Macdonald shouldn't even be on this team. He is and always will be a terrible goaltender.
He's fine being on the team... I mean I don't want the younger guys spending most of their time opening the door as a backup when they could be playing in Abbotsford. What I'm not fine with is him starting 3 out of the first 4 and especially not when Ramo was better in his one game then MacDonald has been in wither of the two he played.
Bad move Hartley.
I think Feaster ought to step in and either tell Hartley to even out the playing time or force his hand by waiving MacDonald.
Yup. Ramo is the 27 year old goaltender still approaching his prime whom we signed and brought in. MacD is a 34 year old journeyman who's future with the team is short term at best. Now a 3rd straight start after very mediocre performances.. What gives Bob?
People forget, "Bob" has more info to go on than we the fan. He knows how Ramo has looked in practice, where his head is at and how his conditioning is. All we the fan know is that Ramo and Joey have both looked average for now. It's game 4 people, calm down. If a bit further down the road it looks like Ramo isn't being given a shot, and Joey Mac hasn't been lights out (the reason why Ramo isn't being given a shot) then maybe you'll have a point.
Now, it's just a bunch of whinning because you people had penciled in Ramo as our hopefull starter and Joey Mac is just a journey man and that's less sexy.
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I'm with you on your point Cleveland, but I think things are actually remarkably calm on this forum these days, comparatively speaking.
In previous years, a position "controversy" like this one would have likely caused a CP meltdown by now - 4 games in or not.
I think peoplpe have adjusted their expectations of this team accordingly.
For my two cents, I don't think Hartley has given up on Ramo yet. We will see him in several more games and he will be given the chance to prove his upside is beyond MacDonald.
Maybe they're showcasing MacDonald for a potential trade?
That's the only reason I can think of. Aside from that, I don't see a good reason not to give Ramo the start. I was confused why Mac got the start for the home opener to begin with.
I think this would be easier if more people understood that labeling lines is useless and stupid. There are no 1-4 lines (especially a team like the Flames). There are just the lines. If a line is Stempniak-Backlund-Glencross. It is the line of Stempniak, Backlund and Glencross. Or Glencross's line, or Backlund's line. The top line is the line that gets the most minutes on any given game. Those could be vastly different depending on who's playing well and who's not. As it should be.
I like Joey Mac. He seems less awkward on the ice than Karri "Hey, Look at that Puck Behind the Net!" Ramo.
I'm excited to see him start. He's shown flashed of brilliance at times. Was hoping he's win the #1 job.
Ya, those single game sample sizes sure are conclusive.
MacDonald may be further along now, but what's the point? He's never going to be the #1 for more than a few months. I'd rather get an answer on Ramo and Berra than re-re-re-confirming that MacDonald is a suitable journeyman backup.
Maybe they're showcasing MacDonald for a potential trade?
That's the only reason I can think of. Aside from that, I don't see a good reason not to give Ramo the start. I was confused why Mac got the start for the home opener to begin with.
I was thinking that maybe they wanted to give MacDonald a few games to prove his worth before sending him to Abbotsford and bringing Berra up for a bit.
It's a long season though and I am sure that Ramo will get back in there.
__________________
"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
I'm not sure why people think it's all that surprising that Ramo isn't starting. It's not like he's our #1 goaltender. Fact is, Ramo's first game was about equivalent to Mac's last game, with the exception that Ramo looked a little frantic in a few situations. We don't owe Ramo anything, he was brought in to COMPETE for the starting position, and his first game wasn't any better than anything Mac has done, so why are we surprised?
He'll get more starts, but if Hartley has more confidence in Mac, then there's no reason not to go that route.
People forget, "Bob" has more info to go on than we the fan. He knows how Ramo has looked in practice, where his head is at and how his conditioning is. All we the fan know is that Ramo and Joey have both looked average for now. It's game 4 people, calm down. If a bit further down the road it looks like Ramo isn't being given a shot, and Joey Mac hasn't been lights out (the reason why Ramo isn't being given a shot) then maybe you'll have a point.
Now, it's just a bunch of whinning because you people had penciled in Ramo as our hopefull starter and Joey Mac is just a journey man and that's less sexy.
