[Signing] Flames re-sign Joey MacDonald (1yr, $925k AAV)

[StrykerSteve]

7W, 2.91GAA, .900S%, leads the team in many key categories.

Best "backup" this organization has had in many, many years.

[davidbjordan]

MacDonald is a guy i cheer for, not because he is a strong positional goaltender but because he gives 100% effort on all plays.

What is the amount in the new CBA for burying contracts (if he was sent down next year)?

with kipper retiring i suspect that contract comes off the books and 5+ mil in cap with it?

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

There a lot of goalies on the market in the summer of the same calibre. I think they should have waited until camp to see what Berra and Ramo would bring before signing a back-up/3rd string goalie.

There will probably still be some UFA goalies by mid-September, and there are bound to be a few on waivers before the start of the season. I get that MacDonald is a good team guy, but we can do better.

who?

[albertGQ]

If the mandate is to make the playoffs next year, I want Kipper back and Joey can be his backup

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

who?

There are 8 goalies set to be UFA's with better numbers than MacDonald (with more than 10 games played).

That being said, it's still a signing that you can't really knock. The term and money are both solid.

[puckedoff]

This move shouldn't surprise anyone, especially with Kiprusoff expected to retire. Its a good idea to have a guy with NHL experience to help Berra/Ramo transition, if the new guys both play well than JMac becomes expendable.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

who?

Chris Mason
Mathieu Garon
Jason Labarbera
Brian Boucher
Michael Leighton
Anton Khudobin
Dan Ellis
Yan Danis
Curtis McElhinney
Jeff DesLaureiers
Al Montoya
Thomas Greiss
Dany Sabourin


MacDonald has less than 100 games and is 33 years old? There are numerous goalies like him that could be easily signed or claimed off waivers as team have to cut their rosters heading into the season or traded for. Not having MacDonald at camp doesn't mean that Berra and Ramo are being handed a spot on the roster.

Heck, I would consider signing someone like Theodore to a contract to bring in some camp competition.

[sureLoss]

UFA goalies for next season:

[JiriHrdina]

How long have the flames nit had a decent backup? Finding one isn't always easy

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by PeterJMoss

Ramo and Berra should have to earn their spot. This forces them to do so. If both are ready and better than McDonald then you can easily send McDonald down if no one takes him on waivers. Just handing guys a job who have no NHL experience and could be the next Karlsson doesn't male sense.

All due respect to MacDonald, but he is 33 and has less than a 100 NHL games and has been a 3rd stringer most of his career. He isn't going to provide a lot of competition.

If we want competition for Ramo and Berra, then they need to trade for someone better.

[tvp2003]

I'm curious if this is a pre-emptive move in case Kipper retires, or if Kipper has already advised management that he's done (despite what he's been telling the press). The timing is interesting (the morning after Kipper's last home game -- and likely last game overall -- this season) -- makes it seems like management already knows he's done and delayed the announcement of re-signing Mac until after Kipper's last game.

[Ring of Fire]

I'm happy with a one year deal. It keeps McDonald motivated to prove himself and drives competition going forward. I'm glad Feaster didn't extend him two years as a lot of those signings look painful or will be next year when they could easily be replaced by more driven youth (Babchuk, Karlsson, Sarich, Smith, Jackman). One year deals are the way to go with older fringe roster players to keep them playing motivated for their future.

[jammies]

Guy plays well when put in a difficult situation and gets rewarded with an extension. That's the kind of organization players like to play for. Why go out of your way to look for another backup to sign, for around the same money or more, for some hypothetical improvement that probably will not happen?

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by jammies

Guy plays well when put in a difficult situation and gets rewarded with an extension. That's the kind of organization players like to play for. Why go out of your way to look for another backup to sign, for around the same money or more, for some hypothetical improvement that probably will not happen?

Posts like this make it worth it to sign into the CP the site on my mobile just to thank. Wish I didn't have to with Tapatalk...

On topic, even with MacDonald's less than extensive record, he's shown so far this season that he's capable of holding out for stretches and at the very least, not being the reason why the team loses. Right now he's the closest thing we have to a known quantity with Ramo and Berra's NHL abilities still needing to be put into question.

[MissTeeks]

@DarrenHaynes_CP: MacDonald re-signing is as much about his easy going, positive off-ice nature than on-ice abilities. Is a necessary ingredient in a rebuild.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

@DarrenHaynes_CP: MacDonald re-signing is as much about his easy going, positive off-ice nature than on-ice abilities. Is a necessary ingredient in a rebuild.

This, I can see. Not the mumbo-jumbo about it only being hypothetical that we could improve on him capability-wise. It's more than just hypothetical, it would be quite possible. It's not like he's the Cory Cross of goaltenders.

If he's a good team guy, then great. I hope that being a good "team guy" isn't a substitute for giving the job to most capable goalie (which at this point may be Berra/Ramo, or a goalie to be named later).

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

UFA goalies for next season:

I'm sure Feaster wants to give his acquisitions a shot with the team, and with the MacDonald signing we are carrying a number of goalies, still would've loved to try and sign Emery or Khudobin after the solid seasons they're having.

[$ven27]

Meh, doesn't really matter. Nice signing for a local boy.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

this move confirms Kipper is hanging them up.

No it doesn't.

I am always amazed at how linear most people's thinking is. Planning involves preparing for contingencies.

If Kipper comes back - great!

If Kipper doesn't come back, then let Ramo, Berra and MacDonald fight it out.

It would be fortunate (but unlikely) that both Ramo and Berra show themselves to be better than MacDonald. However, if they do, then great! Send MacDonald to the Heat to mentor Brossoit (and if he I claimed on waivers, then good on him).

If one of them shows well, then run with that player and MacDonald, sending the other one to the Heat.

If neither of them show well, then thank God we have MacDonald signed.

Finally, you can also factor Brossoit in the same way as Ramo and Berra. If he is the best goalie in camp and he looks NHL-ready, then great! Unlikely though. So if not, he would be one of the two going to Abby.

Back to Kipper -if he comes back, you simply let the other four fight for the 3 remaining jobs. If all 4 look fantastic, you can probably move MacDonald, or maybe you can send Brossoit to the E. If one of the other 3 struggles, you are glad to have MacDonald.

Bottom line: it is simply IMPOSSIBLE to be certain at this point what next year's goaltending situation will be.

[$ven27]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

UFA goalies for next season:

Not sure how accurate these numbers are.. Nabokov 22-5? Backstrom 22-3?