[News] Hiller to start against Leafs. Backstrom to start against Wild on Thursday

[Erick Estrada]

It's really amazing how so many fail to understand what's going on right now which is Hartley is classily handling a couple of veteran goaltenders down a stretch of meaningless games for this organization. He's giving them the opportunity to play in what may be their last NHL games on this road trip. I witnessed live at the dome the Grant Fuhr and Mike Vernon sendoffs and in front of paying fans it wasn't pretty so I think fans should appreciate that at least Hartley is smart enough to do this on the road.

Ortio is owed nothing from Hartley as the organization knows what they have in him and a couple of meaningless games down the stretch aren't going to change where he fits in with their offseason plans as now they can qualify him and bring him back to compete for a backup spot next season.

[Strange Brew]

Yeah starting Hiller at home would be a big mistake. I presume it won't happen.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's really amazing how so many fail to understand what's going on right now which is Hartley is classily handling a couple of veteran goaltenders down a stretch of meaningless games for this organization. He's giving them the opportunity to play in what may be their last NHL games on this road trip. I witnessed live at the dome the Grant Fuhr and Mike Vernon sendoffs and in front of paying fans it wasn't pretty so I think fans should appreciate that at least Hartley is smart enough to do this on the road.

Ortio is owed nothing from Hartley as the organization knows what they have in him and a couple of meaningless games down the stretch aren't going to change where he fits in with their offseason plans as now they can qualify him and bring him back to compete for a backup spot next season.

Exactly, showing some respect to the veteran goalies in mean-nothing games could go a long way in the long run when attracting players to Calgary.

Don't forget a lot of these players have the same agents & agencies, keeping a strong relationship and giving a couple of seasoned veterans what may be their last NHL starts is a classy move by the Flames organization.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Exactly, showing some respect to the veteran goalies in mean-nothing games could go a long way in the long run when attracting players to Calgary.

Don't forget a lot of these players have the same agents & agencies, keeping a strong relationship and giving a couple of seasoned veterans what may be their last NHL starts is a classy move by the Flames organization.

He's keeping 1 player happy while annoying the other players (and not just the other goalies).

I can understand giving Backstrom a start in Minnesota... that's fine. But I really doubt Hiller in 10 years is going to be sitting back thinking of these last few starts.

I don't particularly care that he's playing. But acting like its some class move doesn't work for me.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

He's keeping 1 player happy while annoying the other players (and not just the other goalies).

I can understand giving Backstrom a start in Minnesota... that's fine. But I really doubt Hiller in 10 years is going to be sitting back thinking of these last few starts.

I don't particularly care that he's playing. But acting like its some class move doesn't work for me.

Starting Backstrom is just as bad as Hiller - he's had his game, there is no upside for the Flames in him getting more playing time, in fact he might be even more motivated than the others to steal a game in Minny and actually hurt the club a little in the long run. Give the development time and opportunity to Ortio except for the one back to back left.

[Bezer]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Starting Backstrom is just as bad as Hiller - he's had his game, there is no upside for the Flames in him getting more playing time, in fact he might be even more motivated than the others to steal a game in Minny and actually hurt the club a little in the long run. Give the development time and opportunity to Ortio except for the one back to back left.

I believe in order for Backstrom to waive his no trade clause he wanted to start two games. Starting against the Wild makes sense.

[icecube]

There is an upside to starting Hiller. It's called tanking for a high draft pick. Embrace it. Every team does it when it's their turn.

[Coach]

Personally, as long as we see Ortio the rest of the way after Minny, everything that has been done so far makes sense.

- Get Backstrom a game prior to his homecoming so he can get back to NHL speed (remember he hadn't played in over a year).

- Give Hiller a final road start against a bottom feeder, secretly hoping his ineptitude shines through (which it did).

- Backstom against the Wild is just straight class.

Ortio the rest of the way please.

It may be a bit revisionist, but I was a n Ortio supporter from day one. I think this season could have gone quite a bit differently if they gave Ortio the 3 or 4 starts in a row to figure it out early on. We would have ended up with Ramo-Ortio (as I think was always intended) and possibly could have been in a better position around Christmas time. So many of our top players are hitting career years, we shouldn't be this far out.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Bezer

I believe in order for Backstrom to waive his no trade clause he wanted to start two games. Starting against the Wild makes sense.

Maybe he asked for that game specifically? I hope so... otherwise it is dumb. The game that would make sense is half of the final back to back against LA or Anaheim. Starting him in this one against a team he feels slighted by is asking for an inspired performance. Really doesn't benefit the Flames at all, except maybe Backstrom himself and Hartley if he's feeling under the gun.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's really amazing how so many fail to understand what's going on right now which is Hartley is classily handling a couple of veteran goaltenders down a stretch of meaningless games for this organization. He's giving them the opportunity to play in what may be their last NHL games on this road trip. I witnessed live at the dome the Grant Fuhr and Mike Vernon sendoffs and in front of paying fans it wasn't pretty so I think fans should appreciate that at least Hartley is smart enough to do this on the road.

Ortio is owed nothing from Hartley as the organization knows what they have in him and a couple of meaningless games down the stretch aren't going to change where he fits in with their offseason plans as now they can qualify him and bring him back to compete for a backup spot next season.

I think many understand what's going on but still don't give a crap about Hiller or Backstrom?

Don't make it seem like you're the only one smart enough to understand that. We understand and we still don't care.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Maybe he asked for that game specifically? I hope so... otherwise it is dumb. The game that would make sense is half of the final back to back against LA or Anaheim. Starting him in this one against a team he feels slighted by is asking for an inspired performance. Really doesn't benefit the Flames at all, except maybe Backstrom himself and Hartley if he's feeling under the gun.

