Quote:
Originally Posted by 1qqaaz
For me, the two biggest problems with Smith are:
1) He's one of the oldest goalies in the league
As far as I know, Luongo is the only Lundqvist are the only goalies that are older. They're both probably Hall of Famers, and even they have sharply declined in play.
2) He's really only had one 92%+ season in his career.
Compare that to Matt Murray, who hasn't been sub 92% at any level at any time since his third year in the OHL. Consistent save percentages are one of the most telling stats in hockey, regardless of the defense IMO. Schneider managed to maintain his play after being traded to a weaker New Jersey team. Rask remains a good goalie, even though Boston is no longer a contender. Talbot's strong save percentage is still quite strong, even between a weak Oiler defense. Elliott had a great save percentage, but it really wasn't consistent at all.
I am glad that some of the salary was retained. Smith's contract is fairly manageable now. The Flames may be able to do something in free agency. I also don't think the Flames gave up too much. Hickey's development has slowed a bit, and the second round pick would be pretty late.
I don't like the trade, but it won't be a disaster.
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I'm going to say a few things but in the end I agree that the trade will unlikely be a disaster.
First of all though you cant point to Matt Murray, hes an outlier. His stats are great but hes also behind a Championship team and ultimately he hasnt played nearly as many games so his stats are skewed.
If you want to rest your discussion on Murray's stats then you basically have to put him in the same conversation as Carey Price and just say that they're Generational goaltenders and leave it at that.
I dont think any of us are saying the same of Mike Smith.
The biggest issue regarding this acquisition is also the most obvious, Smith's had a good career, hes a good goaltender and hes had signidicant accomplishments especially with Team Canada.
But like all non SkyNet Issued Non-Automatons, people get older, they get hurt and slower etc.
How will he do? We dont know. But to mitigate that, the price was pretty low all things considered. People dont like the 2nd/3rd, etc, okay.
Its a risk. He could blow his knee out or an airplane engine could fall through the roof of his house and savagely devastate his pinky toe.
Lets not forget that prior to coming to Calgary Brian Elliott was a goalie who was widely renowned for his ability to stop pucks and then for a few months there he completely forgot how to goalie. He picked it up again....but then he lost it.
It happens. It can happen again. It may not happen again, but it could.
Its a risk, they're just trying to buy time so people that they do have faith in have the opportunity to learn and grow and become successful as opposed to being thrown to the wolves by a GM who shrugs his shoulders and tells them to just figure it out.
Because thats something
Hitler Edmonton would do and you never, ever, under any circumstances, go 'Full Oiler.'