15/16 Goaltending Review

[GKDarts]

Didn't see it posted yet...Lots of good stuff from Haynes...

http://www.flamesfrom80feet.ca/2016/...ng-flames.html

Gives the D a bit of a pass but, spot on the rest imo. I don't know how the pro Ortio crowd concludes that at this point, he's anything more than a bottom tier backup at best.

[PeteMoss]

.910 isn't good obviously but its fine for a back-up who will be making very little money.

[Erick Estrada]

You can make a case for the team looking for two new goaltenders in the offseason and it wouldn't shock me but at the same time keeping Ortio as the backup will be much friendlier for the salary cap situation. I suppose it will come down to the salary of the new starting goaltender and how much that leaves on the table to look at backup goaltender options.

[kyuss275]

Good write-up. Could almost make a case that Ortio is 50-50 to come back. One thing for sure is they better not gift him the back-up job. The other 2 (or 3) better not be back under any circumstance.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Great article. Completely sums up my assessment as well.

Please go out and get Ben Bishop. Cost be damned. It'll be worth it to have a guy who was 2nd in sv% this year on this team. Tampa plays defense at a similar quality to the Flames, but a little more consistently.

I guarantee if they get Bishop (or comparable) they'll be in the playoffs next year. Not one doubt in my mind.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Great article. Completely sums up my assessment as well.

Please go out and get Ben Bishop. Cost be damned. It'll be worth it to have a guy who was 2nd in sv% this year on this team. Tampa plays defense at a similar quality to the Flames, but a little more consistently.

I guarantee if they get Bishop (or comparable) they'll be in the playoffs next year. Not one doubt in my mind.

This is why I really hope Dallas makes it to the conference final (and Russell plays his games). They'll need that extra 1st for a deal like this, I think.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Great article. Completely sums up my assessment as well.

Please go out and get Ben Bishop. Cost be damned. It'll be worth it to have a guy who was 2nd in sv% this year on this team. Tampa plays defense at a similar quality to the Flames, but a little more consistently.

I guarantee if they get Bishop (or comparable) they'll be in the playoffs next year. Not one doubt in my mind.

Don't get me wrong Bishop would be sweet, but what is the cost going to be? Nevermind that it would probably be a 1st + prospect, the big thing is his re-signing contract. If posters think he is going to re-sign for a 2-3 term deal they are nuts. The guy is going to cash in . IMO you are not getting him less than 6 years and probably close to $7 million per. He better be the real deal if this happens. You are pretty much saying good bye to Gilles with that kind of commitment.

[1qqaaz]

What would you give up for Varlamov? He's 27, has a long and reasonable contract, has consistently solid to great stats, and plays well behind a bad defense. I also bet Colorado sees some value in Wideman. If he actually becomes available, he'd be my top option at all cost. I don't see why Colorado would trade him, but apparently they might. Like Bishop, I think Varlamov gets us into the playoffs.

Bishop is a better goalie at the moment, but his age and upcoming UFA status makes him scary. I do think the Flames would be able to re-sign Bishop at the end of the 16-17 season, but there's always a little doubt. He'd be a great second option IMO.

A. Varlamov
B. Bishop
C. Anderssen
D. Reimer
E. Elliott

[Leeman4Gilmour]

There's been sooooo much talk about the Flames bad goaltending that it's getting pretty yawny...However, I enjoyed the article and the historical comparisons. Also, even with all of the talk I had no idea we were 11th in shots against. Now does that ever quadruple highlight just how terrible our netminders were!

[Salt Water Cowboy #10]

While the goaltending was terrible, it sure took the D and the team D a while to get into sync. Also in that article it doesn't say how many empty netters were scored against the Flames. From my recollection they were often down and pulled the tender early. Then had multiple games where more than one empty net goal was scored against. I do blame bad goaltending for some of the Flames woes, but accountability should be taken. The system, the D, the penalty kill, and the team D are part of the high number of goals against. I think most goalies would've had fairly poor numbers playing behind the Flames this season. I expect much better next year though. They seemed to be figuring things out in the second half of the season.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

If Roy/Sakic are set on running Varlamov out of town, I would rather the Flames target him over Bishop. I think Varly will adapt better to the new rules than Bishop will, and I think Treliving has a better chance of winning the trade with Sakic than he does Yzerman.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Don't get me wrong Bishop would be sweet, but what is the cost going to be? Nevermind that it would probably be a 1st + prospect, the big thing is his re-signing contract. If posters think he is going to re-sign for a 2-3 term deal they are nuts. The guy is going to cash in . IMO you are not getting him less than 6 years and probably close to $7 million per. He better be the real deal if this happens. You are pretty much saying good bye to Gilles with that kind of commitment.

