The ongoing "how would you fix the goaltending" thread - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Cali Panthers Fan · 02-16-2016, 06:37 AM

Hey all, seeing as this seems to be a common topic in just about every thread lately, I figured it would be better to keep the discussion to one thread. Submit any and all ideas you have to address the goaltending for the Flames. I'll start:

-Trade Hiller for anything at all.
-Re-sign Ramo for 2 years as a stop gap NHL option.
-Let Ortio walk.
-Re-sign Poulin as insurance for 1-2 years.
-Continue to develop Gillies for 2-3 years.
-Develop McDonald in the ECHL for next year and then see where he's at.

-Sign Al Montoya on a 2-3 year deal as the 1A goalie with Ramo as the 1B.

Montoya has been really, really good this year, and when he's played, he's had to make a lot of high quality saves, so it's not just hiding behind a good defense. He's been just as good if not better than Luongo this year, and that's saying something. He's experienced, but not so old that his game should drop off any time soon. He'll have a clunker of a game every once in a while (roughly about every 10th game or so), but I can live with that compared to what we've had over the last couple of years. He's currently playing for just for $1 M and is set to become a UFA this summer. I think he could be lured away from south Florida if the price is right.

I just don't like many of the other options out there. Short of finding a top notch young goalie that's just about to break into the NHL and become dominant (won't happen) going for someone like Montoya is probably better than getting someone like Cam Ward or Jimmy Howard.

Dr. Doom · 02-16-2016, 06:57 AM

I've been wondering how Treliving sleeps at night with this goalie thing forever an issue... ? I would have nightmares of Hiller.

Makes me wonder about Treliving's capabilities tbh.

Guys like Hutchinson and Kuemper should be available now. We need like 3 or 4 goalies to make this situation better... why is it taking so long to make even a single move?

Poe969 · 02-16-2016, 07:02 AM

I would not re-sign Ramo. He's shown what he's capable of...being average at best with long stretches of bad play. I'd look at this year's options of UFA's and target someone like Ward or go with someone younger like Anderson Raanta. If the team is going to just go for a middling goalie like Ramo, I'd rather take a chance on a guy like Riemer.

If they sign Ramo, they'll be in the exact same situation they are now and we'll all be wondering what they can do to fix the goalie situation next year.

ComixZone · 02-16-2016, 07:06 AM

Cam Ward - 2 years, 4.75M per.
Carter Hutton - 2 years, 900K per.

Continue to watch Jon Gillies develop and hope for the best. Draft another goalie in the 2nd or 3rd round this summer.

I'm done using Ramo and Hiller as stop gaps. Neither has proven to be anything outside of inconsistent. Is Ward a clear upgrade over Ramo? That's debatable, but I believe so. Ramo's play was a huge factor in burying our season this year, and at his best this year has provided league average goaltending. He should not be re-signed (and Hiller will likely retire/leave the NHL).

PeteMoss · 02-16-2016, 07:06 AM

Montoya as a 1A? No. That doesn't fix anything. He's wildly inconsistent.

Save percentage by year
15-16 .929
14-15 .892
13-14 .920
12-13 .899
11-12 .893

That's a wild shot in the dark based on a few random good years mixed in with terrible ones.

PeteMoss · 02-16-2016, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Cam Ward - 2 years, 4.75M per.
Carter Hutton - 2 years, 900K per.

Continue to watch Jon Gillies develop and hope for the best. Draft another goalie in the 2nd or 3rd round this summer.

I'm done using Ramo and Hiller as stop gaps. Neither has proven to be anything outside of inconsistent. Is Ward a clear upgrade over Ramo? That's debatable, but I believe so. Ramo's play was a huge factor in burying our season this year, and at his best this year has provided league average goaltending. He should not be re-signed (and Hiller will likely retire/leave the NHL).

Cam Ward hasn't even average been since 2011. Ramo and Ward have nearly identical save percentages the past two years. The only difference is you haven't seen Ward play so you're not annoyed with him.

ComixZone · 02-16-2016, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Cam Ward hasn't even average been since 2011. Ramo and Ward have nearly identical save percentages the past two years. The only difference is you haven't seen Ward play so you're not annoyed with him.

Cam Ward has also been buried by atrocious defending while posting identical stats to Karri Ramo.

We know what Ramo can do with our defense (nothing, he lets in poor angle, low % shots). There's zero point in going forward with Karri Ramo.

