Is trusting Mike Smith the best decision in net this year? What other options do the

[Toonage]

We need a 1B folks. Hutton at $4.25M?

Cause thats the best out there and probably what he could be had for.

Or Lehner at $2.5M?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Toonage

We need a 1B folks. Hutton at $4.25M?

Cause thats the best out there and probably what he could be had for.

Or Lehner at $2.5M?

No we really don’t. We need to let Rittich/Gillies continue to develop so that we have a starter and backup for the post Smith era. They were rookies last year and understandably struggled at times. Doesn’t mean we should give up on them or can’t rely on them. They are likely to be better this year.

[1qqaaz]

I would feel a lot better going into next season if the Flames signed or acquired another proven goalie.

Those saying that Smith doesn't have a lot of mileage are wrong. He has been in the NHL for 12 seasons. He has been injured in each of the past 3 years. He hasn't played more than 55 games since the 14-15 season. He'll be turning 37 during the upcoming season. If I'm not mistaken, he's the 2nd oldest goalie in the NHL.

Smith is fine, but I think there's a good chance that he does not play more than 50 games next season. It's also reasonable to expect some regression.
Rittich may be a serviceable backup next year, but I am hesitant to bank the Flames' entire season on him and/or Gillies.

Lehner is a proven goalie. 200+ games played and only 26. The Flames have a lot of cap space. He's only a year older than Rittich. I don't see why the Flames shouldn't sign him.
Hutton is a proven backup who could probably play 30 games.
It's not like these guys are going to cost a ton to get. Let's not gamble the entire season away when these options are available.

[Enoch Root]

If you want our young goalies to develop, you have to actually develop them. And that includes games in the NHL where they continue to learn their craft and learn what they need to do better.

Hellebyuk (SP) really struggled in the NHL for a while. As did countless others. It's normal.

Goaltending is a learned skill. Let the kids continue to work at it and continue to be challenged.

Maybe by the time this core matures into a contending team, we will have developed a couple goalies to be a part of it.

[Toonage]

Our opinions differ. If Smith were 30 and we could rely on 60 starts I'd feel more at ease with giving Rittich or Gillies those remaining starts. If Smith were to go down within a week of the season starting I just don't know if I could trust either or our current backups to hold the fort for as long as they did (tried) last season. We need a reliable 1B who can then be a true stop gap so Rittich or Gillies can have the workload you want this season, next season. Which is a safer 30 games spread out when the season isn't at risk.

[kyuss275]

I don't mind if they let the 2 kids fight it out for backup spot. I also don't mind if they pick up a goalie like Bernier.

[Dr. Doom]

Are we honestly asking Treliving to go out and roll the dice on yet another goalie? Please God no.

As many posters have said play Smith less. Throw the others into a gauntlet and see who makes it out.

We need to rest one and figure out what we have the others.

[Kipper_3434]

Joni Ortio should still be on this team and ready to play a 1a/1b role. Is there a more inept franchise at developing goalies? Serious question.

[Textcritic]

Yeah, if the Flames decide to pick up another goalie, where do they put them all? Rittich, Gillies, and Parsons all need to play, and with Smith still in place there are only three more slots in the AHL and NHL.

[Enoch Root]

A collateral problem with picking up a backup is that it pushes all the other goalies down into less desirable positions.

1) If Riddich and Gillies are both in Stockton, neither is getting enough games in.

!2) If they are both in Stockton, Parsons gets pushed down to the ECHL again.

They all need to be challenged and move forward. You bring in a Bernier or whatever, and you create issues with all of our prospects. Just in case of an injury?

No thanks. Let's groom the goalies we've got, because we have 3 good young prospects.

[bluck]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I would feel a lot better going into next season if the Flames signed or acquired another proven goalie.

Those saying that Smith doesn't have a lot of mileage are wrong. He has been in the NHL for 12 seasons. He has been injured in each of the past 3 years. He hasn't played more than 55 games since the 14-15 season. He'll be turning 37 during the upcoming season. If I'm not mistaken, he's the 2nd oldest goalie in the NHL.

Smith is fine, but I think there's a good chance that he does not play more than 50 games next season. It's also reasonable to expect some regression.
Rittich may be a serviceable backup next year, but I am hesitant to bank the Flames' entire season on him and/or Gillies.

Lehner is a proven goalie. 200+ games played and only 26. The Flames have a lot of cap space. He's only a year older than Rittich. I don't see why the Flames shouldn't sign him.
Hutton is a proven backup who could probably play 30 games.
It's not like these guys are going to cost a ton to get. Let's not gamble the entire season away when these options are available.

You actually read my mind word for word... what a great post

[iloveicedhockey]

Ever the optimist, I think this is the year Gillies proves he's ready to take the reins.

[Dr. Doom]

Originally Posted by iloveicedhockey

Ever the optimist, I think this is the year Gillies proves he's ready to take the reins.

Count me in on this train of thought.
Leading up to last season he had an impeccable track record. And correct me I'm wrong but he had hip surgery?

Give Gillies a real long look. Don't give up on him now.
And Rittich showed signs of being a wall as well.

Best case we can use one of them as a trading chip leading into the deadline.

[cral12]

We probably don't land him, but would be intrigued to nab Robin Lehner. The side benefit would be Rob Ray coming on the Fan960 to talk about him - he really likes him in general, especially his intensity and compete level.

[Northendzone]

Would you not say that pekka rinse had a good regular season and then just an ok playoffs.

Goalies get hot and cool off, it is hard to be great for 65games per year, plus the playoffs.

[DropIt]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

Joni Ortio should still be on this team and ready to play a 1a/1b role. Is there a more inept franchise at developing goalies? Serious question.

Edmonton? Philadelphia? New York Islanders? Dallas Stars? Toronto Maple Leafs? Colorado Avalanche? Carolina Hurricanes?

[t0rrent98]

If its the same as when Hiller and Elliot were here, Smiths second year will probably suck arse but I hope he and the team proves me wrong.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by cral12

We probably don't land him, but would be intrigued to nab Robin Lehner. The side benefit would be Rob Ray coming on the Fan960 to talk about him - he really likes him in general, especially his intensity and compete level.

Yeah he is definitely intense. Guy looks like a maniac when he gets going haha.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by t0rrent98

If its the same as when Hiller and Elliot were here, Smiths second year will probably suck arse but I hope he and the team proves me wrong.

Elliott played only one season in Calgary.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Our opinions differ. If Smith were 30 and we could rely on 60 starts I'd feel more at ease with giving Rittich or Gillies those remaining starts. If Smith were to go down within a week of the season starting I just don't know if I could trust either or our current backups to hold the fort for as long as they did (tried) last season. We need a reliable 1B who can then be a true stop gap so Rittich or Gillies can have the workload you want this season, next season. Which is a safer 30 games spread out when the season isn't at risk.

If Smith goes down to injury THEN you trade for another goalie. There’s always goalies available midseason and outside of the upper echelon they usually don’t cost an insane amount in trade.

We don’t need a roadblock in front of Rittich/Gillies merely for the possibility that Smith gets injured. You develop one of Hillies/Rittich at the nhl level and if Smith gets injured then you think about acquiring another goalie at that point.