Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
Yeah this isn't the thing to focus on.
He's a backup on an expiring contract and the team has a healthy lead in the division. Don't waste your assets on an insurance policy.
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Is it a waste though? Depth is critical in the playoffs and at the moment the Calgary Flames are a pretty deep team everywhere except in net.
If something, anything, happens to Rittich and we have to ride Smith its going to be the Idiot Gulutzan/Brian Elliott 'Game 4 fiasco' all over again.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jayswin
I think when you have this great a chance at a Cup run you have to shore up the back up position.
I understand the position of most in here "It's not worth shoring up/other contenders have poor back ups/he's done after this season anyway", but to me it comes down to this:
Can we go on a cup run if Rittich goes down and Smith takes over? Not likely. Can we still possibly compete in the playoffs with a run with a decent back up and a Rittich injury? Probably. Pay for a decent back up, spend what you would have on defensive depth, imo.
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Yeah, this. And for more than a few reasons.
The fact of the matter is that some may shrug at the prospect of goaltending depth or think that if push were to come to shove that Smith could shoulder the load should something happen to Rittich.
But thats just not the case unless we somehow draw the Arizona Coyotes in the playoffs.
The playoffs are tight, you cant hope and pray that the team can score 5 or 6 goals per game to off-set Smith's muffins and flush an otherwise exceptional season down the crapper.