Yes, it's way too early to start talking about the fact the Calgary Flames leading scorer is free to play anywhere he wants next season.
Yes, it's premature to start suggesting Rene Bourque's breakthrough start will elevate him to the same sort of rental status Mike Cammalleri had with the Flames.
Yes, one can assume the Flames have room to sign the 27-year-old winger as the club will be free of Olli Jokinen's US$5.25-million cap hit by then.
But no, it's not that cut and dried.
No, it's not likely he'll be able to stay amongst league scoring leaders, which would translate into the type of monster raise Cammalleri got.
But no, Bourque's not a flash in the pan, nor is his great start a fluke.
He is indeed one of those rare players who can, quite simply, do it all, which is exactly what he's demonstrated for the Flames since he got here two years ago.
With every goal, assist, fight, hit, penalty kill and win he contributes to, it will indeed be pricier to keep the humble workhorse from Lac La Biche, who makes US$1.4 million.
However, Bourque is a classy, respectful man who isn't likely to forget the fact Darryl Sutter gave the 6-foot-2, 213-lb. power forward the opportunity to shine by plucking the former AHL rookie of the year from a dead-end gig with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Again, we're 10 games and 14 points into the season, meaning talk of next year is frivolous.
However, you can bet with increased attention being paid to the Flames' surprise scoring leader by opponents, fans and NHL GMs, his future is bound to become a hot topic as the year progresses.
It says here he'll be with the Flames next year no matter what heights he hits this winter.
Now more notes, quotes and anecdotes from a sports world wondering how the Boston Bruins will fare without their entire first line from a year ago thanks to the trade of Phil Kessel and injuries to Marc Savard and Milan Lucic.
AROUND THE HORN
Despite being a cinch for another 1,000-yard season, WR Nik Lewis has yet to score a touchdown in 2009. The news likely confuses most fans given the fact they've been subjected to TD dances following every catch Lewis makes ... Hate to say we told you so, but it was here we chastised Hockey Canada for suggesting the IOC's rules against national logos on Team Canada's jersey would cost them millions in revenue. As we expected, the revamped jersey -- without the old Hockey Canada logo -- is on the verge of setting a record with 120,000 sold already. The old record of $20 million in jersey sales came before and after the 2002 Salt Lake City Games and will be obliterated this time around ... College stud Colin Wilson, the son of former Flames star Carey Wilson, scored his first NHL goal for the Nashville Predators Wednesday. It came one day after his 20th birthday.
PARTING GIFTS
Off the Record's Michael Landsberg was one of two-dozen media types announced as Olympic torchbearers last week. Should we assume he'll be surrounded by four pseudo-celebrities in bad sweaters offering him stunningly ignorant opinions on which way to run? ... ESPN's Jeremy Schaap was in Calgary last week to interview Theo Fleury, Sheldon Kennedy and yours truly for a piece on Fleury to air on E:60. The highly-respected sports magazine show airs in Canada on TSN Wednesday at 1 p.m. ... In a world in which we often neglect to stop and smell the roses, now might be a good time for Calgary sports fans to take stock. In consecutive weekends, the Stamps and the Flames went undefeated against their biggest rivals and provincial counterparts. Both have stellar records as does Canada's second-ranked Hitmen and the nation's third-ranked Dinos football team. None of this is to mention Calgary is also host of the defending NLL champion Roughnecks and of next month's Grey Cup. Drink it in Calgary -- these are good times.
ERIC.FRANCIS@SUNMEDIA.CA
