I like McDonald, but the term lock up makes me nervous. The team plays well in front of him so a one year contract at a NHL salary that doesn't make the farm punitive would be fine with me.
I thought all the Flames youngsters played well from the 10 minute mark on . Reinhart and Baertschi didn't hit the scoresheet but had lots of chances. Horak is taking his game to another level. Backlund ... so glad they were patient with this guy, both his assists were due to seeing the ice really well.
I definitely would not want Macdonald signed for longer than 2 years, but I think him and Ramo could be a decent tandem while the Flames get their rebuild figured out. Preferably I would want Kipper back next season.
Unless the Flames lock up a potential franchise young prospect (like Bernier) in the offseason, I don't see anything wrong with keeping MacDonald for a year to see which of the young prospects pan out or can at least split the workload with him.
At this point I'd rather have MacDonald than an overpriced UFA veteran on the downside of his career.
I would agree to signing Macdonald to one year, possibly two. With the likelihood of Kiprusoff retiring and some young goalies coming in, we need a dependable veteran who can step in when needed.
I agree that I haven't noticed a big dive in play with losing Iginla and Bouwmeester. Part of it I think the team was used to depending on those two, so without them, they all have to put in the effort. I think they probable both had a quiet leadership style, and my guess is that different leadership in that room will make the largest change in the identity of the flames, coupled with the injection of youth. It's easy to turnout the same voice year after year, no matter how much you like them.
Because the old guard is gone now except for a couple and Tanguay is Hartley's guy. Even the vets that are left have to know that it's a new ball game as they've hit rock bottom.
Flames 3 Coyotes 2 (OT)
