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Originally Posted by Fan in Exile
I agree with you and I concede the point on what goalies get compared to D-men on the open market. Don't want to carry this on further. Really, the initial point with which I concur is that Treliving hasn't solved our needs in net yet.
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Do you think maybe this is yet another sign that building a team is really hard work?
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Smith is a stop-gap and hopefully one that succeeds, and hopefully our prospects are ready to take over by then. A lot of big ifs remaining if you ask me. If it's so easy to sign a Talbot or a Jones, then we should have done so by now without squandering so many assets and a berth in the playoffs. Jones for San Jose, Talbot for the Oilers, and Andersen for the Leafs have made huge impacts for their teams. Teams who haven't figured their goaltending out, such as the Stars, have squandered prime years of some great players on their rosters.
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I don't think anyone would disagree that Smith is a stopgap, and there is still a long term issue in goal that needs to be resolved. But here is the thing: ALL of those teams that you have listed which have effectively addressed their netmninding issues continue to have other holes on the roster which require filling. This is part and parcel of competing in today's NHL. The Flames are still a work in progress, and while they inch closer to their ultimate goal with every successive season, there is still work to be done. It seems abundantly clear to me that Treliving is both aware of that, and he has a plan in place to address the issues over time, and to continue to slowly build the Flames into a championship team. If the team continues to improve incrementally each year, then I would say that he is still effectively doing his job. Does Smith improve the Flames for next year? I think the answer is most likely "yes."
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So sure, kudos to Treliving for getting Hamilton. But I'm sceptical that we've solved our goaltending issues with this latest move.
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Of course goaltending has not been "solved." What Treliving has done with Smith is bought time while he continues to find a permanent solution.