Quote:
Originally Posted by powderjunkie
Which series did goalies really cost us? IIRC COL and DAL it wasn't an issue until elimination games (and was a bright spot before that). Against ANA our GF were 2, 2, 4, 1. Only 2 of those at EVS. Goaltending could have helped us steal that series, but it was only part of the reason we lost.
Goalies are voodoo. How many teams in the league are really, really confident in their goalies down the stretch?
TBL. ANA (irrelevant). WPG. VGK (though I'm not sure how confident they'd be with just one of them). Maybe COL - Grubauer's numbers are pretty darn good the last few years.
I'd argue that most years there are only 5-7 teams with great goaltending, and another 15-20 where it's okay, but questionable.
This year should be evidence enough that goaltending was never the thing holding this group back.
|
I do agree goaltenders are voodoo which is why I've been against using a lot of assets on goaltenders. I remember Elliotte Friedman doing a hit way back on The Fan 960 saying something to the effect of "I like how you guys are drafting a lot of goaltenders right now" and I remember snorting in derision with that take.
I mean the best of the bunch in terms of home grown goaltenders has been David Rittich and he was free which I understand isn't always the norm. But the Flames have depleted very important draft capital on goaltenders which I think could've been better spent to fill holes elsewhere. Just one or maybe even two quality NHL skaters could be helping this team currently as we speak.
The 2nd rounder on Mason McDonald in 2014
The 2nd rounder on Tyler Parsons in 2016
The 2nd rounder on Brian Elliott in 2016
The condition 2nd rounder on Mike Smith in 2017 which might have turned into a 3rd?
If goaltenders are so voodoo, then why expend so much draft capital on the above, especially stop gaps like Elliott and Smith with very little term? I would lay that on the feet of Treliving who like I've said before, went all in too early. He trades for Dougie Hamilton in the offseason and the Flames end up missing the playoffs badly the next season. He then goes on to trade the 35th pick in the draft (Jordan Kyrou) the next offseason for 1 year of Brian Elliott. That ended up poorly, so then he goes after Mike Smith the following offseason and then the Flames end up missing the playoffs again. It's like, were the Flames really a Brian Elliott or a Mike Smith away from winning the Cup?
Chasing goalie after goalie just ended up being a foolish endeavour in hindsight and now the Flames finally have themselves a legit #1 and the other holes in the lineup couldn't be more apparent.