[PGT] Flames lose 2-1 to Bruins

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Tough to do worse than vertigo or zero wins.

Our goalies move in mysterious ways, but I hope one beautiful day we find the goalie that we are looking for.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Our starter has vertigo and the backup is doing great with his zero wins and .889 sv%, I'd be trying out every goalie possible if the starter is the worst in the league and has vertigo. Tough to do worse than vertigo or zero wins.

Hiller has vertigo?

Or are you projecting an ailment from like 4 years ago into the present?

[polak]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Our starter has vertigo and the backup is doing great with his zero wins and .889 sv%, I'd be trying out every goalie possible if the starter is the worst in the league and has vertigo. Tough to do worse than vertigo or zero wins.

Oh that's BS considering Ortio has only played when this team has been at their absolute worst.

He's been 100% solid in this stretch outside of one meh period that wasn't even his fault. Give the guy some credit.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

I just don't get why we're burning out Gio-Brodie? The season is toast, how about scale back their minutes to decrease a chance of a major injury?

The 3rd pairing is playing about 10-11 minutes, take away 5 minutes from the top pair and give it to 3rd pair.

24 mins for top pair
20 mins for 2nd pair
16 mins for 3rd pair (put these guys in a bit of tough situation to see how they respond)

Don't care about this season but need Gio-Brodie healthy for next year. I really dont like Hartley's madness.

I think (hope) this is a function of trying to be competitive against teams that are still in it - doing their league-ly duty, as it were.

Let's wait and see games like Buffalo tomorrow to see how he manages those types of games... I imagine we'll see more minutes for the try-out squad and a little less reliance on the top guys.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I think (hope) this is a function of trying to be competitive against teams that are still in it - doing their league-ly duty, as it were.

Let's wait and see games like Buffalo tomorrow to see how he manages those types of games... I imagine we'll see more minutes for the try-out squad and a little less reliance on the top guys.

Thats the oddest reason I've ever heard. The rest of the competitive teams league to call up the Leafs/oilers and say wtf?

I'm not suggesting scratch them, i'm saying play them less to decrease the mileage on their bodies from a lost season.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Itse

Probably just being fair/nice. It's not like it matters at this point. Ortio isn't desperate for games and Hiller just sucks on average. It'll be nicer for Bäckström to get some actual games in before retirement.

In fact, Ortio may want to play less than 7 games - I understand if he plays more than that he's an RFA, but less than that and he's a UFA.

Now, if the Flames don't care, then it doesn't matter, but if they at least want to control him and have the ability to move him for, say, a 6th rounder, they should get him his minimum games.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Pretty early to be saying Ortio will not be back next season. I think it's more likely he is back than isn't.

Nope. Very good chance he's done.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Nope. Very good chance he's done.

So he had 3 bad games at the beginning of the season when the entire team was garbage and has been solid every other outing he's had with the big club but we're over it?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by polak

So he had 3 bad games at the beginning of the season when the entire team was garbage and has been solid every other outing he's had with the big club but we're over it?

His adjusted save percentage and save percentage are woese than Hiller's. He was terrible on the AHL too this year, last year was mediocre. If we only eliminate the bad things he had a good ahl season two years ago and a few great performances mixed in the NHL. Why should we eliminate all the bad parts? He's 25 this April, so while there's some room for improvement, it's a pretty big gamble to suggest he's going to be an NHL goalie.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by polak

So he had 3 bad games at the beginning of the season when the entire team was garbage and has been solid every other outing he's had with the big club but we're over it?

First of all the head coach is not a fan. 2nd of all management has been extremely disappointed by the performance of the goaltenders and their top offseason focus is improving in this area and there is slim to no chance they bring back Ortio to be the backup (Ramo and Hiller will not be back) next season. After seeing an entire season derailed in the first two months of the season due largely to goaltending they are going to take absolutely no chances on a repeat situation so unless they can pry Bishop away from TB you should expect most likely Reimer and an experienced 1B/backup in a situation not much different from year one of Hiller/Ramo (before they were both terrible) where they will run with the hot goaltender if they need to.

Now if Ortio is lights out over the stretch drive that may change things but so far he's been good but not really good and I believe he needs to be really good for them to take a chance on him.

