[jonkaupp]

Originally Posted by browna

A few things.

5th goal was terrible last night.

Don’t know where his confidence went in the toilet, he came back after the injury last year and played fine to end the season. He got the yips at some point in the season this year, but it’s tough to pinpoint where. And now he’s over compensating.

He is trying to make saves now, rather then dial it back to basics and start with trying to block the puck and let the puck hit him. It’s subtle, but by instead trying to make saves he’s thinking too much and adjusting his body and arms and legs too much, which is why so many pucks are getting through him on these crappy goals.

This last point isn’t going to be well received, and I know the Flames are on a roll and this is turning into a potentially special year the way the top guys and most of the team is following and full of confidence...but, I do think the room likes Smith, a lot.

He’s a fiery leader it sounds like. He basically pulled a team into a playoff spot until hurt last year. I think the GM and coach like him a lot as a competitor and see the mental toll that is costing games, but they still see the work ethic and physical ability he has, if he can get over the yips.

So I think it’s very calculated to make a major change to the dressing room wth the way things are going so well, by pulling out a major piece. Pulling Smith out of the room via trade or popcorn row, as a room favourite, for a guy McBackup, as an example, is not going to be great for that.

I think BT is exploring options, but really really hopes that Smith can pull it together in the shortened January for those reason, to not mess up chemistry by having to move him on and hope goalie #3 is the answer.

I also don’t think Treliving is 100% sold on Rittich being the guy that’s going to lead the team far into the playoffs quite yet. He’s certainly improved over last year when he took over, which is great, but the final push and then games in late April are unknown territory for the Flames confidence in Rittich.

So BT has to weigh the dressing room implications of pulling a leader who has falling on hard times the last month and a half vs the team needing a very solid goaltender (2 actually) to advance them in and through the playoffs without confidence issues.

This has to be Mike Smith. No other explanation. Everything is wrong. But it loves some Mike Smith. Month and a half of hard times. Jfc this is the most absurd thing. ‘Got the yips at some point this season’ we talking like the first minute or the first five minutes? Absurd. Terrible. Worst post in the thread for sure. This is Mike Smith, no doubt. Posts as bad as he goaltends.