[Signing] Flames sign Hamilton to 6 year extension ($5.75 mil AAV)

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I am only looking at the 2009 Chicago Blackhawks as a comparable team, and we have most of the pieces in place for a real cup run this year. The Flames would need only a 2nd line RW and we're off to the races. That doesn't mean it'll be easy, but it isn't an unlikely thought.

For that to happen we need elite goaltending.

[tvp2003]

Feeling spoiled as a Flames fan. First the incredible 2014/15 regular season. Made the playoffs. Beat Vancouver in the first round. Now killing it in the offseason. Just wow.

P.S. Connor McDavid, hope you're taking notes son. Dougie didn't get high 90's in school because he looked off his friend's test paper. This could be your ticket out of Mulletville in a few years...

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

This really shows how trading for RFAs is a better option than offer sheeting them. We got our man and were able to work out a reasonable contract instead of the bloated monstrosity that we would've had to offer Hamilton to beat the competition and to keep the Bruins from matching.

That assumes the other team is willing to trade the RFA. Most of the time that is not the case and the other team matches unless it is a stupid offer like Penner.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Jacks

That assumes the other team is willing to trade the RFA. Most of the time that is not the case and the other team matches unless it is a stupid offer like Penner.

In this case, obviously Boston and Chicago weren't going to match the offer sheets. Good leg work by Treliving and Kekalainen to discover this fact. Offer sheet is a better option if you want to handcuff another team's cap situation. Trade is a better option if you're actually gonna acquire the player.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Dion

For that to happen we need elite goaltending.

I have trouble seeing Crawford or Bishop as elite.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by starseed

Burke looked pissed when he missed out on getting Dougie Hamilton.

That's just Burke's natural resting face

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Dion

For that to happen we need elite goaltending.

You don't need elite level goaltending to win a cup, you just need good-enough goaltending. Chicago has won 3 times with Crawford and Niemi in net, neither of whom are anything but average. Detroit won with Osgood and Pittsburgh won with Fleury, a solid team defense is more important to winning the cup IMO

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

I have trouble seeing Crawford or Bishop as elite.

I'd take one of Bishop or Crawford on my team.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

You don't need elite level goaltending to win a cup, you just need good-enough goaltending. Chicago has won 3 times with Crawford and Niemi in net, neither of whom are anything but average. Detroit won with Osgood and Pittsburgh won with Fleury, a solid team defense is more important to winning the cup IMO

You need elite goaltending when it counts like the Cup Finals.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Dion

You need elite goaltending when it counts like the Cup Finals.

if you have a good team, you need a goaltender who can win 4/7 games in a series. They can be Ben Scrivens level bad in the other three games.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Dion

You need elite goaltending when it counts like the Cup Finals.

No you don't. Crawford, though I do think people are too hard on him, is not elite.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

In 2009 Chicago's goalies were Khabibulin and Huet

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008...ckhawks_season

Not really sure if Khabibulin was elite at the time but he was at one point.

That said, Crawford is good but I wouldn't say elite.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

In 2009 Chicago's goalies were Khabibulin and Huet

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008...ckhawks_season

Not really sure if Khabibulin was elite at the time but he was at one point.

That said, Crawford is good but I wouldn't say elite.

Elite is a luxury and luxuries are unnecessary. So says Chris Osgood.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Wideman - 56 points in 80 games
Giordano - 48 points in 61 games
Hamilton - 42 points in 72 games
Brodie - 41 points in 81 games
Russell - 34 points in 79 games

5 defensemen on the Flames outscored the Norris candidate, all offense, Justin Schultz who lead the Oilers defense with 31 points in 81 games. Justin Schultz also had nearly 3 minutes of PP time a night, only Wideman and Giordano had more. Edler with his 31 points and 3 minutes of PP also lead the Canucks with 31 points on the backend.

There's multiple teams that didn't have a defensemen hit 30 points, the Flames now have 5 who are capable.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Locke

Elite is a luxury and luxuries are unnecessary. So says Chris Osgood.

For me, the Hiller Ortio tandem should be enough to suffice. Ortio has looked good at the NHL level and with that defense, he should be capable of being at least a 1B.

[Vulcan]

For me Ortio has looked good but how he will do on a regular basis is up in the air. As for Hiller, he's inconsistent and requires a good back up to make him part of a tandem. In other words he isn't a #1 goalie. If we can't improve on Hiller, I'd like Ramo to return and the three goalies battle it out for the two spots in camp. If Ortio doesn't make the cut, I don't see other teams grabbing him off waivers. If we lose Ramo or Hiller it's no big deal.

[Serapth]

God, who are even elite goaltenders at this point? Price and... Um... Maybe Quick. The base level of goaltending has certainly risen, but the days of a goaltender like Hasek or Roy single handedly carrying a team seem to be somewhat behind us now.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Serapth

God, who are even elite goaltenders at this point? Price and... Um... Maybe Quick. The base level of goaltending has certainly risen, but the days of a goaltender like Hasek or Roy single handedly carrying a team seem to be somewhat behind us now.

Price
Rinne
Rask
Lundqvist
Schneider
Quick

are the upper tier of goaltenders. All elite.

With
Varlamov
Bobrovsky
pretty close if they stay healthy.
Holtby is coming on strong and Bishop can move up there too.

So about 1/3 of the league.

[browntrout]

going to be interesting to see what happens with Gio now. If we lose him to free agency I don't think its the end of the world, less pressure to get him signed now. Still want him on the team...but no longer then 5 years at a cap hit of 7.5 mil. Anything longer then that and we have ourselves a chara situation in our own backyard

[Da_Chief]

No way we lose him to UFA. He's either traded or re-signed. Chances are 99% re-signed.