Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814
Ortio isn't a bad goalie, but at this point it looks like Karri Ramo is the absolute best case scenario for his career.
I think $3.8 for Ramo was a combination reward for his play last season and a small premium in case he had to be traded at a moment's notice due to losing the goalie battle. Regardless, Karri Ramo making $3.8M didn't hurt us at any point this season. The goalies let in 4 goals in almost half the games before Christmas. That's on them.
When it comes to who is a good goalie and who isn't, you have to look beyond the numbers and look at the quality of the goals allowed. Hiller lets in a TON of low quality chances that an NHL regular should stop 100% of the time. Ramo and Ortio are better, but they're still prone to a softie every other game at least.
Finally, last year Hiller had a save % of .918 in 52 games last season. Ramo had a save % of .912 in 34 games. Given this, I don't know how you could argue .900 is "inherent to the way this team plays defence".
Having $11M tied up in 5/6/7 D might be a better indication of why the blue line isn't as good as it was hyped - as I've said before, when the bottom pair combines to make less than Deryk Engelland, this looks like a different team.
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Interesting stats on the soft goals (if they existed) .
It would also be interesting on how many "soft" goals go in on lack of defensive effort, not forcing the guy wide enough, leaving the zone too quick, not contesting the rebound, coming out of the corner unimpeded.
Hamilton is playing as advertised over March. 10 games 10 pts. Everyone would be happy and amazed if that is the level he plays at.
On how many highlights of Flames goals against is Hamilton on the ice but not in the play. He is not getting beaten but has not worked to get into position.
He still is only +1 in March..... the secondary players that he get matched up against are playing him even up one-on-one.
Engelland, still rated as a pile of crap pylon, is playing the exact same ice time as Hamilton and is +2.
How come the goalies are that much better with Brodie on the ice to the tune of +14. Brodie has the skill to play the up-tempo game and does not play lazy in his own zone. He works his butt off and gets back into position when the puck is turned over.
Defense is work and this year the Flames are not working near as hard as they did last year.