Goaltending: One Spot Left

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Ramo last season started 37 games, went 17-18-1 2.63 .909

Ortio for his career has started 34 games, went 15-15-5 2.66 .901

I guess whether one thinks Ortio is backup capable depends on whether one thinks his career is on a downward trajectory, or whether he's still developing his potential.

I'll take a .500 back-up goalie for 32 or so starts for a contract well under $1M.

If Ortio starts 32 games and the Flames get 36 points in them - in Elliott's 50 games the Flames need 60+ points, so 27-18-5 ish
Seems pretty reasonable I guess

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Ramo last season started 37 games, went 17-18-1 2.63 .909

Ortio for his career has started 34 games, went 15-15-5 2.66 .901

I guess whether one thinks Ortio is backup capable depends on whether one thinks his career is on a downward trajectory, or whether he's still developing his potential.

I'll take a .500 back-up goalie for 32 or so starts for a contract well under $1M.

I don't think Ortio or Ramo is a bad choice for the backup position, but there are a lot of goalies on the market now that if Treliving wants to upgrade or try something different he has that opportunity.

The career numbers of our incumbent goalies leave a lot to be desired, and I think it's possible that the team in front of them may be a little fatigued at the idea of having one of those two between the pipes again.

Seems like all the available 2nd tier goalies have better stats and trajectories so the smartest move may be to just write off Ramo and Ortio as sunk costs and move on instead of hoping if we keep investing they'll turn it around. Seems like an unnecessary risk to go back to that well again.

[Finger Cookin]

I'm completely on board with that line of thought with regards to Ramo. I'm not as certain about it with regards to Ortio.

[theTrumanShow]

Originally Posted by getbak

It has to be either Calgary or San Jose for him. He has worked his way through the Pacific Division, and those are the only two teams left.

He also just moved back to Calgary in the off-season after his hip surgery. While I agree, he is an interesting piece, I think he is retiring.

[theTrumanShow]

Based on comments from the end of last season, it kind of sounded to me like they included Ramo as part of the team. With his injury he is out until training camp. No team will want him. You could probably get him for a cool $1M later in the summer.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Would Reimer sign to be a back up?

Would Reimer sign for less than $2.5M/year? Can't sign a guy to be backup and pay him more than your starter. If they sign him to join Elliot in a 1A/1B situation, then he can likely make $2.5M but would you want to pay him more? Not if Elliot will be the guy who gets more games. Sounds like the Flames are committed to make Elliot their go to goalie. Anyone they sign will have to cost less for this year.

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by theTrumanShow

Based on comments from the end of last season, it kind of sounded to me like they included Ramo as part of the team. With his injury he is out until training camp. No team will want him. You could probably get him for a cool $1M later in the summer.

For awhile I got that impression. You knew Hiller was gone but they made it sound like Ramo was still in the mix. Lately I haven't heard that at all. I think the real sense is that unless everything else falls through, they will be going a different direction this season.

I felt even last summer that Ramo was the backup plan if the big plan fell through. I think last summer the big plan was Talbot and it did fall through and we ended up with plan B. This summer Tre is much more aggressive in the goalie market, there will be no need for plan B I think.

[Gaudfather]

I suspect the organization is moving on from Ramo. But Ortio is still a viable back up option, if he is willing to sign for between $1.0 and $1.5 million, for say 1-2 years. I suspect that is the range that Treliving wants to end up in for his back-up goalie position.

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

I suspect the organization is moving on from Ramo. But Ortio is still a viable back up option, if he is willing to sign for between $1.0 and $1.5 million, for say 1-2 years. I suspect that is the range that Treliving wants to end up in for his back-up goalie position.

He's worth much less than that. Treliving wouldn't even offer him 650,000. His value is league minimum today.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

I suspect the organization is moving on from Ramo. But Ortio is still a viable back up option, if he is willing to sign for between $1.0 and $1.5 million, for say 1-2 years. I suspect that is the range that Treliving wants to end up in for his back-up goalie position.

No way do the Flames want to pay Ortio 1-1.5 million cap hit.

His qualifying offer would have only been $660k. That's why they didn't qualify him, because they didn't want to chance him getting that muchin arbitration.

I suspect that if they do come to terms here, it will be a one year two way deal for about $800k in the NHL and $200k or so in the AHL.

[Stormchaser]

I'd have Ortio as a 20 game backup and i'd give him one last try. Less pressure/distraction as there (hopefully) won't be a 3 headed monster mess again.

[FanIn80]

I think Ortio is the answer here. The only reason they didn't qualify him is because it would open the door to arbitration rights, where he would surely point towards two successful stints as a #1. (Albeit, two short stints, but relatively successful nonetheless.)

[Vulcan]

I'm thinking they want Ortio to sign a two way deal so he can be the third goalie on our depth chart. A plan could have Gillies and Rittich in Stockton with McDonald in Glens Falls, so Ortio will be assigned to another AHL team to keep him busy.

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I'm thinking they want Ortio to sign a two way deal so he can be the third goalie on our depth chart. A plan could have Gillies and Rittich in Stockton with McDonald in Glens Falls, so Ortio will be assigned to another AHL team to keep him busy.

Yea... That's not going to happen. Those goalie spots are coveted by other clubs to develop their future starters. Either he's our backup at the NHL level for league minimum or he's done as a Flame.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

If Ortio starts 32 games and the Flames get 36 points in them - in Elliott's 50 games the Flames need 60+ points, so 27-18-5 ish
Seems pretty reasonable I guess

We should also remember that Ortio was thrown to the dogs in some games against the best teams while Hiller/Backstrom got the "easy" bottom-feeder matchups. Next season Ortio will be the one playing teams like the Sabres and Leafs while Elliott will take on the good teams. That has a way to skew win percentages as well as GAA/SV%.

[Bownesian]

I wonder if the Flames are setting themselves up to pick up one of the up and coming but waivers-eligible goalies that get waived and sent down every year just before every season.

[Enoch Root]

I think it makes sense to give Ortio another shot as backup.

Let's assume 50-60 games for Elliot, so call it 55. That leaves 27 for Ortio - IF we go the full season on that plan.

However, with the pending expansion draft, there will likely be goalies available at the trade deadline.

There are 52 games before the deadline. Let's say Elliot plays 35-37 (55-60 pace for the season). That leaves Ortio with 15-17 games.

I don't think there's a huge risk to that. If it clearly isn't going well, they could pull the trigger on a trade even earlier.

But that 4 months gives the Flames time to evaluate all of Elliot, Ortio, Gillies, Riddich and McDonald. And they will have a much better feel of where they are than they do now.

And from that, they will be in a better position to make the right decision on whether they need someone else and what that someone else should look like.