[News] UPD: Wild Claim Stoll. Khudobin clears waivers.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by jammies

Grabbing other teams' backups in the hopes of stopping up a hole is so Oilers.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Yeah and they ended up with what looks like a legit #1 now in Nilsson. You got to keeping mining the field until you hit paydirt, again it's all about finding the best fit.

We know Hiller/Ramo are not the answers. Let's try to find one. Why is this such a point of contention?

Remember when Berra looked all world for a sample size earlier this season? Calling Nillson a legit number one is extremely premature

[Major Major]

I'll add a dissenting opinion. I think that letting Hiller/Ramo figure this thing out is our only play. What do we have to lose has been the question asked by most. I simply think that Hiller is a better goalie than Khubodin. Marginally, yes, but he's shown that a tandem with Ramo has worked. Let them both feed off of the positivity that is surrounding this team right now and see if they can get back on track. I'm all for upgrading, and think goaltending is a major area of need, but making a move just to make a move while on a 5 game win streak could throw the team off of the track they're on.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Remember when Berra looked all world for a sample size? Calling Nillson a legit number one is extremely premature

Disagree. He's putting up great numbers behind that excuse of a D corps. Maybe he's lucking out this season, maybe he is not. But lets not pretend he's worse than what we have. I like Nilsson. I like him far more than what we have on the Flames.

This shouldn't even be a debate aside from the old regional sports team loyalties.

[Point Blank]

Originally Posted by jammies

Grabbing other teams' backups in the hopes of stopping up a hole is so Oilers.

Except this won't cost us anything

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Major Major

I'll add a dissenting opinion. I think that letting Hiller/Ramo figure this thing out is our only play. What do we have to lose has been the question asked by most. I simply think that Hiller is a better goalie than Khubodin. Marginally, yes, but he's shown that a tandem with Ramo has worked. Let them both feed off of the positivity that is surrounding this team right now and see if they can get back on track. I'm all for upgrading, and think goaltending is a major area of need, but making a move just to make a move while on a 5 game win streak could throw the team off of the track they're on.

I don't think Flames have the time for Hiller to find his game. Giving Ramo 90% of starts for rest of the season imo will not end well. Flames have just got themselves back in the race. A 4-5 game losing streak beacuse of crap goaltending and i think they are done.

Also flames have won games despite crap goaltending recently. I can't see how grabbing a better back-up would throw team off track.

[Point Blank]

Originally Posted by Major Major

I'll add a dissenting opinion. I think that letting Hiller/Ramo figure this thing out is our only play. What do we have to lose has been the question asked by most. I simply think that Hiller is a better goalie than Khubodin. Marginally, yes, but he's shown that a tandem with Ramo has worked. Let them both feed off of the positivity that is surrounding this team right now and see if they can get back on track. I'm all for upgrading, and think goaltending is a major area of need, but making a move just to make a move while on a 5 game win streak could throw the team off of the track they're on.

We certainly didn't win because of goaltending in the last two games. I don't think changing a backup goaltender who almost costed us the last two games will disrupt chemistry

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Disagree. He's putting up great numbers behind that excuse of a D corps. Maybe he's lucking out this season, maybe he is not. But lets not pretend he's worse than what we have. I like Nilsson. I like him far more than what we have on the Flames.

This shouldn't even be a debate aside from the old regional sports team loyalties.

Doesn't mean he is a legit number 1. Being better than the crap we have here is not a high bar. Like I said there was a stretch where Berra looked unreal to start the season (playing in front of a crappy D Corp) and he has fallen back down to earth.

Nilsson looks good now but has more to prove before we can call him a legit number 1 worthy of a number 1 contract/cap hit.

The Oilers did spend quality assets acquiring another backup in Talbot who is nothing more than a backup

[Buff]

Call up Murray and talk about trading for Khudobin if he goes unclaimed. Keep the talks up and eventually get the deal changed to be Freddie Anderson. "I won't put in a claim if you trade me Anderson a day or two later."

...now that I think of it. Treliving is probably two steps ahead of me and either Anaheim is asking too much for any goalie or Treliving is already barking up another tree.

