Irving has always had complete control in his destiny. He isn't getting it done, simply as that. Earning a backup job (even though 2 goalies in the AHL have surpassed him, but aren't invited due to not having NHL contracts and not being a high pick) is his LAST opportunity here I would imagine.
For those of you that are booing and saying: "Ward should have played him more... He needs to get out of this funk", etc.. Keep in mind he is coming to Calgary to be the BACKUP. Flames can't afford him to be inconsistent like this (or rather, consistently bad as he has been this season). He didn't get many starts in Abby, but that is really how it would have been in Calgary anyways - only against better shooters!
I don't think he wins the backup spot from Karlsson this year. Karlsson was pretty decent in his first year here, and then kind of fell apart in the 2nd year. He was never 'awesome', but he was decent for a backup. First backup in years that this was the case. Irving stepped up last year and was decent too.
Personally, I think this is it for Leland. He will move on after this season if he doesn't make backup. Perhaps the Flames would even trade him at some point this season.
Either way, Ward had ZERO affect on Irving. Irving has been 100% responsible for his own career to this date. Flames have given him every opportunity to succeed. Personally at this point, I am looking past Irving at Brossoit, Gillies and even Ortio as the Flames' 'future'. Irving, in my mind now, is a stop-gap at best (and yes, I do really hope I am wrong.. I hope he comes to camp, wins the backup position, and even does so well that it becomes a tandem with Kipper this season). He just hasn't showed that he is anywhere near NHL ready this season so far, and he was barely AHL ready.
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