[Poe969]

I'd sign him to a minor league deal. The Flames shouldn't count on Ortio to be one of their 2 goalies. They should not look at bringing back Ramo or Hiller. None of the goalies they currently have are good enough to help this team. This team (and some fans) need to move on from the idea that all of our players are good. I don't think there is anyone who wants to keep this team fully intact but it seems that in every thread there is an advocate for a current player or player who played on the Flames this year. Some want Ramo back, some want Hudler back, some want Russell back and someone even wants Jones back. If anything, the team held on to those guys too long. The team needs to move on and grow. Ortio could be part of the solution long term but he really has to earn his way back, I'd be for letting him play in the minors and if he's good enough, he can get a call. If the Flames sign and/or trade for 1 or 2 good goalies, I'm fine with letting Ortio go.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

In fact, Ortio may want to play less than 7 games - I understand if he plays more than that he's an RFA, but less than that and he's a UFA.

Now, if the Flames don't care, then it doesn't matter, but if they at least want to control him and have the ability to move him for, say, a 6th rounder, they should get him his minimum games.

I would think at this point, Ortio wants to get in as many games as possible. He needs to show better than he has been, and with consistency. If not, I just can't really see a team signing him as a UFA.

His best chance to stay in the NHL is actually still with the Flames. If the Flames decide not to re-sign him, he becomes a UFA anyways. I can't think of another team off the top of my head that has an easier road for an aspiring young goalie to get a crack at being an NHL starter.

If Calgary doesn't offer him a contract - whether it is as an RFA or UFA, then I don't really see another team giving him a one-way at least and giving him NHL time next season. He isn't guaranteed that here - and a lot could happen during the off-season for the Flames to shore-up that area - but Calgary is by far his best chance at this point.

Edit: I would guess that the Flames will choose between one of Ramo or Ortio as a backup for next season, and try to acquire another goalie. Barring a crazy performance by Backstrom for the remainder of the season, I do think that at the very least, the backup role is between Ramo and Ortio, with a UFA/trade being the starter. I have no idea how Poulin figures into that (if at all - people are speculating that with a past injury before Calgary acquired him, his left-right mobility is compromised substantially). My guess is that if they get a younger goalie to start in net for them, perhaps Ramo gets retained. If it is an older guy, they retain Ortio. I have no idea to be honest how this plays out.

[polak]

Last year was mediocre? He was an AHL all star. Yes his stats this year are terrible. He had a terrible start being thrown to the wolves thanks to Trelivings 3 headed mistake which would destroy any tenders confidence. I'd call this year an aberration and in my eyes, he has completely erased that start (like Ramo) since being called up again.

Man, three or four bad games during a time when Patrick Roy couldn't save this team and we're ready to write off an AHL All Star tender who has been great in the NHL outside of that bad stretch.

I'm going bookmark this post for when he goes all Kiprusoff and makes the Flames look stupid. Also Hartley's opinion of players should matter very little to you as a fan trying to judge players given his line up choices.

[Gaudfather]

I think this three goalie setup is just a recipe for disaster again, even over the last 20 games of the season.

What are the chances that the Flames put Hiller on waivers, and then send him down to Stockton?

This then leaves Backstrom to perhaps act as a bit of a mentor to Ortio over the last 20 games, as well as picking up perhaps 2-3 games himself. I sense that being a fellow Finn, he may make a better tandem with Ortio than Hiller.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

It's beyond stupid to already be claiming that Ortio will not be back next year. He's been steady the last few games and will hopefully have 15~ more games to prove his worth before the end of the season.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by polak

Last year was mediocre? He was an AHL all star. Yes his stats this year are terrible. He had a terrible start being thrown to the wolves thanks to Trelivings 3 headed mistake so I'd call this year an aberration and in my eyes, he has completely erased that start (like Ramo) since being called up again.

The problem is that the coaching staff's jobs will be on the line next season and they will not be operating on hopes and prayers that this season was aberration for Ortio. The team is taking their lumps this season and they are realistic about where they are in the rebuild but improvement is expected.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by polak

I'm going bookmark this post for when he goes all Kiprusoff and makes the Flames look stupid. Also Hartley's opinion of players should matter very little to you as a fan trying to judge players given his line up choices.

You should. I'm very confident you won't need it. Very, very confident.

[Looch City]

We let in less than 4 goals. That's a win in my books!

[LanceUppercut]

If Ortio continues to play even remotely well, I'll predict that he will be the backup next year. Treliving is going to go out and find a #1 goalie.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The problem is that the coaching staff's jobs will be on the line next season and they will not be operating on hopes and prayers that this season was aberration for Ortio. The team is taking their lumps this season and they are realistic about where they are in the rebuild but improvement is expected.

So the coaching staff will think Hiller is a more reliable 1B choice (assuming we roll with Ramo)? Well you're probably right that Hartley would be so foolish but there is no way you're convincing me that Hiller or Backstrom deserve a spot over Ortio.

Ortio should be back, either as a 1A/B with Ramo or as a back up to a solid goalie (which we won't get as we don't have any pieces to move for one that is actually worth it).