Quote:
Originally Posted by devo22
The way I see it:
NHL: Kiprusoff & Ramo
AHL: Ortio, Brossoit and either Taylor or Brust
Karlsson and Irving are cut loose
I really liked Irving in the NHL last year, but this year, he hasn't been able to play ahead of two career AHLers in Abbotsford ... not very promising. Ramo has been excellent in the KHL for years, he deserves another shot in the NHL:
2009/10: 44 GP, 2.11 GAA, .913% svs, 4 SO
2010/11: 44 GP, 1.97 GAA, .925% svs, 5 SO
2011/12: 45 GP, 1.96 GAA, .925% svs, 5 SO
2012/13: 33 GP, 2.01 GAA, .927% svs, 3 SO
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I think that certainly be the case. Feaster is trying to cut as many connections with Sutter as possible.
The way Irving has gone this year, the goaltender dilemma has sort of worked itself out. Before, Irving was playing third string to Kiprusoff and Ramo, with many more goalies coming up the pipeline from draft picks. Unless something major turns around for him, there's no way I see him back (that is to say, if he doesn't reestablish himself again as a possible NHL backup).
If he fails to, I see the above happening.
If not, it becomes a more difficult question (though a good problem to have): what do you do with three NHL calibre goalies? You could always trade Kiprusoff for his remaining value and hope Ramo is a legitimate starter in this league. Irving will want an NHL spot, so either him or Kiprusoff I think will go. In that case, it might be better to attempt to run a two young goalie system and let them both develop a bit in a 1A/1B tandem (Ramo, in this scenario, would be 27 and a starter and Irving, 25).
I think you have the AHL correct either way. It may be that Brossoit will return to the Oil Kings for an overager year though. That would simplify things to Brust/Taylor and Ortio.