Toonage · 02-16-2016, 07:14 AM

I can see the Flames being interested in Ward. Veteran goalie, calm, good size. As far as stop gaps go, he might fit the bill.

Erick Estrada · 02-16-2016, 07:14 AM

Bringing back Ramo? That's not what I would call "fixing" the goaltending situation. His game was starting to fall back to his norm before he got injured and IMO he's as big of a problem as Hiller is in that he's not good enough. There's no doubt Hiller has looked worse but the fact is the Flames are 8-6-1 in games he starts while they are 17-18-1 in games Ramo starts. I'm not saying Hiller has been better but more that Ramo hasn't been getting it done either. Ramo isn't a stop gap, he's a failure.

I will leave the solution here to Treliving because only he knows what's truly available to the Flames through trade and such but bringing back any of these goaltenders absolutely cannot be an option if this team wants to move forward.

Finger Cookin · 02-16-2016, 07:15 AM

I'm content with the goaltending direction next season as long as Ramo and Hiller are both gone. It's time to turn the page and try something different.

Cali Panthers Fan · 02-16-2016, 07:20 AM

I think Ramo is just fine as a backup who can act as a starter when needed and I wouldn't mind having 1 guy you are familiar with rather than going out and getting 2 brand new goalies and hoping it works out. I don't see the Flames keeping Hiller at all, and there aren't enough nets to keep Ortio around much longer with both Gillies and McDonald needing playing time in the pros. The danger of cleaning house and having nobody ready to play NHL games means you get some very, very ugly results, so unless you're getting 2 high quality goaltenders through trade or free agency, having someone like Ramo here fills a gap.

Toonage · 02-16-2016, 07:23 AM

The only issue with keeping Ramo around is that you'd likely have to sign him to a multi year deal at a reasonable raise and then pay for another goalie as well. So if you went with a Ramo-Ward tandem you're looking at probably 10-11 million in goaltending. Go out and find a top tier goalie for 6-7 million and play Poulin as the backup and you keep it closer to 8. Much like they're paying now but with hopefully a bonafide starter.

Roof-Daddy · 02-16-2016, 07:30 AM

Don't even try to fix it now unless some sort of miracle falls into your lap.

Try to address it in the off-season.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Flames give Reimer a go, as long as he doesn't think he's worth some sort of lucrative long term contract.

shotinthebacklund · 02-16-2016, 07:31 AM

I think Elliot is available and he would be my number 1. I would be willing to move significant pieces to attain him. no more Hiller or Ramo PLZ

wingmaker · 02-16-2016, 07:33 AM

Big problem with Ramo for me is his price tag. He is at 3.8 this year. Coming off a year where he was the undisputed number one, he is going to want more. Paying 4+ million for a goaltender should only happen if he is the clear number one, and while Ramo has been used that way this year, the Flames are near the bottom of the standings. If they want to improve, they have to find a better starter or two 1A/1B types for less money.

shotinthebacklund · 02-16-2016, 07:34 AM

another guy that comes to mind that I would be interested in is Thomas Greiss.

blender · 02-16-2016, 07:39 AM

Yes to Elliot, Reimer, Hutchinson, Kuemper, Montoya, Raanta, Bernier--provided the deal is right. They all have their pros and cons, and they are not all equal in terms of acquisition cost or value, but I think they all represent at least strong potential of an upgrade.

No to Ward, Howard, or any other burned-out former starter who we all remember as the goalie on a good team from last decade.

Yes to Ramo as a backup. I don't think he will be getting much by way of lucrative offers and Cali makes a good point about continuity

Timbo · 02-16-2016, 07:44 AM

I would take 6"5" Joe Colborne and put him in the most rediculously oversized goaltender equipment and also give him an expedited streaching course and plop him in net as our #1.

With what we have seen this year we have nothing to lose.

Coach · 02-16-2016, 07:55 AM

Pray John Gillies is as good as we need him to be.

Henry Fool · 02-16-2016, 07:56 AM

They are waiting for the right goaltender to become available and I agree with that. This is not their window for a deep playoff run so they have time to wait. Get someone who they think will really take the number one spot rather than someone who might be a marginal improvement right now.

If you think that there's no downside to trying out practically anyone, you can make endless lists of goalies who you think might be good. But perhaps someone who Treliving thinks is very likely to be good will become available at the right price.

They're not in any great hurry. They have a couple of years to find a true starter. They'll try someone new next season, but next season is still another season for rebuilding.

As soon as they have someone they like and can move on, it'll happen.