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

[AcGold]

The .003 career average difference isn't worth it when it could destroy the team chemisty. Don't see Treliving risking throwing a wrench in the cogs when Ramo is showing improvement. Heck, I even saw him hugging the post like a real NHL goalie, something he seemed allergic to before.

No I'd stick with Ramo for now, the team plays for him at least. He has created some team chemisty some how.

[Jay Random]

It isn't about the .003 career average difference. It's about the fact that Hiller may never approach his career average again. Frankly, this season he's looked like he's washed up.

As for ‘team chemisty’, go ahead and destroy it, whatever it is. Chemistry has an R in it, and won't be affected by bringing in a backup goalie who can play instead of one who can't.

[Point Blank]

I feel like people who are against it are all repeating each other. So here's a summary list of counter arguments to the most common reasoning behind not claiming Khudobin.

1. "It takes up a roster spot"- We have adequate roster space on the team and Khudobin's contract expires at the end of the season. So unless we are planning to bring in 3 more new players plus Khudobin, then it's not really a big deal. It doesn't really matter that we have so many pending UFA goalies, as long as we have 2 goalies on our team who can play. And as of right now, we have one goalie who is a decent backup, and another one who is horrible.

2. "3 headed goalie monster"- Waive Hiller. Done. If Khudobin plays like crap then waive him and bring Hiller up.

3. "Disrupts team chemistry"- We haven't been winning because of goaltending, we've been winning in spite of it. Changing a backup goaltender will probably not affect how many goals Gaudreau can score. I'm willing to bet that we'd be winning by a much larger margin if we had better goaltending. And you can't really use this argument while in the same breath bring up the roster spot issue (not that all of you are). If you are worried about chemistry, bringing in 3 new players will probably have a bigger effect on team chemistry. And no it will definitely not demoralize players. It's part of hockey, underperforming players with large salaries get waived all the time.

4. "It's not the answer to our goalie situation"- Of course it's not. But do you have a better solution at this very moment? Are you willing to give up a really good asset for a proven goalie? And who's actually willing to trade us one? It's a chance to slightly improve the worst part of our team. We know this is a bandaid solution but nonetheless it's a chance to improve our team. Why can't we do this while we work on a long term solution? Does picking up Khudobin mean that we're automatically not looking for a proven goalie anymore? If we do acquire a proven goalie, then we can waive Khudobin, so what's the big deal?

Additionally, if we are to acquire any proven goalies, it'll most likely happen in the offseason. And by that time all three of our goalies are UFA anyways.

5. "Khudobin is a bad goalie"- Probably still better than Hiller. Head-to-head numbers both current and historically suggest Khudobin is better.

6. "Oilers did this"- No, Oilers traded for Scrivens, Fasth, and Talbot. Oilers traded Smid to sign Bryzgalov. This is a free waiver wire pickup.

The only reason I would see the Flames not picking him up is if we have extensive scouting on the Ducks this season and they really believe that he's not an upgrade on Hiller. I'd concede to the scouts on that, but if it's not that clear then it's literally a no risk move based on the six points above. I'm not trying to be demeaning, I just genuinely don't see a downside to picking him up, so if you're against picking him up and feel like I'm missing something here please let me know.

[btimbit]

Destroy team chemistry?

This isn't NHL 16

[Caged Great]

The guy that I would like to target the most is Kristers Gudlevskis from Tampa.

The Bolts have both Bishop and Vasilevski, so they are covered between the pipes for a long time. Gudlevskis has played really well in the AHL and in his brief stints in Tampa.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

The guy that I would like to target the most is Kristers Gudlevskis from Tampa.

The Bolts have both Bishop and Vasilevski, so they are covered between the pipes for a long time. Gudlevskis has played really well in the AHL and in his brief stints in Tampa.

His save percentages in AHL last 2 years .901, .900, and this year 0.922.

Not sure where you're seeing good numbers.

Both Bishop and Vasilevski are free agents after next season. Both will want to get paid. So no Tampa will not be keeping them both.

Good chance Bishop gets moved this off-season and they start playing Vasilevski 65+ games starting next year and you diamond in the rough becomes his backup.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

His save percentages in AHL last 2 years .901, .900, and this year 0.922.

Not sure where you're seeing good numbers.

Both Bishop and Vasilevski are free agents after next season. Both will want to get paid. So no Tampa will not be keeping them both.

Good chance Bishop gets moved this off-season and they start playing Vasilevski 65+ games starting next year and you diamond in the rough becomes his backup.

His numbers are alright pretty good this year, and he performed well at the NHL level. Last year he was the starter for the 2nd best team in their division and was the best goalie on the team his first year in the AHL. Sv% are typically lower in the AHL and that mainly has to do with a large amount of terrible defensemen more than anything. Internationally, he has been dynamite for Latvia. He's a big goalie that is positionally sound and athletic. He's only 23 and hasn't had an opportunity because of being blocked.

Tampa's goalies may be free agents (Bishop UFA, Vas RFA) after next season, but Gudlevskis is also waiver eligible next year and would have to be exposed to be sent down. Unless they trade Bishop at the draft, which wouldn't make a lot of sense considering his success and that he's only 28 and wouldn't need much of a raise from his current salary to retain him.

The Flames would likely have to send a decent asset to the Bolts to acquire him, but they are still in win now mode despite their early struggles and are only a point out of a playoff spot.