This is the reason why I wouldn't mind giving Reimer a try first and see how he does. I think a Reimer / Ortio tandem would be ok for next year. And then you re-evaluate after next year, when hopefully the expansion draft means there will be a glut of goalie choices the Flames can explore without needing to give up an arm and a leg.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by GKDarts

Didn't see it posted yet...Lots of good stuff from Haynes...

http://www.flamesfrom80feet.ca/2016/...ng-flames.html

Gives the D a bit of a pass but, spot on the rest imo. I don't know how the pro Ortio crowd concludes that at this point, he's anything more than a bottom tier backup at best.

At his absolute best, Ortio is Karri Ramo with puck handling. He's a decent backup who could probably start 25 games and not cost you a playoff spot. He's not the answer.

[VladtheImpaler]

The acquisition cost of Bishop/Varlamov/Fleury is not going to be high, as discussed in other threads, because:

1) There are only ~2 teams (Flames/Leafs) that need a starting goalie
2) The Lightning/Pens/Avs have to trade/lose Bishop/Vasilevsky, Fleury/Murray, Varlamov/Pickard
3) There are some decent free goalies available in the UFA market, plus probably Pavelec, etc, etc

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

At his absolute best, Ortio is Karri Ramo with puck handling. He's a decent backup who could probably start 25 games and not cost you a playoff spot. He's not the answer.

And Kipper was Karri Ramo with a better glove hand

How about letting goalies prove establish themselves before generalizing them.

[spuzzum]

Didn't Varlamov cost Colorado essentially 2 1st round picks? I can't imagine the cost will be that high but it would cost a 1st +. That Dallas pick could come in very useful if that is route the team takes to acquire a goalie.

[Par]

Originally Posted by spuzzum

Didn't Varlamov cost Colorado essentially 2 1st round picks? I can't imagine the cost will be that high but it would cost a 1st +. That Dallas pick could come in very useful if that is route the team takes to acquire a goalie.

Getting Varlamov or Bishop would be nice but they will cost assets and we can also them at the expansion draft, I think the Flames will same sure that Gillies is exempt from the expansion draft before they give any assets for a goaltender, if he is exempt, then I see them going after Varlamov or Bishop(or someone else) but if Gillies is not exempt, then they will likely go after Reimer.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by spuzzum

Didn't Varlamov cost Colorado essentially 2 1st round picks? I can't imagine the cost will be that high but it would cost a 1st +. That Dallas pick could come in very useful if that is route the team takes to acquire a goalie.

They are on the clock. One year to expansion and they apparently really like Pickard but you can only protect one goalie (unless they change that). They will be lucky to get a 2nd and a B prospect IMO. I would offer 2nd+Klimchuk but no higher. If they aren't interested, they can always try to trade him to Carolina or Toronto, who will be sifting through offers just like the Flames. I think people are really underestimating the effect looming expansion+buyer's market will have on the 10+ teams trying to unload a goalie.

[polak]

lol yes lets write off a 24 year old goalie cause he had what, 5 bad games playing behind a team that has no concept of team defense? Not talking stats, but 5 games where he was actually letting in goals he shouldn't have.

I guarantee letting Ortio walk will be a big regret and I guarantee he beats out whoever you bring in for at least half the starting job.

The defense gets way too much of a pass. I'm actually kind of excited for the "I told you so" post when Bishop or Reimer are just as exposed behind this team, which is what will happen if Mr. Bob "Faceoffs are a priority" Hartley is still behind the bench.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by polak

The defense gets way too much of a pass. I'm actually kind of excited for the "I told you so" post when Bishop or Reimer are just as exposed behind this team, which is what will happen if Mr. Bob "Faceoffs are a priority" Hartley is still behind the bench.

I wouldn't get overly excited if I were you. While I totally expect it from you the moment the new starting goaltender has a bad game it's one of those things that will get drowned out over the course of an 82 game season.

Nobody is writing off Ortio but the numbers don't lie and his stats aren't good enough right now to get consideration for a starting job in the NHL. Maybe in the future that will change but right now jobs and money are on the line going into next season and you can't let it al ride on an unproven goaltender and risk a repeat of this season.