[Trade] Flames acquire Mike Smith (25% retained) for Chad Johnson, Brandon Hickey, & cond 3rd

[Roof-Daddy]

$4,250,001 is his cap hit to the Flames on CapFriendly

[Beninho]

Parsons will better than Raanta, I know that's a big statement but Raanta would limit the development of Gillies/Parsons and would cost our first. Have faith in our goalies, Parsons was unreal this year.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by codynw

I have no hope for this season. And honestly I'm beginning to doubt Treliving, if this is the best he can do. Hopefully he gets someone good as a backup and they steal the starting job?

That's fair, but who could he realistically get (/pry) right now that would be satisfactory to you?

[Erick Estrada]

The cost was low as it sounds like Hickey may have gone the UFA route and even if he didn't it's not like the Flames give their defensemen prospects much opportunity to make the team. Not crazy about Smith but I wasn't crazy about Mason, Elliott, and some of the other names floating about so all we can do is hope for the best that Smith can deliver 60 games of at least average NHL net minding.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by Hockey

Wonder how you guys will feel about him when he's flopping around the ice.

Better than watching Juolevi getting bulldozed

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Hockey

Wonder how you guys will feel about him when he's flopping around the ice.

he is quite an actor i will agree

But he also plays the puck better than any goaltender the Flames have had in years. I think that works well with a mobile defence.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by memphusk

At no point did I write bigger or better things. Reading is key to this. What I wrote is that the last home grown D is Brodie. I feel Witherspoon would have been a good 6 here, but was never given a real chance.

Wotherspoon may get another chance this fall. He had a strong year in the minors. Some posters want to give up on him but that doesn't mean the Flames have

[codynw]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

That's fair, but who could he realistically get (/pry) right now that would be satisfactory to you?

Literally anybody else. Elliott, Raanta.. But Steve Mason would have been my preferred option at this point. UFA, young-ish, decent numbers.

[sureLoss]

Looks like Flames management is leaking they are going to re-sign Johnson...

John Shannon @JSportsnet
Don't be surprised if Chad Johnson is a Calgary Flame on July 1. Coyotes need goalie to protect for expansion draft. CJ is a UFA.

[TheFlamesVan]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

he is quite an actor i will agree

But he also plays the puck better than any goaltender the Flames have had in years. I think that works well with a mobile defence.

Wouldn't be surprised to see him spring Gaudreau a couple times.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Mike Smith faced on average:

34.38 shots against per game last season
15.10 were low danger (Saved 98.01% vs. League Avg of 97.91%)
10.83 were medium danger (Saved 92.61% vs. League Avg of 92.50%)
8.45 were high danger (Saved 83.73% vs. League Avg of 81.17%)

Brian Elliott faced on average:

27.81 shots against per game last season
13.01 were low danger (Saved 97.82% vs. League Avg of 97.91%)
8.28 were medium danger (Saved 93.84% vs. League Avg of 92.50%)
6.52 were high danger (Saved 79.13% vs. League Avg of 81.17%)




Now that's finalized, I expanded on the above numbers.

Smith was above league average in all three categories, while facing more shots per game than any other goalie
Smith was better than Elliott in high danger and low danger save %
Elliott was below league average in high danger and low danger save%

The numbers are fine, but there is a different level of focus required for facing 27 shots with your D taking some (worthwhile) risks to keep the shot totals down, VS the engagement of stopping 35-40 shots as your team just goes glass and out for 60 consecutive minutes playing for a loser point. We kind of saw it in the playoffs last year with Rinne in games 1 and 2, on paper the easiest workload but absolute percentage buster games.

What I had liked about Elliott was that he had success when facing low shot totals (2012) and relatively average shot totals (2016) both of which resembled our defense core even under Hartley.

Just my two cents. If Smith works out fantadtic. If he allows Rittich to dethrone him even better. But if he flops don't say the stats lied. They were valid for that unique situation. Sam with MAF, he has always played his best hockey when facing 35+ shots. Guys like Quick and Osgood get labelled "system goalies" because they see less shots but there is an elegance to their ability to focus.

[Demzy84]

I'm not gonna complain about this trade until we see how the season goes. Last year I was pumped we got Elliot as all the stats pointed to a great steal by the Flames and look how that turned out....

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Looks like Flames management is leaking they are going to re-sign Johnson...

John Shannon @JSportsnet
Don't be surprised if Chad Johnson is a Calgary Flame on July 1. Coyotes need goalie to protect for expansion draft. CJ is a UFA.

Isn't that contrary to your other thread where he's reportedly expecting better than backup money? If they did sign Johnson I would imagine it would be the oldest tandem in the league.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Looks like Flames management is leaking they are going to re-sign Johnson...

John Shannon @JSportsnet
Don't be surprised if Chad Johnson is a Calgary Flame on July 1. Coyotes need goalie to protect for expansion draft. CJ is a UFA.

Honestly, #### this stupid franchise.

How is Smith/Johnson better than what they went with last year?

[Stay Golden]

The 3rd becomes a 2nd if they make the playoffs just great smh.
Treliving better work hard on recouping all these picks we are losing. Just look at what we have going into this draft it is pathetic. Start moving all the not needed bodies for picks Brad.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

Oooof

[taxbuster]

I'm OK with this trade - not a waste of assets and I'm willing to trust Tre (unlike the apparently many Debby Downers here). Flames have struggled with goalie issues for years now, so I'm happy to see a stopgap solution - though last year's attempt was also reasonable - in the hope that we actually *develop* our own goalies. This is the only way I can see to do so. And if one or more do develop and become our stud goalie, well, that's even better.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by TopChed

That would suck??

It would suck if the Flames had to give the Coyotes a second rounder for making the playoffs if Smith isn't the reason the Flames make the playoffs. Yes.

Just saying, it would be better if there was a games played component added to that condition.

[fire_starter]

Originally Posted by codynw

Honestly, #### this stupid franchise.

How is Smith/Johnson better than what they went with last year?

Holy calm down.

[cral12]

I admittedly scoffed at this at first, but actually idea growing on me. This deal growing on me. Can he come close to that 2011-12 form?! Probably not, but still something left in tank if healthy.

Hopefully not a Fata, but per Darren Haynes tweet:
"Many say ES SV% is a better indicator of a goalie's ability. Of 52 goalies with >40 starts the last 2 seasons, Mike Smith ranks 11th (.927)."
https://twitter.com/DarrenWHaynes/st...32056731758592

Last season:
Sv% Vs
#Oilers .927 (4GP)
#Ducks .937 (2GP)
Very Small sample size but #Flames �� would likely take that going forward