If health or conditioning are contributing factors, then that is something Hartley can come out with and tell the public. They did so about Cervenka and his conditioning without any qualms, so it should be no different here. But they haven't.
It's not that he's "less sexy". It's that this team is currently in an official rebuild and we shouldn't be looking to start 34 year old goaltenders who have NO future with this team. We should be gauging our talent in net, just as we are on the skating ranks right now. In fact, early in the season like this is probably a better time to be giving Ramo three straight starts than McDonald, before play ramps up more later. This is prime time to be putting young guys through the motions and seeing how they handle it. November hockey gets a lot more intense and system oriented (as Hartley says, 10 games in it ramps up again). So uh, please don't put words in my mouth.
Ya, those single game sample sizes sure are conclusive.
MacDonald may be further along now, but what's the point? He's never going to be the #1 for more than a few months. I'd rather get an answer on Ramo and Berra than re-re-re-confirming that MacDonald is a suitable journeyman backup.
Cool story dude. But unfortunately for you, I like Joey Mac better.
He's shown at times he has the tools to be a #1; ask Isles and Red Wings fans. He's about as good a goaltender as you're gonna get for his price range, and I still think he has the ability to become more consistent. Am I not allowed to have hope for him? If not, why not? Because he's 33? Look at a guy like Tim Thomas - didn't establish himself until about Joey's current age.
I'm not sure why people think it's all that surprising that Ramo isn't starting. It's not like he's our #1 goaltender. Fact is, Ramo's first game was about equivalent to Mac's last game, with the exception that Ramo looked a little frantic in a few situations. We don't owe Ramo anything, he was brought in to COMPETE for the starting position, and his first game wasn't any better than anything Mac has done, so why are we surprised?
He'll get more starts, but if Hartley has more confidence in Mac, then there's no reason not to go that route.
Cool story dude. But unfortunately for you, I like Joey Mac better.
He's shown at times he has the tools to be a #1; ask Isles and Red Wings fans. He's about as good a goaltender as you're gonna get for his price range, and I still think he has the ability to become more consistent. Am I not allowed to have hope for him? If not, why not? Because he's 33? Look at a guy like Tim Thomas - didn't establish himself until about Joey's current age.
What reasons do you have that makes you think he'll improve? He's 33, his age will only keep chipping away at his athleticism. Why shouldn't we be exploring younger options who can actually become better technically and physically. Especially if the goaltending so far has been a wash between Ramo and McDonald, why not go with the option that has room for some improvement?
Cool story dude. But unfortunately for you, I like Joey Mac better.
He's shown at times he has the tools to be a #1; ask Isles and Red Wings fans. He's about as good a goaltender as you're gonna get for his price range, and I still think he has the ability to become more consistent. Am I not allowed to have hope for him? If not, why not? Because he's 33? Look at a guy like Tim Thomas - didn't establish himself until about Joey's current age.
I am truly hoping you forgot to add green text to this post, otherwise......
Glencross - any centre - MacGratton / Jackman becomes the Flames #1 line.
In fact Glencross - worse centre on the team playing his 9th NHL game at age 26 - Stempniak got thrown out as the Flames #1 line to play against the Sedins.
I wouldn't be surprised if Street asked the Sedins for an Autograph or had a picture taken.
Cool story dude. But unfortunately for you, I like Joey Mac better.
And unfortunately for both of us neither of our "likes" mean squat. I don't dislike MacDonald, but he is what he's always been... a stop gap door opener.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Muta
He's shown at times he has the tools to be a #1; ask Isles and Red Wings fans. He's about as good a goaltender as you're gonna get for his price range, and I still think he has the ability to become more consistent. Am I not allowed to have hope for him? If not, why not? Because he's 33? Look at a guy like Tim Thomas - didn't establish himself until about Joey's current age.
Cheer for him all you want. All I'm saying is that he's likely a known commodity with a limited ceiling (sure there's always a chance that he's a late-late-bloomer like Thomas, but judging on his career, doubtful). I just think the unknowns of Ramo/Berra are worth exploring more than the mediocre knowns of MacDonald.
He can take his share of games to let Ramo get used to the NHL. If either of them struggle, see what Berra can do.
And unfortunately for both of us neither of our "likes" mean squat. I don't dislike MacDonald, but he is what he's always been... a stop gap door opener.
