Eric Francis

LAS VEGAS — The world-class smile stretching across Adam Klapka 's face looks like that of a man who has just been told the team bus is stopping for ice cream.

So when he sees his former team struggling through the earliest stages of a rebuild, he understands the frustration. He also knows there's a bigger picture at play.

As the Calgary Flames embark on their own uncomfortable transition, Verbeek's Anaheim Ducks are beginning to look an awful lot like the blueprint Craig Conroy would love to follow.

CALGARY – In a media world where in-depth coverage is too often trumped by quirky sound bites, the takeaway from the Calgary Flames ' shocking win

FILE - Arizona State coach Pat Murphy, left, protests to home plate umpire Jeff Henrichs after a balk call allowed UC Irvine's Taylor Holiday to score in the fourth inning

Two sleeps after going viral with his post-game theory on the merits of shutting off his brain, Devin Cooley has had to shut off his phone as well.

CALGARY – Blake Coleman came to Calgary without cowboy boots. Five years later, he owned a pair bought specifically for the Stampede, his

CALGARY – Amidst his latest post-game sideshow, Devin Cooley stopped dead in his tracks.

And while the Flames continue to navigate a rebuild that has left fans wondering who might be the next veteran out the door, Whitecloud insists he's a guy who would rather help build something than seek greener/warmer pastures.

On a night recognizing the 2004 team that came one win away from winning the Stanley Cup, the Flames did their best impression of that lunch pail crew to secure their third win in a row.