on the current crisis in the US?

Derek: When a hockey team looks bad on paper and then does poorly in the standings, it doesn’t really come as a surprise. People knew who trump was and what he represented. I think he’s an abhorrent human being, a slightly more vocal than average politician, and most importantly a dude that clearly wears adult diapers.

Tell us a funny hockey related story whether that be RSHL related or non-RSHL related?

Derek: When I was playing minor hockey, my team was good enough to move from double A to triple A, on the merits of just a phenomenal season. A large piece of that success was due to the play of our goalie. Unfortunately the young man was also dealing with a medical condition that none of us understood at the time, ulceritic colitis, and I guess he ate something that his body rejected. In the midst of an absolutely beautiful cross crease save, his body ejected the offending waste material everywhere. The game was postponed, the shovels came out, and the Zamboni driver was absolutely livid. Didn’t help that the goalie was debuting some very snazzy new white pads either.

Did you play hockey growing up? Did you coach the sport?

Derek: Both. I played at a reasonably high level, but in a way that wouldn’t go anywhere today. I modelled my game after Mike Peca. I won an obscene number of draws, I lit people up at open ice, I lost too many fights, and I couldn’t score. As a coach, I had the pleasure of volunteering with Milan Lucic's tyke team, and I worked for the Sutter Brothers at their hockey school, during summers in Coaldale Alberta

What’s you take on the current draft system in the RSHL? Do you feel you have a sleeper in the draft that Fames feel lucky to have acquired?

Derek: The draft has been really good for the Flames in recent memory. Cale Makar seems like a steal even going as high in the draft as he did.

What’s you take on the current Free Agency process in the RSHL?

Derek: I mean, I grabbed Chara and then immediately put myself in cap trouble so… it’s probably the most realistic aspect of the pool.

Reverse Arbitration? Like it? Hate it? Feel it is beneficial?

Derek: I used to love it, but then I decided that it was only helping correct for my own bad choices. I’ve decided to take a proactive approach and just try not to get in that kind of trouble anymore. It seems like cheating to me, even if it is in the rules.

Have you developed any rivalries in the RSHL?

Derek: Yes, the anonymous guy who keeps inciting the worst of our dustups in the rumours and trade review section. Honestly, I try to keep my foreign policy a bit closer to Switzerland than North Korea though.

If you had to select a trade that you were most proud of, what would it be? If you had select a trade that you would like to take back, which one would it be and why?

Derek: I'd probably take back more than a few. I don’t celebrate fleecing another team. Short term, that works out well. Long term, it damages credibility. My favorite trades are the ones that no one even thinks about, let alone complains about.

How did you come about joining the RSHL?

Derek: Jon Pavitch.

Where do you project the Flames to be in the next 2 years?

Derek: Best defense in the league. No offence. 2002 Minnesota wild I guess.

If you had to select an all-time Flames first line choosing a C, RW, LW, 2 dmen and a goalie, who would they be in your eyes?

Derek: Getzlaf, Eberle, Hall, Fowler, Makar, Bishop.

What’s one thing about the RSHL that you love?

Derek: Deadline day.

What’s one thing that drives you bananas?

Derek: Deadline day.

Any out of the box ideas that you may have that you believe the RSHL should consider implementing? Why would it be beneficial?

Derek: I'd love to see retained salary, within limitations of course.

Any shout out to anyone in the RSHL?

Derek: I had a fairly well observed blunder involving an offer sheet this year. Dave Barbosa was really cool about things and I appreciate that. Also, Mr. Danyko, thank you for showing an entire generation that they could have a successful NHL career while still trying to learn how to skate.

Derek, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to join us today to talk everything Flames. Sincerely appreciated.

There you have it folks, Derek Hisaoka of the Calgary Flames. Up next, Marc Nicoletti of the New York Islanders.

Until next time, be safe, be happy, be less crazy, and Stay at Home with me, Mr Devil himself, Ken Daneyko!