Where is Karri Rämö?

[Calgary4LIfe]

Perhaps there are just more 'types' of goalies than I really thought about.

For instance:

1) "Shot blockers" - the Giguere and Hiller types. Traditional butterfly where they are sound positionally, and just make sure they look 'big' and cover as much of the net as possible so the shots hit them. They then try to freeze the puck, or have a defencemen clear it.

2) "Catcher" - the Finnish-type of goaltending where the puck is caught and frozen, and if not, then the rebounds are controlled out. Kipper (and almost every other Finnish goalie on the planet).

Maybe there are two more things to consider here that each type above may possess.

"Scramble goalie" - Hasek, Kipper, etc. - Very athletic, and have that ability to fight for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th.. shots.

"Positional goalie" that NEVER lose the net, but need a structured system in front of them. Will almost always stop the 1st shot, but often just can't get at the 2nd and 3rd shots from rebounds or poor clearing attempts. Luongo comes to mind here.

I am not sure where to categorize Elliott. Maybe I am thinking too much. Maybe there are more types. I don't know. He has been giving up a goal on the first shot at times (not the first shot of the game necessarily, just the first shot in a series.

I thought Johnson was a 'blocker', but he has been swallowing-up rebounds like a Finnish netminder, and he can totally play a scramble game.

I think for a team that likes to run and gun, you need a scramble-type of goalie, and preferably someone that swallows-up those rebounds.

For a team like St. Louis or LA - strong defensive systems, strong cast of defenders with size that can clear rebounds - maybe the positional goalies help more.

Ramo was good at scrambling I thought, but would sometimes lose the net. He did a MUCH better job at swallowing those rebounds. That is why I always thought he was a better fit for Calgary than Hiller was. I assume he is a good fit for Toronto for the same reason, though not ideal. I think he is a solid backup though.

Of course, I still think Elliott can turn things around. Maybe my thoughts above are out to lunch. I don't know. I just notice that some goalies just excel at blocking those 2nd and 3rd opportunities, whereas other goalies will never allow that first shot in, but may struggle with the 2nd and 3rd.

Something to think about as this team looks for a goalie for next year. If Elliott doesn't recover his play, I would be fine with a tandem of Johnson and Ramo as backup if Rittich and/or Gillies isn't ready. Not ideal, and we want to see a longer sample size from Johnson for sure.

Up until Johnson, Ramo was probably the best scramble goalie since Kipper. I am sure he will do much better than Enroth - who I liked and thought the Flames should have signed this past off-season (what do I know??).

[Moneyhands23]

With Enroth on waivers today Ramo will be a leaf tomorrow.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Locke

Curse you! Now I miss Kipper again.

That guy was the best. I wish you could teach his attitude. I have no idea how he never let anything rattle him.

Unless that water bottle was full of 20 year old Scotch.

Naw...the Finnish are more of a Vodka people. Plus Vodka is much easier to hide in a water bottle. That would actually explain a lot.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by blankall

Naw...the Finnish are more of a Vodka people. Plus Vodka is much easier to hide in a water bottle. That would actually explain a lot.

It would! I know, right?

Its almost like training a dog.

"Puck goes in, Kipper gets Vodka. Repeat."

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Locke

It would! I know, right?

Its almost like training a dog.

"Puck goes in, Kipper gets Vodka. Repeat."

The only issue is that Kipper might start letting in a few goals here and there for the extra booze.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by blankall

The only issue is that Kipper might start letting in a few goals here and there for the extra booze.

And thats why it worked so well because Iggy could bail him out!

[sureLoss]

Leafs have signed Ramo to a tryout with their AHL affiliate the Marlies.

Pierre LeBrun @Real_ESPNLeBrun
Agent Todd Diamond says Ramo will play some of the upcoming games with the Marlies and then re-assess how he feels physically

Pierre LeBrun @Real_ESPNLeBrun
Diamond also added that Ramo remains an NHL UFA who is free to sign with any NHL team at any point...

[Otto-matic]

UPDATED: The #Leafs have clarified Karri Ramo has been signed to a PTO.

[Young_Guns]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

UPDATED: The #Leafs have clarified Karri Ramo has been signed to a PTO.

I'm actually kind of happy for the guy, good for him

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by Young_Guns

I'm actually kind of happy for the guy, good for him

He's definitely good enough to be in the NHL. He was fairly good in 2014-15, and did improve after a disastrous start last year. His injury in a contract year was disastrous, especially when he was actually playing well at the time. He just isn't a #1 at this point, but he is a 1B or a backup.

He got a bit of a bad rep because of Feaster calling him the best goalie not in the NHL, through no fault of his own. He turned out decent for us all things considering (now Hiller on other hand...)

[sureLoss]

To be clear he has only signed AHL PTO with the Marlies

The Leafs sent out a clarification because the initial release said ATO

[Young_Guns]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

To be clear he has only signed AHL PTO with the Marlies

The Leafs sent out a clarification because the initial release said ATO

So basically if he is outplaying Sparks, he gets called up?

[GioforPM]

Good for him. I am not sure he's any kind of an upgrade over Enroth though.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Young_Guns

So basically if he is outplaying Sparks, he gets called up?

Well he has to sign a NHL contract to play in the NHL. He currently doesn't have one. Presumably the Leafs will sign him to one if he plays well in the AHL.

However signing Ramo will put the Leafs at 50 out of 50 NHL contract limit which could handcuff future moves. They may need to move a contract out (eg Holland) before committing to Ramo

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

To be clear he has only signed AHL PTO with the Marlies

The Leafs sent out a clarification because the initial release said ATO

I'm happy for him but at the same time, I feel for the guy. Had he not blown out his knee he probably would have had a reasonable payday on the free agent market - I'm guessing $2.5-3.5mil per year. Instead he has to go on a PTO.

[Locke]

Found him! Wait.....damn! Its just Carmen Sandiego again...

[devo22]

Nevermore!!!

Really happy for him. Was really unlucky last year to blow out his knee as a pending UFA, and just when he turned it around, too. Hope he does well.

[Dion]

Good for Ramo!

[sureLoss]

LeBrun says the Kings will also have internal discussions on whether to sign Ramo to a NHL deal

[sureLoss]

33 saves on 36 shots in a 3-2 loss to Utica

First game since Feb 11