[News] Derek Grant assigned to Stockton. Hiller returns to practice.

[Ozy_Flame]

I don't suspect Ortio is back. Why would he want to? He's being sidelined in the critical years of his development. And forcing Ramo to play well by starting him all the time, why are we not investing that kind of energy into Joni?

Me thinks we're going to have a clean slate goaltending situation next year.

[JiriHrdina]

I think the Flames will make a new #1 the priority in the off-season. Gillies is the long-term guy in my mind - but he's going to take time.
You need a better option than what anyone in the system can currently offer.
I dearly hope the Flames have learned from the clowns up the highway - and not bring in a series of back-ups. They need to pay the price, either in $, trades, or both - to bring in an actual #1.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

As much as I don't think Bollig is a player, sometimes the "earn" part goes back further than a few games

I've been really hard on Bollig ever since they got him but I thought he was OK in Chicago (probably could've predicted it against his old team). And I thought Grant had been slipping a bit.

Anyway, while they are both 4th liners, they play a completely different role, so it's not an either-or situation. I'd think Grant and Jooris are more direct competitors, and add Shore and maybe Granlund as well.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I think the Flames will make a new #1 the priority in the off-season. Gillies is the long-term guy in my mind - but he's going to take time.
You need a better option than what anyone in the system can currently offer.
I dearly hope the Flames have learned from the clowns up the highway - and not bring in a series of back-ups. They need to pay the price, either in $, trades, or both - to bring in an actual #1.

I'll be curious to see how they make a transition happen between a new #1 and Gillies, provided he lives up to the current narrative. A new #1 would likely get a contract of at least 3 years. If the team is doing well by then, the incentive to work in a new goalie will be low.

We can barely work a rookie into starts in the face of poor #1a/b goaltending on a 6-12-1 team.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

I'll be curious to see how they make a transition happen between a new #1 and Gillies, provided he lives up to the current narrative. A new #1 would likely get a contract of at least 3 years. If the team is doing well by then, the incentive to work in a new goalie will be low.

We can barely work a rookie into starts in the face of poor #1a/b goaltending on a 6-12-1 team.

I don't know how one can get the stat, but I'd be curious to know what the average age of a goalie is when they become a consistent #1.
I suspect mid 20s?
I think time is on the Flames' side here.
Look to St. Loo for how they've managed Allen. I think that's the new model.

[Flamenspiel]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I think the Flames will make a new #1 the priority in the off-season. Gillies is the long-term guy in my mind - but he's going to take time.
You need a better option than what anyone in the system can currently offer.
I dearly hope the Flames have learned from the clowns up the highway - and not bring in a series of back-ups. They need to pay the price, either in $, trades, or both - to bring in an actual #1.

Well it looks like we may have had one(Reto Berra). He is starting to look pretty scary over the last few games, i looked back at his stats last year and they were not that bad. Goalies are so hard to predict.

[FBI]

I still think Ortio is our transition to Gillies.
If they would only give him a freakin chance.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by FBI

I still think Ortio is our transition to Gillies.
If they would only give him a freakin chance.

I wonder if he looks as scared of the puck in practice as he does in games? If so, wouldn't shock me as to why he's getting so few starts.

Never seen a goalie flinch duck from shots as much in my life. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't stand in net, but if you decide this is how you are going to make your living, can't be scared of the puck.

[Strange Brew]

Hard to fathom this team is scared to send Ortio down yet don't think he is good enough to play given the awful goaltending this team has been receiving.

Strikes me as either bad coaching or bad asset management.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

Well it looks like we may have had one(Reto Berra). He is starting to look pretty scary over the last few games, i looked back at his stats last year and they were not that bad. Goalies are so hard to predict.

Meh. Every goalie has a hot streak. That's all this is

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Meh. Every goalie has a hot streak. That's all this is

Wasn't the back story on the Avs acquiring Berra because their goalie coach Allaire was really high on him? I wouldn't be too sure that he's just on a hot streak but on the other hand, if he stayed with us he probably wouldn't have the same success.

[GB70]

I'd like to believe some of Reto's recent success of late. Has more to do with having the best money( Clutch) Goaltender as his head coach. He's probably learned a few tricks from Patrick.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by codynw

Oh boy! I was just talking about how much I missed the three goalie situation.

If Ramo was called up as an emergency recall and there is no reason why he wouldn't have been; then he will have to be sent back to the AHL once Hiller is cleared.

[Vinny01]

I think the Flames are prepared to either trade Ortio or risk him on waivers. Ramo getting straight starts and I doubt they now put Hiller on waivers.

I just don't see the Flames going back to 3 goalies again this year

[Da_Chief]

Ortio is not as good as his hot streak last year but he's not as bad as he's shown this year.
He obviously is scared of making a mistake in practice or during game and has ZERO confidence, thanks to the coaching staff.

You don't just forget how to make simple saves. Thanks to Hartley and the coaches they guys confidence is shot. Waive him and he'll clear. Let him play some games in the A and see if he can come back up later this year.

[Caged Great]

I think the Flames should start Hiller in both games this week.

You know Ramo is playing better.

If Hiller plays terribly, waive him and put him in Stockton.

If Hiller plays well, waive Ortio and put him in Stockton.

If another team claims Ortio, so be it. It would be disappointing, but it would not be the end of the world.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I think the Flames will make a new #1 the priority in the off-season. Gillies is the long-term guy in my mind - but he's going to take time.
You need a better option than what anyone in the system can currently offer.
I dearly hope the Flames have learned from the clowns up the highway - and not bring in a series of back-ups. They need to pay the price, either in $, trades, or both - to bring in an actual #1.

As I posted in another thread, Ben Bishop looks like he may be on the way to being supplanted by Vasilevskiy, making him available.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I think the Flames should start Hiller in both games this week.

You know Ramo is playing better.

If Hiller plays terribly, waive him and put him in Stockton.

If Hiller plays well, waive Ortio and put him in Stockton.

If another team claims Ortio, so be it. It would be disappointing, but it would not be the end of the world.

I don't know, I think it would be kind of dumb. We'd be left in the situation of potentially only having Gillies and Poulin as our goalies under contract for next year, forcing us into a position of weakness with other GMs. There are no guarantees in UFA and guys like Martin Jones apparently command 1st+ in trades. I wouldn't be on board with such a move at all.

Sink or swim with Ortio, he has potential still. Ramo and Hiller have proven to be below average, why not waive them instead? It's not like the Hartley has even given Ortio a chance, and we already know Hiller and Ramo are no good. Even if we somehow make the playoffs (LOL, ya right), Hiller and/or Ramo will be destined to poop the bed... so what's the point? So we can lose them for nothing after a disappointing season AND not have Ortio? Sounds like a move out of the Kevin Lowe play book, only he meant to tank his team.

If they lose him to waivers, I honestly hope Ortio goes on to become a star, it would be so fitting and deserved... and so Calgary Flames.

[jg13]

Back to the "always earned, never given" thing. I haven't heard Hartley say that all year and I haven't heard a reporter bring it up either. Something i'm actual curious about because the answer is either.

"No, we're no longer going by that anymore. We're going to give the guys that got us into the playoffs a chance night in night out regardless of their play."

Or

"Yes we still go by that motto." Which would be a straight up lie and Wideman wouldn't have left the press box in the past 10 games.

[JiriHrdina]

I don't think it's that black and white