[Signing] Flames sign Gillies and Rittich (both 1 yr, 2 way, $725k NHL)

[sureLoss]

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/flam...?tid=282300716

All the release says is they are 1 yr and 2 way for each player

[lazypucker]

So basically both will be in the AHL for the full year barring an injury call up. So where does the rest of the goalies be next season? Parsons, McDonald, Schneider, etc?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

So basically both will be in the AHL for the full year barring an injury call up. So where does the rest of the goalies be next season? Parsons, McDonald, Schneider, etc?

Hitmen traded for Schneider's WHL rights, so safe to say he is playing there.

Parsons and McDonald likely to the ECHL, but the Flames do have the option to send Parsons back to London.

[Brodieyouevenlift]

So many goalies!

[sureLoss]

Also of note this leaves Bennett, Kulak, and Wotherspoon as the Flames remaining unsigned RFAs.

[Reggie Dunlop]

It's "Show Me" Time for both Gillies and Rittich.

Looks like the Flames are fast-tracking Parsons. Doubt he goes back to the OHL.

Gotta fit 'em all in with a shoehorn.

There's only one ECHL spot, from what I understand, and that'll be McDonald unless things change.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Just checking on this, but does anyone know the remaining RFA years for either/both players? Pretty sure Gillies is fine, but how long does Rittich have?

I imagine that the 1 year deals is a message to these guys to say, "Listen, we have Lack for one year, or maybe not even that long. There is a job in the NHL waiting for the best goalie between you two. Your next contract will likely be an NHL contract, so make this year count."

[JFK]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

It's "Show Me" Time for both Gillies and Rittich.

Looks like the Flames are fast-tracking Parsons. Doubt he goes back to the OHL.

There's only one ECHL spot, from what I understand, and that'll be McDonald unless things change.

Two points
Parsons will be twenty by the time the season starts, he could go back to the OHL but it would be as an overaged played. Don't really see that as a fast track. No more a fast track then Mason MacDonald who also went pro at 20 last year or the plethora of OHL goalies who go pro at a similar age every year.

The Flames are the only affiliate of the KC Mavericks in the ECHL so it would be curious why they'd only be allowed one goalie spot. As for anything official I haven't seen anything about player agreements in any press release about the affiliation.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by JFK

Two points
Parsons will be twenty by the time the season starts, he could go back to the OHL but it would be as an overaged played. Don't really see that as a fast track. No more a fast track then Mason MacDonald who also went pro at 20 last year or the plethora of OHL goalies who go pro at a similar age every year.

The Flames are the only affiliate of the KC Mavericks in the ECHL so it would be curious why they'd only be allowed one goalie spot. As for anything official I haven't seen anything about player agreements in any press release about the affiliation.

Pretty standard in the ECHL. Remember, the Flames had to loan out McCollum last year?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Pretty standard in the ECHL. Remember, the Flames had to loan out McCollum last year?

Major reason they had to loan him out because he was on a non-entry level NHL deal.

Only players on a entry level NHL deal can be sent to the ECHL without player consent.

He did consent to a short stint in the ECHL last year but that was more of a conditioning stint as he hadn't played in a long time.


Also Treliving hinted that Parsons will be the starter in the ECHL in this interview (starts around the 25 min mark):
https://player.fm/series/boomer-warr...-uninterrupted

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Just checking on this, but does anyone know the remaining RFA years for either/both players? Pretty sure Gillies is fine, but how long does Rittich have?

I imagine that the 1 year deals is a message to these guys to say, "Listen, we have Lack for one year, or maybe not even that long. There is a job in the NHL waiting for the best goalie between you two. Your next contract will likely be an NHL contract, so make this year count."

They'll both be UFA-eligible when they're 27 years old.

Rittich is currently 24 (he'll be 25 in August, but for UFA-age purposes he's 24). That means he can become a UFA on July 1, 2020.

Gillies is 23. He'll be UFA-eligible on July 1, 2021.



They could both become Group VI UFAs in 2019 if they don't reach a minimum number of NHL games played before that. Group VI is for players who are at least 25 years-old; who have played at least 3 pro seasons under an NHL contract; and who have not played in at least 80 NHL games for skaters or 28 NHL games (with at least 30 minutes played) for goalies.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by getbak

They'll both be UFA-eligible when they're 27 years old.

Rittich is currently 24 (he'll be 25 in August, but for UFA-age purposes he's 24). That means he can become a UFA on July 1, 2020.

Gillies is 23. He'll be UFA-eligible on July 1, 2021.



They could both become Group VI UFAs in 2019 if they don't reach a minimum number of NHL games played before that. Group VI is for players who are at least 25 years-old; who have played at least 3 pro seasons under an NHL contract; and who have not played in at least 80 NHL games for skaters or 28 NHL games (with at least 30 minutes played) for goalies.

So it's likely that Gillies will be a UFA by 2019 if he's not signed long-term by then, but it's not likely for Rittich because he wasn't under an NHL contract for 3 years? No, I guess that would be after his 3rd year with the Flames if he were still around, so yeah, BOTH could be UFA by 2019.

I hope at least ONE of them can pan out as an NHL goalie. We need to find some cheaper options in net by that point.

Just out of curiosity, what's the minimum number of NHL games played?

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Just out of curiosity, what's the minimum number of NHL games played?

For goalies, it's 28 NHL games with at least 30 minutes played.

Currently, Gillies has 1 qualified game. Rittich has 0 (because he only played 20 minutes).

Also, Rittich will require waivers starting in 2018 and Gillies in 2019.

[Finger Cookin]

Are we panicking because of the short term of both deals? Let me know when to panic.

[Vulcan]

With Lack only signed for 1 season, there could be a big dog fight for backup next year.

[Incogneto]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

With Lack only signed for 1 season, there could be a big dog fight for backup next year.

....Or starter.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Right now Parsons is the goalie with the most term in the organization.

[Incogneto]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Right now Parsons is the goalie with the most term in the organization.

He's also the furthest away from starting an NHL game.

[MarkGio]

There's just too many goalie prospects and not enough development spots. Parsons should be starting in the AHL, while McDonald in the ECHL. However, ideally both Gillies and Rittich should also be starters in the AHL too.

I think Lack was just insurance in case neither Gillies or Rittich show capable of being an NHL back up. If one of them show in camp they're ready to take the next step, Lack gets buried or traded, while the other shares starts in the AHL with Parsons

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

I think Lack was just insurance in case neither Gillies or Rittich show capable of being an NHL back up. If one of them show in camp they're ready to take the next step, Lack gets buried or traded, while the other shares starts in the AHL with Parsons

I think your thinking is suspect there (what else is new). Don't see that scenario being likely at all.