The Flames are an organization that prefers the classy move even if there's a chance that it slightly hurts the team. Just look at what they did for Iginla and Kipper. Backstrom was a top goalie for several years and deserves some respect even if his success wasn't with the Flames. If he feels like he can still tend that goal and wants to play some games for the Flames then you let him. It's the price of admission if you want to be a respected organization that players actually want to sign with and play for.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

He's keeping 1 player happy while annoying the other players (and not just the other goalies).

I can understand giving Backstrom a start in Minnesota... that's fine. But I really doubt Hiller in 10 years is going to be sitting back thinking of these last few starts.

I don't particularly care that he's playing. But acting like its some class move doesn't work for me.

How do you know he is annoying the other players, do you have a quote or some sources? They are professionals they have to go out there and do their jobs regardless who is playing. This is the proper way to do things, the coaches make the decisions and don't cater to a certain player in order to make them happy. Look what happened to Sven Baertschi he thought he was entitled and that decisions should be about him and not the team. Look what happened to Ortio when he didn't want to be sent down at the beginning of the season. The coaches make the decisions, they are there to do their jobs. It's about playing for your team not about who is happy and who is not. We don't always understand the reasons coaches do things because we are not in the locker-room. We do know they get paid to do their jobs and that includes making tough decisions.Obviously they didn't make this decision to make you happy and thats okay because at least they didn't cater to certain players either.

Having said that I am pretty happy, and im not going to sweat the small stuff that's why coaches get paid.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

Having said that I am pretty happy, and im not going to sweat the small stuff that's why coaches get paid.

This is not small stuff! This is about which mediocre goalie gets to start in a meaningless game while playing out the string! This is the most important thing ever! Fire Hartley! Fire everybody! Burn the Saddledome and sow the ground with salt! RABBLE RABBLE!!!

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

I think many understand what's going on but still don't give a crap about Hiller or Backstrom?

Don't make it seem like you're the only one smart enough to understand that. We understand and we still don't care.

The only opinion that counts here is Bob Hartley's and he clearly doesn't care what you think hence Hiller and Backstrom starting the last few games on the road.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

How do you know he is annoying the other players, do you have a quote or some sources? They are professionals they have to go out there and do their jobs regardless who is playing. This is the proper way to do things, the coaches make the decisions and don't cater to a certain player in order to make them happy. Look what happened to Sven Baertschi he thought he was entitled and that decisions should be about him and not the team. Look what happened to Ortio when he didn't want to be sent down at the beginning of the season. The coaches make the decisions, they are there to do their jobs. It's about playing for your team not about who is happy and who is not. We don't always understand the reasons coaches do things because we are not in the locker-room. We do know they get paid to do their jobs and that includes making tough decisions.Obviously they didn't make this decision to make you happy and thats okay because at least they didn't cater to certain players either.

Having said that I am pretty happy, and im not going to sweat the small stuff that's why coaches get paid.

Seems like Hartley and everyone else is much more about making Hiller/Backstrom happy than worried about the team who I'm sure rolls their eyes when Hiller starts just the like the fans.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The only opinion that counts here is Bob Hartley's and he clearly doesn't care what you think hence Hiller and Backstrom starting the last few games on the road.

Better shut down CP if we can't discuss these things.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Better shut down CP if we can't discuss these things.

There's discussing and then there's bellyaching about coaches decisions that no amount of whining will change.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

There's discussing and then there's bellyaching about coaches decisions that no amount of whining will change.

I'm confident that the Flames have never made a decision based on CP discussions. So its pretty much all bellyaching about things we can't change.


And I don't really care who plays net right now. But I disagree with the categorization that it shows anything positive about Flames by playing Hiller right now.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Seems like Hartley and everyone else is much more about making Hiller/Backstrom happy than worried about the team who I'm sure rolls their eyes when Hiller starts just the like the fans.

You think Hartley is doing this to make Backstrom, and Hiller happy?

Last I remember Backstrom signed with the team on the condition he could play some games, not sure why the players would have problem with this. Hiller is a professional he still has to do his job, sorry Hartley doesn't make the decisions that make you happy. I know it's terrible, but it is just the way it is! I highly doubt the players would stoop low enough to roll their eyes, we know thats just kids stuff? People who roll their eyes usually like to draw attention to themselves to show their displeasure. Unfortunately Hartley is the coach he is not going to make everyone happy all of the time its just part of the business.

I don't have a problem with his decision. I don't claim to understand it but I trust Hartley, his coaches plus the organization are following a specific constructed agenda.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's really amazing how so many fail to understand what's going on right now which is Hartley is classily handling a couple of veteran goaltenders down a stretch of meaningless games for this organization. He's giving them the opportunity to play in what may be their last NHL games on this road trip. I witnessed live at the dome the Grant Fuhr and Mike Vernon sendoffs and in front of paying fans it wasn't pretty so I think fans should appreciate that at least Hartley is smart enough to do this on the road.

Ortio is owed nothing from Hartley as the organization knows what they have in him and a couple of meaningless games down the stretch aren't going to change where he fits in with their offseason plans as now they can qualify him and bring him back to compete for a backup spot next season.

Hiller is far from what Vernon and Fehr were. Those guys earned sendoffs. Secondly, Ortio has been a member of the Flames organization longer than Hiller. Yet Ortio has not been extended the same leniency.