I think Reimer is around as good as Ramo. If it is one thing we see him do, is have a really good stretch followed up with terrible games. He has been wildly inconsistent from what I have seen.
If he comes cheap, sure. I am ok with the Flames signing a cheap goalie off the UFA heap and hope for the best. It would be nauseating to me to give him a big contract, especially with term attached.
If they are trading for a goalie, then they better trade for a good one. If they can't find a significant upgrade on what is available on the UFA front, then please don't spend any assets. If there is a significant upgrade, I don't mind the Flames giving up significant (for a goalie) assets. Obviously no first round pick, but I would go as high as two 2nd round picks, or a 2nd round pick + B prospect. I just don't think goalies get traded for much, unless they are at the very top tier.
Will be interesting to see who ends up landing here. I can't even begin to guess. The only goalie that I know the Flames have been rumored in being interested in is Murray (excluding the last draft, as those they were interested in I would assume would be sticking with their new teams), but I am sure they have kicked a few tires around the league. UFA signing? Older stop-gap? Up can coming younger goalie through trade? Significant asset expenditure on a top-tier goalie?
Will be an interesting year to spend significant assets on a goalie. With the reduction of equipment size on goalies, I would suspect that some goalies trend a bit down relative to other goalies. Bishop is definitely one of the league's better goalies, but perhaps the 'shot-blocker' will have a bit less effective moving forward?
Bishop scares me on the Flames for one reason. Take a look at Tampa's defencemen. What do you notice? They have some HUGE guys there. Hedman 6'6", Sustr 6'7", Coburn 6'5"... One thing I have personally noted (and I admit confirmation bias may be playing into this) is that shot blockers work better with a defence core that has a lot of size and can box guys out better and get at those loose pucks. Smaller defences seem to work better with a goalie that is more of a catcher, with more limited rebounds.
Unfortunately in the last 2 seasons, the Flames have had 2 fairly inconsistent goalies in Ramo and Hiller to test that hypothesis out to a reasonable extent for me. Ramo hasn't swallowed up enough rebounds as one would like from a catcher, which makes it even more difficult to really get a handle on it.
My preference in looking at the Flames - both in the lineup right now, and organizationally down the pipeline - is to do their best in getting a solid catching style goalie of the Finnish school of thought. More emphasis on swallowing-up the puck, and controlling the rebounds when there are. I think Bishop is a very dependable goalie, and he is essentially the league's best shot blocker and would be an absolute instant upgrade for the team, but will his numbers remain anywhere near his career average with smaller defencemen trying to get at those loose pucks and boxing guys out? It is at least a point of concern - or at least, something to think about anyways.
If Hamilton was a bit sturdier and more physical, and played on the top pairing, while Engelland was a bit more dependable as a 2nd pairing defencemen, and Kanzig was developed and dependable on the third pairing, I would be all over Bishop. As it stands now, I really do think the Flames need to focus on getting the best catcher available, especially with guys like Andersson and Kylington coming up through the organization.
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