Irving's Last Start as a Flame?

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by moon

Seems way too early to say that.

Does it though? Not really hard to read the "tea leaves"

[calgary2220]

Taylor racking up the air miles

[GreenLantern2814]

Irving is physically capable of handling the NHL. It's becoming exceedingly clear that he either isn't mentally ready or he doesn't have the mental toughness to get it done at this level.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Yoho

Does it though? Not really hard to read the "tea leaves"

One of these guys gets hurt and he is up right away, Kipper is out for year and he is likely up again, Kipper is out for a couple of weeks and Macdonald needs a break he should be up again, Macdonald craps the bed and he is up again, Taylor is close to going into a game and he is up again.

There are a lot of scenario's where I could see him being up with the Flames again because a combo of Taylor and Macdonald are not the answer and you would think with the way they have dealt with him the Flames don't want to see Taylor getting much (if any time in an NHL net).

[Vulcan]

This whole handling of our goalies is looking like a gong show. Irving not getting the ice time in the AHL during the lockout, is laughable. Sure he didn't impress but he was our de facto NHL backup, it should have been the priority to get him untracked and ready for the NHL instead of playing career minor leaguers. Now his confidence is shot so he can't show his abilities.

Another goalie situation which is weird is Ortio. He hangs around Abbotsford for half a season getting only a couple of starts. Instead of sending him down to the ECHL where he could get acclimatized to the NA ice, they ship him back to Finland. Now his situation in Finland isn't bad, he's won the starting goalie job on a bad team in a good league so he sees lots of shots and his stats are good but he could be doing the same thing in NA. He would have been available to open doors as our third goalie and saved a reserve spot. The whole situation is baffling.

As a Flames fan I can only hope that Taylor shows something, I don't have any faith in 33 year old career tweener, MacDonald.

[dissentowner]

Irving is a bust, just like Nemisz.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Cheese

Im not Swiss and I have yet to play for the Flames!

Key word: 'Yet.'

Be in the crowd tonight man. They're playing with 2 goalies that the rest of the entire league didnt want for free, they just might need you by the end of the night.

[Stay Golden]

Irving is an RFA in the off season. Just let him go another Sutter bust pick like Chucko.
I rving has been given serveral chances to prove himself.
Ramos will replace Irving as a roster spot.

[Iceman90]

Danny Taylor has to be a little rattled with going back and forth. At least the trip between Calgary and Abbotsford isn't too far.

[BBQorMILDEW]

Another Francis gem.


No-talent hack.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Iceman90

Danny Taylor has to be a little rattled with going back and forth. At least the trip between Calgary and Abbotsford isn't too far.

Ha! I doubt it. The amount of cash that guy made in his now two short stints will ease the pain.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by BBQorMILDEW

Another Francis gem.


No-talent hack.

Was he wrong on this one? Irving was sent down the day after; Taylor was recalled and MacDonald won his first start last night. After being shaky in the Dallas win, and letting in 2 goals on 4 shots against St. Louis, I doubt we'll see Leland back in Calgary again if there aren't further injuries. When Kipper comes back the team only needs one backup. I'm guessing Ramo will be here next year. I don't see how Irving plays another game for Calgary.

[Poe969]

I think he's done here and I wish him the best wherever he ends up. I think this is Kipper's last year as a Flame and if any kind of rebuild happens I think Ramo will become our new #1 with Ortio as the backup. I think the Flames have enough depth at goal to let him go, at least I hope they do....

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Irving is a bust, just like Nemisz.

Bust? Maybe. I thought Nemisz had potential as a 3rd line NHL player (not ideal for a 1st round pick for sure) but injuries and Ward have kind of derailed his career. Irving will likely get a shot with another team and if he has a good camp next season could either latch on as a backup or starter on another teams's farm team. Both players illustrate the ultraconservative approach of drafting under Darryl Sutter that never paid off in elite skilled players.

As far as this season's situation IMO this almost the perfect scenario as we all knew there would come a day when the goaltending situation would have to be addressed and now the team will find out what they have in the organization in this shortened season which IMO is better than suffering through 82 games of bad goaltending. The team likely knows they have to convince Kipper to play out the last year of his contract and split time with Ramo to see if he's worthy of carrying the load past 2015.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Irving is an RFA in the off season. Just let him go another Sutter bust pick like Chucko.
I rving has been given serveral chances to prove himself.
Ramos will replace Irving as a roster spot.

Not that it makes a difference, but Irving will he UFA after this season.

[Montag]

I don't want to attack the kid but he's not good enough to be an NHL goalie at this point. Maybe never will be.

I don't understand how some posters can give him a pass on games like the Vancouver one on the 9th. Sure, the defense played crappy in front of him but I think it's ridiculous to say that there's no blame on him for that loss. If you let in 5 goals that's on you.

Every job evaluates you on your personal performance. If your team lets you down, that sucks but you're still accountable.

[davidbjordan]

i think irving suffers from too-small-itis, as quick as he is, just doesn't seem to cover enough net.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Bust? Maybe. I thought Nemisz had potential as a 3rd line NHL player (not ideal for a 1st round pick for sure) but injuries and Ward have kind of derailed his career. Irving will likely get a shot with another team and if he has a good camp next season could either latch on as a backup or starter on another teams's farm team. Both players illustrate the ultraconservative approach of drafting under Darryl Sutter that never paid off in elite skilled players.

As far as this season's situation IMO this almost the perfect scenario as we all knew there would come a day when the goaltending situation would have to be addressed and now the team will find out what they have in the organization in this shortened season which IMO is better than suffering through 82 games of bad goaltending. The team likely knows they have to convince Kipper to play out the last year of his contract and split time with Ramo to see if he's worthy of carrying the load past 2015.

I'd say they're both very close to full on busts. Because Irving is a goalie there is at least a chance he still becomes an NHL starter, but it won't likely be for the Flames. Personally, I doubt he even holds an NHL back up job somewhere for more than a season or two.

Nemisz never had a high ceiling and with his injuries he's becoming a long a long shot to even have a 3rd/4th line role in the NHL. For a first rounder, even if he makes it as a 4th liner that's a bust in my book.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Montag

I don't want to attack the kid but he's not good enough to be an NHL goalie at this point. Maybe never will be.

I don't understand how some posters can give him a pass on games like the Vancouver one on the 9th. Sure, the defense played crappy in front of him but I think it's ridiculous to say that there's no blame on him for that loss. If you let in 5 goals that's on you.

Every job evaluates you on your personal performance. If your team lets you down, that sucks but you're still accountable.

That Vancouver game had absolutely nothing to do with Irving. He kept the score respectable.

[kyuss275]

If Taylor craps the bed tonight it's not hard to imagine Irving getting called back to the flames.
At the same time if Taylor plays great tonight, Irving might never play a game for the flames again. Depending on injuries of course.