Quote:
Originally Posted by ricardodw
The 2018-19 Flames look a lot like the 2016-17 Jets.
The 2016-17 Jets had 90% of the same same skaters and the same core as they did the next year but decided (were forced to) to go with Hellebuyck and Hutchinson as their goalies rather than journeyman veteran Pavelic.
They had a playoff team that missed the playoffs because Hellebuyck got to play 52 NHL games and learned how to be a #1 NHL goalie while the team missed the playoffs by 8 pts.
Right now the Flames have a great playoff worthy line-up of Skaters and are going into the season with a 36 year old journeyman goalie.
Smith's old team considered Smith to be a journeyman as they kept 1.4M for 2 years to be rid of him.
Are they willing to miss the playoffs (like the 2016-17 Jets) to get Rittich or Gillies the games as a #1 that they need before they step up as a Playoff team #1? Chances that either Gillies or Rittich will take over after getting 30 or so games between them is very slim.
I am waiting for Trevling to make the "promised" move to fix the goalie situation.
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Pavelec
398 games
156 wins
2.88 GAA
.907 SV%
18 shut outs
Smith
529 games
220 wins
2.69 GAA
.913 SV%
36 shut outs
Olympic gold medal
at least you're making this stuff easier and easier to debunk!
Smith has age against him but he's not a Pavelec