There are not a lot of teams with multiple good young goalies. Tampa is one of those teams. Gudlevskis is the least good of the three at this point, but is a good goalie in his own right and is going to need a shot at the NHL level. I would easily take him over Ortio.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

Really? We're on a win streak, Ramo will be back in as number one and were only 2 points out of a playoff spot. so you really can't see a larger downside of what's being proposed?

Surely you can see they're winning in spite of the goaltending, not because of it?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

His numbers are alright pretty good this year, and he performed well at the NHL level. Last year he was the starter for the 2nd best team in their division and was the best goalie on the team his first year in the AHL. Sv% are typically lower in the AHL and that mainly has to do with a large amount of terrible defensemen more than anything. Internationally, he has been dynamite for Latvia. He's a big goalie that is positionally sound and athletic. He's only 23 and hasn't had an opportunity because of being blocked.

Tampa's goalies may be free agents (Bishop UFA, Vas RFA) after next season, but Gudlevskis is also waiver eligible next year and would have to be exposed to be sent down. Unless they trade Bishop at the draft, which wouldn't make a lot of sense considering his success and that he's only 28 and wouldn't need much of a raise from his current salary to retain him.

The Flames would likely have to send a decent asset to the Bolts to acquire him, but they are still in win now mode despite their early struggles and are only a point out of a playoff spot.

There are not a lot of teams with multiple good young goalies. Tampa is one of those teams. Gudlevskis is the least good of the three at this point, but is a good goalie in his own right and is going to need a shot at the NHL level. I would easily take him over Ortio.

Great post. I also have been very intrigued by Gudlevskis, but his numbers in the AHL scared me off. I still think he has potential at the NHL level, probably a little more than Ortio at this point, but not by a large margin or anything.

Personally, I see Tampa trading Bishop away before trading a young goalie with promise. Bishop is 29, and while he's a solid goalie, he's probably not their long term answer in net. Plus, looking at their cap hell, trading Bishop makes sense if they don't see themselves competing for the cup this year. Going by their record so far, they likely aren't. Bishop makes 5.95 mill this and next year, and it would allow them to retain Stamkos long term by freeing up Bishop's cap hit and putting Vasilevsky and Gudlevskis in net next year.

Gillies is probably our long term solution in net, but for now, if Tampa was willing to trade Bishop for not too steep a price, I'd be pretty happy with him in net for the rest of this year and next year while Gillies continues to develop.

[Erick Estrada]

I've been wrong before but I don't see the team taking a flyer on this guy. Seems like a sideways move.

[kyuss275]

I would pick up Khudobin. That said i don't think they will. I think the X-mas freeze will play apart of it. I don't see them sending Hiller down during the freeze.

[Vinny01]

Duhatchek didn't think the Flames were going to pick him up. The cap hit $2.25M for a player that is not a clear upgrade was the main reasoning

[CroFlames]

The simple fact of the matter is that in most people's opinion, Ramo and hiller are worst in the league. Therefore anyone is an upgrade.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Duhatchek didn't think the Flames were going to pick him up. The cap hit $2.25M for a player that is not a clear upgrade was the main reasoning

If we waive Hiller, we can make the space for him. Besides, all three goalies are UFA at the end of the season.

[Mike F]

I know the purpose of this board is hockey discussion, but how many people here have watched enough of this guy lately to have an informed opinion as to whether he's been playing at a level higher than Hiller this year?

I certainly haven't. The only game action where I really paid attention to him was in the Ducks game vs. Calgary, and there he looked like he'd only be an answer to Calgary's problems if he was playing in net for the opposition.

[EuKnoLikeMonny]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Destroy team chemistry?

This isn't NHL 16

This made me laugh. Playing my NHL 16 dynasty and I traded Josh Jooris for a draft pick, then got the alert.

"Ladislav Smid's morale is down because you traded Josh Jooris"

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

The simple fact of the matter is that in most people's opinion, Ramo and hiller are worst in the league. Therefore anyone is an upgrade.

"Most people"? Here is where the fact of the matter might actually not be even tangentially meaningful. The only opinions that matter in this situation are those of NHL executives, and with how guarded they tend to be with their thoughts, it ends up being anyone's guess about how Khudobin, Hiller, and Ramo compare to one another, and to the rest of their NHL peers.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

"Most people"? Here is where the fact of the matter might actually not be even tangentially meaningful. The only opinions that matter in this situation are those of NHL executives, and with how guarded they tend to be with their thoughts, it ends up being anyone's guess about how Khudobin, Hiller, and Ramo compare to one another, and to the rest of their NHL peers.

If Duha is right, this might be a good opportunity for BT to make a confidence boosting statement after the waiver period on how Flames believe in their goalies. Especially if he sees no trade opps for a legit number one on the horizon. i.e. 'we passed because our guys are better.'

It seems like the 2015/6 NHL is full of iffy numbers ones (inconsistent or past prime) and only a few real bonafide clear cut numbers ones (maybe 10?). Has it always been this shallow? Feels to me like this is a new thing.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

If we waive Hiller, we can make the space for him. Besides, all three goalies are UFA at the end of the season.

It does give Brad less flexibility in other trades this year however. Not sure picking up this crappy goalie is worth giving up that flexibility

[saillias]

Originally Posted by EuKnoLikeMonny

This made me laugh. Playing my NHL 16 dynasty and I traded Josh Jooris for a draft pick, then got the alert.

"Ladislav Smid's morale is down because you traded Josh Jooris"

Some aspects of the real world should never be translated to video games.

Coming in NHL 17, players request a trade after their wives had a spat over who hosts dinner