Quote:
Originally Posted by sa226
Say whatever you will about Markstrom, he's a really good goalie and a true number 1.
But if you're the Flames and you're prepared to pay 6 million AAV. Are you sacrificing elsewhere? Or does some careful and creative budgeting make it work without having to sacrifice depth at another position.
I ask this because I find the middle 6 forwards on this team to be lacking already.
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This is where I am at as well - what is the opportunity cost with say Kuemper vs Markstrom.
I don't think that Kuemper is going to cost a 1st - not with the amount of goalies being available, and how cheap some players are moving around because of the cap.
Plus, you can hopefully send money the other way as well as part of the deal for a player that you no longer have plans for, freeing up a bit more room.
I don't know what the right answer is. I am not 100% sold on Markstrom being the answer myself, and though I would like to see what the contract would be for him, from the rumours that are circulating I won't really love it. However, every goalie available has some warts - whether if it is the "Is he really a #1? His stats don't point to it" (Markstrom), to "That's a pretty short runway of being a #1" (Kuemper) to "Holtby was fantastic for the most part... but he has kind of sucked for a while now, but will be cheaper" (Holtby).
There isn't a goalie available right now that doesn't worry me for one reason or another. Heck, even if Price was coming over at 50% retained, I would say: "Yeah, he has been great, but he is over the hill". If Carter Hart came over, I would say: "He is so young without much time as a proven #1 - maybe he is just a Jim Carey."
Damn these hockey gods for not giving Kiprusoff immortality!