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Originally Posted by browna
Very few Leafs are worth the trouble. Overhyped, then overly blamed, and its hard to separate the opinions of each player and the team as a collective, when they or it are praised way too much on a 3 game winning streak, and then blasted as the worst player/team in the league when they lose 3 straight.
Far too much analysis as a fan just to figure out who is who on that team, and who is to blame, and who is a legit guy that just needs a change of scenery. Sure, Bozak may be a good faceoff guy...but what else? Look at Clarkson, and Versteeg, Colby Armstrong etc and other guys they've overpaid and overhyped as some final peice. Bottom line, it's hard as a fan to sift through the BS and hype that players get with so many "experts" in TO who talk about players, each having various opinions of a player, not necessarily because they believe it, but because they have to have a different opinion then a competitor within the media.
As for goaltending, as Treliving said, a bunch of options looking at.
I disagree with the notion of average goaltending this past year; they had the two goalies system perfectly set up.
Both are 1b) guys, but most importantly, had the right mental attitude for a couple weeks at a time, and played real well. After a bad game and a half or two (and remember, a bad game was often when the 1st line didn't get much going, never mind the 3 forward lines below them, not necessarily their performance) the other guy stepped in and played at a high level right away for his stretch.
Not that many experienced goalies can/want to deal with that situation; they want to be starters, and if not starting, sulk enough for either the coach to avoid putting them in (Miller), or they play like crap when getting called upon and then again lose confidence in themselves and by the coach (Miller again).
Goaltending this year on the Flames IMO was underrated, because of the fantastic 1st line, and the remarkable offensive prowess from the defense, and the multiple comebacks took the limelight off them.
Clearly the Flames are going in another direction, but trying to find that "home run" of a goalie is virtually impossible given the nature of the position and of the guys getting pumped up by TSN/the media through their agents and by the teams trying to dump them.
Talbot earned his from playing a prolonged stretch with Lundquist and the team didn't fall apart. Lenher or Anderson from Ottawa thrown out on the street simply because of a 30 game wonder streak.
Would anyone here have wanted Dubnyk at any point the last 4 years prior to Minnesota? Now he's going to cash in.
Sure, ok, maybe a strong starter and let Ortio backup, but Ortio could be the #1 guy by Christmas, who knows. Look at a guy like Miller in Vancouver and his sudden fall.
Point is, pinning hopes that you're going to get the next Kiprusoff out of one of the available guys is a real stretch. Even one of these guys as a clear cut #1 guy is reaching.
If the assumption is Ramo and or Hiller want out, then fine, rejig the plan..but the two goalie system has its merits, and if this Flames team had a second line this past year that was NHL average as far as scoring, there would've been less need for comebacks and the goalie stats (for both of them) would've been a tonne better and the Flames would've been pushing up the standings, not getting in the second last game.
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Only reason I can see us looking for another goalie is that Hiller wants out. Didn't like how he was used etc. I am just guessing here. Yet I also want to say Hiller is in a perfect spot right now. His competition was Ramo, who is gone now. His competition now is a young AHL goalie in Ortio.
Not much competition really. We want and need an NHL proven goalie. Hiller is our man. Unless he does not think he can beat out Ortio! If that is the case great. I want Ortio to succeed and take the reigns, but to be honest I see him as a minor upgrade on Ramo and Hiller. Yet very unproven!
Goalies are so fickle. You never know what you are getting. Watch CP go ballistic when we draft Samsanov in the first round lol! Probably the BPA to be honest, yet I never draft a goalie in the first round lol! Yet also the most important position on the team.
Why am I even posting about goalies? I don't even own a Ouija board! I don't talk to the spirit world.
Drafting goalies and the science of drafting never work! You can pick a goalie in the first round that wins the vezina for three years, or pick a guy in the 7th round that does the same thing.
Trading for goalies? I have no issues, just don't give up an arm and a leg when you do it. Oilers have been looking for goalies for years. To be fair Carey Price on the Oilers would of sucked too.
If you have competent goaltending be happy. On a team picked to finish last or second last this past year? The Flames had great goaltending. We lost some game cause of goaltending but won a few because of goaltending.
Sorry, I am talking out of my ass. I know nothing when it comes to goalies. I know more about dark matter and black holes in the universe than goalies!