[sureLoss]

Another question to ask: Is claiming a player off waivers a violation of Brian Burke's extended holiday roster freeze? Seems to break the spirit of why Burke instituted it.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Doesn't mean he is a legit number 1. Being better than the crap we have here is not a high bar. Like I said there was a stretch where Berra looked unreal to start the season (playing in front of a crappy D Corp) and he has fallen back down to earth.

Nilsson looks good now but has more to prove before we can call him a legit number 1 worthy of a number 1 contract/cap hit.

The Oilers did spend quality assets acquiring another backup in Talbot who is nothing more than a backup

Again, disagree completely. Nilsson is 25, just entering what would be a goalies prime years, putting up great numbers on the Oilers. The OILERS! And consistently.

Honestly don't care what the bar is set at, he's a more legit #1 than a lot of what is floating around out in the rest of the league too.

And since we're talking about how bad the Flames goaltending is and Edmonton is being beaten there right now, it just further cements the fact the Flames need to start making decisions there right now.

At the end of the day, Nilsson vs. Ramo/Hillier could be the deciding point as to which team makes the playoffs. Why on earth would anyone want to hedge their bets right now on what we have.

Take the shots, see if Khudobin can stick. if not, keep looking, it's not going to get any worse in the Flames net.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Another question to ask: Is claiming a player off waivers a violation of Brian Burke's extended holiday roster freeze? Seems to break the spirit of why Burke instituted it.

That's what i asked in another post. My question was more not about claiming a player, but sending a vet like Hiller down to Stockton durring trade freeze.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The exception to the rule?

Also, IIRC, Sutter had just left that organization and would have had a good understanding of the player.

[Bourque's Twin]

I'm in the "no" camp for Khudobin. I think it will create a different 3-headed monster at a time when the team is finally winning games.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Another question to ask: Is claiming a player off waivers a violation of Brian Burke's extended holiday roster freeze? Seems to break the spirit of why Burke instituted it.

Is that Brian's call anymore?

If Brad approached his boss and said this move will make our team better, would Brian actually say no? Yeah, it sucks to be cut or traded at Christmas time, but I have a hard time feeling bad for these guys.

I'd feel a lot worse if one of you CP guys lost your job around Christmas since you likely don't have $10 million in your bank account to fall back on until you get back on track.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

That's what i asked in another post. My question was more not about claiming a player, but sending a vet like Hiller down to Stockton durring trade freeze.

I imagine they can waive Hiller and assign him to Stockton but let him hang around in Calgary until the new year.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Is that Brian's call anymore?

If Brad approached his boss and said this move will make our team better, would Brian actually say no? Yeah, it sucks to be cut or traded at Christmas time, but I have a hard time feeling bad for these guys.

I'd feel a lot worse if one of you CP guys lost your job around Christmas since you likely don't have $10 million in your bank account to fall back on until you get back on track.

Seeing as Treliving instituted an extended Holiday roster freeze last season. I would say, yes Brian still has a say.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

The exception to the rule?

Also, IIRC, Sutter had just left that organization and would have had a good understanding of the player.

OK, how about Hasek? Or to a lesser, more recent, extent Bishop, Neuvirth, Greiss?

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I imagine they can waive Hiller and assign him to Stockton but let him hang around in Calgary until the new year.

Could be wrong but i thought the rule was the player has to report to Stockton?

Also doesn't Hiller's daughter have a rare blood disease, or something like that? if so then i'm all for Hiller staying with the flames until the freeze is over. Being close to family and not having to worry about being traded or sent down durring holliday season is the whole reason for trade freeze.

Maybe its just because i have a 2 year old daughter. If my work told me a week before x-mas i was being sent out, i would probably quit. Family comes first in my houdehold.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by Point Blank

Except this won't cost us anything

Yes, it will cost us a roster spot. It will cost us uncertainty in a goalie situation just like we had earlier in the year. It will cost us flexibility in bringing in a proven goalie should one become available in a trade.

As far as Nilsson goes, he hasn't proven anything yet. Scrivens looked good for a few games last year (remember "Scrivezina"?) and where is he now? For every backup goalie that blossoms on another team, there's a dozen that stay at the same level, and another couple dozen that end up as career AHL/tweeners or go to Europe.

Many people confuse the possible with the probable. Those people make bad decisions because of it. I hope the Flames set a slightly higher bar than the jokesters in Edmonton when it comes to evaluating the chances of a hockey more being a likely improvement versus random flailing about in the hopes of getting lucky.