[Signing] Flames sign Czech UFA goaltender David Rittich to 1 year 2 way deal - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Red Menace · 06-10-2016, 09:38 AM

Niemi, Bobrovsky, Lack, Gustavsson, Hiller, Raanta, Backstrom, Fasth all followed this path...not to mention former Flame Henrik Karlsson

Kswiss · 06-10-2016, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puckedoff

I do not want to try what life is like an ocean.
- David Ritich

Talk about goalie depth....

Better than any Wayne Dyer quote...

JiriHrdina · 06-10-2016, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cral12

For the record, Soderberg was originally a 2nd rnd pick (Blues) - just took an extremely long time to over-ripen across the pond before coming over...

Probably was NHL ready for years before he finally came over - but seemed content with the lifestyle over there. Also suffered a bad eye injury.
Bruins fans had taken to calling him the Yeti - because there was so much talk about his legendary skill, but it was never known if they would actually see him.

FlamesAddiction · 06-10-2016, 10:41 AM

I always find it funny how when a team, or more specifically the Flames, sign an unsigned or undrafted European player, there seems to be more boo-birds or skeptics than when we sign undrafted or unsigned North American junior or university players.

I love the fact that we have management that isn't afraid to look under every rock for a potential player. For a goalie, 23 is very much still a prospect. Good low-risk signing.

AcGold · 06-10-2016, 11:01 AM

It's not low risk it's no risk. Worst case we never hear or see from him again.

Alberta_Beef · 06-10-2016, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

When's the last time a signing like this has paid off for an NHL team? Honestly can't remember one instance.

You don't remember one instance where a European UFA goalie has done well? The best example (and worst due to the timing) is probably Jonas Hiller; a UFA signing that gave the Ducks 150 wins over 7 seasons

Alberta_Beef · 06-10-2016, 11:11 AM

Also.....

Bobrovsky
Niemi
Backstrom

or how about a couple Canadian boys that were undrafted and went on to have hall of fame careers in Eddie Belfour and Curtis Joseph

EldrickOnIce · 06-10-2016, 11:24 AM

An undrafted goalie (who was right under our noses for 4 years) is the only reason the Sharks live to. Play another day.
Likely that it pans out? Nope, but you never know

sureLoss · 06-10-2016, 11:35 AM

One interesting point about Pribyl and Rittich is that they had breakout years this season in the Czech league.

Pribyl finished top 2 in league scoring after some mediocre seasons. Rittich just earned a starting job with his Czech team.

A lot of the Euro UFAs have well established track records in Europe before coming over. Flames trying to get in on the ground floor with these two.

locsofblu · 06-10-2016, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Doom

Turek?

DropIt · 06-10-2016, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AcGold

It's not low risk it's no risk. Worst case we never hear or see from him again.

He takes up a roster spot and one of only 50 contracts. It is not 'no risk'

Alberta_Beef · 06-10-2016, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DropIt

He takes up a roster spot and one of only 50 contracts. It is not 'no risk'

He's not guaranteed a roster spot, with him having an ELC he can be sent anywhere and taking up a contract spot is as close as no risk as you get in the NHL

Party Elephant · 06-10-2016, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Based on the sample size of that one save, he sounds like a bigger Dominic Hasek

I'd say he reminds me of a more goaltenderly version of Colborne.

Itse · 06-10-2016, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

He's not guaranteed a roster spot, with him having an ELC he can be sent anywhere and taking up a contract spot is as close as no risk as you get in the NHL

I think especially with goalies there's always a bit of "opportunity cost". An organization can't just haul in all the UFA:s. (This is especially true for goalies, as there's a finite amount of spots to go around.) You have to pick some guys, and if you pick the wrong guys you miss out on some better guys.

That said, this kind of signing is about as low risk as it gets.

...then again if you thought of signings like these as sort of draft picks, then of course you always make these signings. From that point of view there isn't really any loss, it's just using an asset that has no other real use.

So yeah, I guess it's just how you look at it.

cowtown75 · 06-10-2016, 07:01 PM

I wish there were more You Tube video's of this guy. I feel so lost.

Alberta_Beef · 06-10-2016, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itse

I think especially with goalies there's always a bit of "opportunity cost". An organization can't just haul in all the UFA:s. (This is especially true for goalies, as there's a finite amount of spots to go around.) You have to pick some guys, and if you pick the wrong guys you miss out on some better guys.

That said, this kind of signing is about as low risk as it gets.

...then again if you thought of signings like these as sort of draft picks, then of course you always make these signings. From that point of view there isn't really any loss, it's just using an asset that has no other real use.

So yeah, I guess it's just how you look at it.

Absolute worst case you loan him back to his Czech club like the Flames did with Ortio and his Finnish club after his first go round in North America. Voila, no roster spot used. But I would think this kid will at least be good enough for a backup job in Adirondack. so I really don't think it's a big deal.

boogerz · 06-10-2016, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

An undrafted goalie (who was right under our noses for 4 years) is the only reason the Sharks live to. Play another day.
Likely that it pans out? Nope, but you never know

I agree with you, but Martin Jones is poor example. The Kings signed invited him to camp after he was passed over in his draft year and signed him to a contract. He wasn't draftable due to loophole

Strange Brew · 06-10-2016, 09:43 PM

I don't really agree that it is no risk. You are allowed 50 pro contracts and with 2 NHLers, 2 AHLers and an ECHLer, you want to use, at the very most, 5 slots on a goalie. That is 10% of your available contracts.

It's not like you can keep signing guys until you find one that works out. They are making a bet on this guy for one year. Not huge risk to be sure.

Alberta_Beef · 06-10-2016, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I don't really agree that it is no risk. You are allowed 50 pro contracts and with 2 NHLers, 2 AHLers and an ECHLer, you want to use, at the very most, 5 slots on a goalie. That is 10% of your available contracts.

It's not like you can keep signing guys until you find one that works out. They are making a bet on this guy for one year. Not huge risk to be sure.

He can always be loaned back to his Czech team. There is no risk other than a contract spot.

PepsiFree · 06-10-2016, 10:35 PM

To be clear, there is zero risk comparable to signing literally any other player out there. The act of signing any player carries the equal risk of using up a contract spot.

Hence, no risk.