Like this seperate thread for this btw. Seems like much to do about a backup, but it's breaking the circles we talk in all the time - and it's clearly bothering fans about this otherwise great team.
For me, there's a lot out there if you're just solving the backup position. At that point, a 1A-1B scenario we originally hoped Smith would be a part of is gone. To upgrade what we have now we need a backup that isn't sewering games
Gillies
His AHL stats are horrid, and what he did last year was tough to watch. By all accounts, he has not earned this chance lately, but we should be this desperate to find a solution to Smith as a backup.
Boston was a great opportunity to see what we have, and look at where we'd be if we had. If Gillies proved all the signs were correct, we have as much trust in Gillies as we did entering the game. If he played well... we win that game, have a potential answer to backup and we have the Detroit game narrative with Smith vs what we have now.
Considering he didn't get the start and a struggling goalie played B2B and lost horribly tells me a lot of what they think of Gillies - and I wonder if they even pencil him into plans any longer if he's viewed as this useless.
McElhinney
A goalie that was had for free doesn't garner much, and he's worked his way through the league doing exactly what we need someone to do here.
The only knock on Curtis is the optics of this tandem around the league. Rittich has played great - so well in fact that I wish he slid into the ASG this year - but has yet to show he's a #1 in the playoffs.
McElhinney can hold the fort as he's shown that tons of times since he left us. But until Rittich holds that #1 spot through more turmoil than he has... whoever is back there has to be capable of stepping into more of a 50/50 than normal. McE leaves that question mark IMO, but in Carolina he's shown a lot to raise confidence in that
Lehner
As a good follow-up to my worries about McElhinney... Lehner's issue will be playing a backup role. I think acquiring him splits Rittich time immediately, and I'm not sure that's a bad thing to anyone.
The acquisition cost is the biggest question mark here. I have no clue they would want for a rebounding goalie with good starts infront of decent defence on a team that could use him... or could just miss the playoffs.
Talbot
The right man to solve the enemies problems does sit in ####sville with his finger on the button. It seems crazy that Edmonton would fix Calgary's goalie problem, but this guy brought in Public Enemy #1... while losing the trade and increasing his cap problems. I wouldn't rule anything out...
Talbot had given up in Edmonton I think, but we saw great goaltending infront of mayhem from him already - and he's accustomed to the backup role. He's a FA next year, so I've always viewed him as potential here in the first place... but his availability so soon this year was unexpected.
I'm sure Chia will want something notable if he's going to shore up his enemies goaltending - but his view of a 'won deal' doesn't come at much of a cost. The trade has so much to look forward to, I want it to happen more than most options.
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