by BRUCE DOWBIGGIN , The Globe and Mail

Many of the Hockey-panel shows and instant analysts in the blogosphere were quick to anoint the Calgary Flames as the early winners in the NHL rearmament race after the Flames signed defenceman Jay Bouwmeester to a five-year, $33-million (all currency U.S.) contract. "I think he's the best defenceman out there," Jay Feaster, former general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning, said on TSN. "They got him. I think they're the best defence in the West right now."

These would be the same Flames who were anointed Stanley Cup favourites by the same voices at the trade deadline when they picked up "big centre" Olli Jokinen and mobile defenceman Jordan Leopold. Former player Matthew Barnaby was one of the few to point out Jokinen's liabilities; on TSN he called the Finnish centre a "cancer". Many other talking heads glossed over Jokinen's fabled lack of industry, however.

We know how that ended don't we? "Quickly" would be the word that comes to mind in reply to how Calgary went in the postseason. But the Flames looked busy and proactive at trade-deadline day, and to some that busy-work seemed dazzling next to Detroit, which stood still. That would be Detroit, which almost won a second consecutive Stanley Cup.

And on free-agent day, the Flames' many moves - getting Bouwmeester and Fred Sjostrom while re-signing Adam Pardy - gave the impression of light if not heat. Once more, they're the darlings of the easily impressed in the press.

Calgary thinks its remodelled defence will push it over the top. But last time we looked at the Stanley Cup winners, Pittsburgh ranked 17th in goals against in 2008-09. The other finalist, Detroit, finished 19th. If defence were so important, how to explain that? Yet no one we heard on TV or elsewhere brought up the numbers.

The NHL wants offence. It rewards offence. It forgives offence. So take the pundits' picks of Calgary with a grain of salt unless the Flames come up with enough speed and scoring next year.

Thrilling fine

The CFL mustn't know that it's all Michael Jackson all the time these days on TV. Or else one glove is against the league's dress code. The commissioner's office whacked Arland Bruce III for his Thriller touchdown tribute to Jacko against Hamilton, fining him an undisclosed amount and forcing him to watch the Larry King Tribute to Jackson till he cries for mercy. In case you missed it, Bruce removed his shoulder pads and jersey to lie down in the end zone and make like Billie Jean. And that's a no-no ever since the league closed down the Jeremaine Copeland Dance Pak in Calgary a few years ago.

Someone needs to call Wolf Blitzer. This is a clear case of Beat It discrimination.

Marty In Minny

You can learn the most interesting things on Twitter. At least when it comes to former Blackhawk, now Minnesota Wild, Martin Havlat. The high-scoring winger is a regular tweeter, as we learned when he entered free agency on Wednesday. "Everyone should know I am only thinking about signing with Chicago. It's where I want to be," Havlat wrote on June 23. Hawks fans were handing out the confetti.

But the glitter came off his twitter pretty quickly. By midweek, Havlat, who had 77 points during the regular season for the Blackhawks, was busy telling his fans how much he appreciated their support over the years in Chicago. Hmm, we think the worm has turned. The next we hear from Havlat, he has signed a six-year, $30-million deal with Minnesota.

Suddenly Havlat's Twitter page is talking about how he is "excited to be in Minny." How did a guy who was determined to stay in Chicago end up being chuffed to be in the Twin Cities? "The real story about what happened in Chicago to come out," Havlat promises. The plot then thickens: "There's something to be said for loyalty and honor." What could it be? Extortion? The thumb screw? Cancelling his bar tab at Harry Caray's?

We know Havlat's head took a mighty whack in the playoffs, but what accounts for all this change of heart? Have to stay tuned for more.

About Time

Fox Sports Net aired the final episode of Best Damn Sports Show Period on Tuesday night with a, you won't believe it, Top 50 countdown. The eight-year show will live on till fall in countdown mode.

With a surfeit of regional fare already purchased, Fox felt it could cut some costs by axing the program, which was an extended frat-boy festival with retired stars such as John Kruk, John Salley and Jalen Rose yukking it up. The format was fading until it began its ubiquitous Top 50 lists on everything from games to goofs. Now who will rate the top cancellations in TV sports history?

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