I think Ramo, Berra and Macdonald are the serious contenders at the moment but I'd love it if Broissoit made a push. I'm not sold on either Ramo or Berra yet. Actually, I'm not sold on any of them until they prove otherwise. I guess if I had to pick one right now I would bet on Macdonald but I sure hope I'm wrong.
From where things stand currently, between the largely unproven goalies and the sub-standard defense, this season could be ugly for goals against.
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It's not so much who starts the season in goal, but who eventually steps up as better than the rest. Ramo and Berra are question marks but the guy to show the most comfort playing on NA ice in training camp will take the first start I guess.
There are only 3 options for the two spots. Berra Mac and Ramo. I haven't seen Ramo in person, so I can't really determine how good (or not) he is. Mac is a 2A goalie, and Berra looks to be a 2B.
1A - Good starter
1B - Fringe starter like Dubnyk
2A - Good backup
2B - Adequate backup
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Seems to me the starting role is Mac's to lose. I don't think anyone wants Mac to be the #1 guy, but as he's the only one of the bunch with a reasonable amount of NHL experience, he's likely got the inside line on the starter role. I doubt Ramo or Berra do more than split time with him through the first 20 unless one of them is lights out in camp.
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Berra absolutely killed it at the world championships this spring, against the likes of some NHL guys whose teams were out of postseason contention.
He also looked excellent at camp in his first "stint" in NA. And was, imo, tied as most impressive between the pipes with Gillies.
He looks to have significantly more potential than a 2B goalie. I would HOPE that Ramo can look as good and sharp as Berra has thus far. I really haven't seen enough of the guy to get any read whatsoever. But Reto looks to have some real potential from what I can tell.
Berra absolutely killed it at the world championships this spring, against the likes of some NHL guys whose teams were out of postseason contention.
He also looked excellent at camp in his first "stint" in NA. And was, imo, tied as most impressive between the pipes with Gillies.
He looks to have significantly more potential than a 2B goalie. I would HOPE that Ramo can look as good and sharp as Berra has thus far. I really haven't seen enough of the guy to get any read whatsoever. But Reto looks to have some real potential from what I can tell.
You're right, but in all fairness, the WHC is a tough tournament to draw comparisons from. The vast majority of NHL players mail that tourny in. So they may have been there, but their compete level may not have been anything to draw conclusions from.
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It'll be close between Berra and Ramo. I, like almost everyone else here have no idea what Ramo is at the moment. But what I do think is obvious is that MacDonald is the insurance piece in case both of the other goalies prove they are not capable. We all know MacDonald can compete and keep the Flames in the game.
I am a big fan of Berra's size and agility. I'm no scout but I do see massive potential there.
I've posted in other threads that I believe he will end up being the full time starter for the Flames next season. But, we will have to wait and see. Would love for both Ramo and Berra to make MacDonald expendable via stellar play.
I also believe Hartley has a much better read on Berra and will go with what is most familiar.
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Where the Flams are right now with their rebuild, I don't want to think about goalies or defensemen. I guess I'll say ramo will start because he's probably our best option at this point. I'd love for Broissoit to become a star goalie, but he needs time.
This year, I think the most excitement we will have will be up front
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Ramo's style is similar to Kipper's, as well as Ortio and Brossoit's. From that youtube clip you can tell that Ramo isn't in the same conversation as Kipper, but that's not really a shocker. He probably could be an adequate starter for a rebuilding team, just like Marc Denis was for the Blue Jackets in the early 2000's.
Berra stylistically is similar to both Henrik Karlsson and Jonathan Gillies. Don't be afraid that I put Gillies there, it's their style, not talent. Berra has a better glove/blocker than Karlsson and will move to make a save, where Karlsson was more letting the puck hit him then react to rebounds.
Gillies, he has a glove and blocker that's of an NHL caliber and his positioning is a lot better than either Berra or Karlsson. If Karlsson is a 3/10, Berra's a 5/10 and Gillies is a 7/10 right now (that's without developmental time).
If Gillies wasn't in the NCAA, I'd actually have him as the front runner for the starters job even though he's 19.
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I'm fairly certain that we will be going with a 1A/1B rotation. Whether that is Ramo/MacDonald or Ramo/Berra, it's difficult to say. I am hoping for Ramo/Berra, but they may opt to have a veteran around just for the sake of it.
I expect all 3 to get some games in this season though.
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Who starts the season in goal?
