Give Irving the next few starts

[Corral]

I just hope the team manages Kiprusoff for the rest of the year with the intention of showcasing him at the trade deadline as the #1 pickup for whichever team is contending and needs a money goalie. In other words, don't burn him out trying to keep this collection of pluggers close to the race. And before he goes, give the fans a proper opportunity to thank him for what he did for us when he arrived from SJ. His acquisition, and that alone, brought playoff hockey back to this town. He deserves a loud and long standing ovation.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Corral

I just hope the team manages Kiprusoff for the rest of the year with the intention of showcasing him at the trade deadline as the #1 pickup for whichever team is contending and needs a money goalie. In other words, don't burn him out trying to keep this collection of pluggers close to the race. And before he goes, give the fans a proper opportunity to thank him for what he did for us when he arrived from SJ. His acquisition, and that alone, brought playoff hockey back to this town. He deserves a loud and long standing ovation.

Little overboard on the bunch of pluggers comment but agree with the rest.

[nik-]

The time to trade a goalie is early in the season. Teams at the deadline typically have their goalie if they're prepping to go deep in the playoffs.

[vektor]

nobody's taking him right now

[Corral]

Originally Posted by vektor

nobody's taking him right now

With his contract - he would be snapped up in a second. He is easily our best chance at getting another team to overpay in a trade.

[vektor]

Originally Posted by Corral

With his contract - he would be snapped up in a second. He is easily our best chance at getting another team to overpay in a trade.

no way, Iginla or Glencross could net us the biggest overpayments. At this exact moment in time nobody is going to want kiprusoff.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by The Big Thirsty

the days of him being a top 10 goalie are over.

Honestly, what the hell are we expecting out of him? Any more time we get of classic Kiprusoff is just a bonus.

He's an athletic goalie who's over 37. The first thing that goes is reflexes and we've seen that the past few years. Kiprusoff's ability to make up for his sometimes questionable angles played and misreads with highlight reel saves has slowly vanished. We can see this in many of his "soft" goals, where impossible angle shots go in or he acts slightly too late to make an amazing stop (see: tonight's five hole goal. A little faster and he'd have gotten it. 5 years removed from his prime, that's not happening though).

It's a miracle if he only starts breaking down now (and that's an if. I keep telling myself this is the year he'll finally fade away, but he keeps proving me wrong). He's on the back end of a front loaded contract, so he should be overpaid. If he isn't still, then the team had a great contract play out for them.

So, what should the Flames do? Play who's best. Kiprusoff is a workhorse mentally through and through (60-70 in an 82 game season seems to be his new limit though). He'll play an intense schedule as needed. The question is if his technique and reaction combination are still up for the task. Statistically, I think we'll see him be a usable starter this year (10-20th dependant on what exactly he rebounds to), a low ranking starter next year (20-30), then a fade into backup quality until he retires. That is, if he hasn't by then. It's a little steep a decline, I understand, but I suspect we'll see more and more of this weird allowed goals type of play to begin to ramp up as he can't magically track and catch the puck where no other man could.

[killer_carlson]

Some of the comments in here are absurd.

Kipper has not been very good to start the season. He will get better. We can give irving the next start and roll kipper back in. That is why we have a back up.

Ill stick with kipper as long as he remains a flame and i have no intention of trading him at all.

[Tsawwassen]

Kipper needs some rest. Please start Irving.

[bubbsy]

how can rest be an issue though, weren't they off for 4 days??

that's 2 games that avg goaltending gets you 2 points, but the flames didn't get that so got two L's instead.

It's just a matter of another half dozen to dozen games, and the flames will be on a clear path to the basement or battling for 8th.. We need kipper to be kipper really quick, or the season's going to be out of reach in no time .

[Husky]

Originally Posted by Tsawwassen

Kipper needs some rest. Please start Irving.

I thought he just had 4 days off....????.....

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by The Big Thirsty

So because someone makes a statistically accurate comment that you call "ridiculous" and get called on, they must be some banned poster?

Statistically accurate in one tiny sliver in time, totally moronic in the frame of any significant context. By your definition Jarome Iginla is the 284th best scorer in the league and Sven Baertschi is the worst prospect in the NHL with his 0 points. Clearly, we should place both of them on the waiver wire. Shae Webber has 0 points. Garbage. Patrick Marleau leads the lead in goals. Best player in the universe.

If 25 games in, Kipper is still last, you can come in and have your little melodrama session. Until then, have some perspective.

[Stanley]

As scary as it would be to start Irving vs Chicago, it's not like Kipper has been lights out vs the Hawks by any means...heck I would play Irving vs Detroit too.

I don't know, it's mostly just my frustration talking, Kipper should be able to get his game back but damn, get your head out of your azz Miika and shut it down! And that goes for the D too...

Butler should never play another game for the Flames, it's not all his fault or anything but still, when he's in the lineup we lose...

[Saqe]

Although I´m a big Kipper fan, I agree he hasn´t been on top of his game. To be fair, Cammy and Iginla have been even more mediocre, it just doesn´t show on the board that much. This team can´t win with average goaltending, they need good/great to have a chance.

I´m all for starting Irving against Chicago and seeing how the backup fairs again. The defense was full of holes against a sub-par team like the Av´s, so I would expect the same trend to continue against the Hawks. Backup better have a great day for this team to have a chance to win.

[you got PHANUEFED]

Kipper lost the game on his own he was just brutal and there maybe a few other guys that stunk it up to but in the end they played well enough to sneek away 2 points. Irving should get a few starts and lets see what this kid has.

[indes]

Meritocracy anyone? It's become apparent this season that it doesn't exist, by all means Irving should be given at least a chance.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Table 5

It's not debatable because it's a ridiculous statement.

Except it's really not so ridiculous, it's actually more true then untrue... amoung the 60 goalies that have played in the NHL this year Kipper is 53rd in save percentage. Personally I think Hartley ought to sit him for at least a few games to see if that snaps him back into the game.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Teroy

Kipper has been weak but he's not the reason we're losing. That blames has to be laid at the feet of the players making the big bucks and not producing.

That would be Kipper... he get's paid big bucks.

Iggy is getting his shots/chances eventually they'll start to go in, Cammellari on the other hand... yeah that guy needs to get his head on right. But he's just one forward and for the most part the top 9 forwards are doing their job, JBo looks worlds better then he did under the Sutter Regime and the top 4 have been doing their job. The only area of primary importance that isn't doing it's job is Starting Goalie.

[vilzeh]

Thank god it's a 48 game season, couldn't handle 82 games of this crap. Irving ain't gonna help this team in any way.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Except it's really not so ridiculous, it's actually more true then untrue... amoung the 60 goalies that have played in the NHL this year Kipper is 53rd in save percentage. Personally I think Hartley ought to sit him for at least a few games to see if that snaps him back into the game.

Actually you are making yourself look ignorant but keep it up if you like.

There is no statistical value comparing save% or other stat in a sample size of 5. You might as well compare stats over one game if you go down that road.