Mike Frickin' Smith - Page 5 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Flames Draft Watcher · 10-10-2017, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerryUnderscore

I disagree with the drastic dichotomy that Smith is elite and Elliott is bad.

However, I recognize that Smith is an improvement over Elliott.

One has finished high in Vezina balloting and one has not. Although that award has its issues. But Smith did have an arguably top 3 season in the NHL as a goalie and Elliott never has.

Probably more accurate to say that Smith is an above average starter and Elliott is an average starter.

CF84 · 10-10-2017, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itse

Smith will have bad games and even terrible games because all goalies have them. (Well maybe Price doesn't have terrible games.) It's just a question of which is more common, the good or the bad.

Even Price has garbage games. He was pulled on Saturday vs. Washington during a game where he reminded me of the Hiller and Elliott days we all know too well.

SV% .714

Smith is the first Flames goaltender in years where my heart doesn't leap up into my throat with every single shot.

The number of shots the Flames faced last year is also how many times I cringed in the whole year, which may not be good for my health. It took me only up until the first breakaway shot, that Smith saved, for my cringes to disappear. I'm much happier watching the Flames play now. May Smith continue this high level of play.

oldschoolcalgary · 10-10-2017, 07:26 PM

i think Smith's ability to handle the puck is something i didn't appreciate enough; while i knew that he was pretty good at it, its definitely taking the sting out of any opposition forecheck...

When Rinne was on top of his game during the playoffs, teams couldn't even try to start the cycle as Rinne would get the puck out almost as quickly as it came in...

FireGilbert · 10-10-2017, 10:13 PM

I'm loving Smith so far and I know it's only three games but this is the most confident I have felt in a Flames keeper since Kipper.

So far this looks like one of the best off season acquisitions in the NHL. Here is my early ranking of all starting goalies who changed teams in the offseason:

1. Fleury
2. Smith
3. Bishop
4. Darling
5. Elliott
6. Mason
7. Raanta

camm13 · 10-10-2017, 11:31 PM

Elliot so far in 3 games has allowed 11 GA, with a S% of 0.876. He let in 6 on 22 shots last night. Meanwhile, Smith has allowed 5 goals with a S% of 0.957. Needless to say, Elliot looks just as he did last year for us, and Smith is making the boys look good. I too haven't felt this comfortable with our goalie situation since Kipper. Don't have to worry about those muffins coming in from the sidewalls going on. It's a good time to be a flames fan right now.

Also in other news, Arizona is probably missing smith. Raanta let in 3 goals on 5 shots to the knights in the first 10 minutes of the first period.

JerryUnderscore · 10-11-2017, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

One has finished high in Vezina balloting and one has not. Although that award has its issues. But Smith did have an arguably top 3 season in the NHL as a goalie and Elliott never has.

Probably more accurate to say that Smith is an above average starter and Elliott is an average starter.

Yep. That's exactly right.

I think there are very few elite goalies in the league right now. Definitely Price, Lundqvist is elite but he's in the sunset of his career. Other than that...

Maybe Holtby or Quick?

There are a lot of above average goalies (Talbot, Bobrovsky, Dubnyk, Rask, Jones, Rinne, Bishop, etc.) but I'd reserve the word elite for those who will one day by in the HHOF.

Poe969 · 10-11-2017, 07:28 AM

Smith is an above average goalie who was stuck on a crap team. On a good team he looks even better. Elliot looked average on a good team and will look pretty bad on an average team.

Itse · 10-11-2017, 08:21 AM

I'm somewhat hoping that getting out of a hopeless team into a contender will motivate Smith to perform on a level that's way above his career normal.

We don't need him to be consistently elite as long as he has a great year or two here

tvp2003 · 10-11-2017, 08:52 AM

Smith always struck me as a guy who could face 40 shots and only let it 3. The question was whether he could be dialed in to face 25 shots and only let in 2. Based on what I've seen thus far, I don't think that will be a problem -- his focus and intensity are a far cry from the days of Hiller and Elliott.

Also, remember when Treliving called him an "athletic freak"? I see what he means -- the guy seems hyper-engaged back there, stopping pucks and in front and behind the net on shoot-ins.

GioforPM · 10-11-2017, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Smith always struck me as a guy who could face 40 shots and only let it 3. The question was whether he could be dialed in to face 25 shots and only let in 2. Based on what I've seen thus far, I don't think that will be a problem -- his focus and intensity are a far cry from the days of Hiller and Elliott.

Also, remember when Treliving called him an "athletic freak"? I see what he means -- the guy seems hyper-engaged back there, stopping pucks and in front and behind the net on shoot-ins.

The one thing about being a puck handling goalie is that he probably is more involved and dialed in to the play in general, because he's looking for opportunities.

Azhouse · 10-11-2017, 09:21 AM

Although it might result in a goal or two against for the year, I am enjoying the hell out of watching him move the puck.

JerryUnderscore · 10-11-2017, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azhouse

Although it might result in a goal or two against for the year, I am enjoying the hell out of watching him move the puck.

I'm expecting some heart palpitations this year watching him come way outside his net. But he's a veteran goalie who knows what he's doing.

GreenLantern2814 · 10-11-2017, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerryUnderscore

Yep. That's exactly right.

I think there are very few elite goalies in the league right now. Definitely Price, Lundqvist is elite but he's in the sunset of his career. Other than that...

Maybe Holtby or Quick?

There are a lot of above average goalies (Talbot, Bobrovsky, Dubnyk, Rask, Jones, Rinne, Bishop, etc.) but I'd reserve the word elite for those who will one day by in the HHOF.

Bobrovsky has 2 Vezina trophies. Holtby doesn't have a season as a full-time starter under .920, and his playoff career save % is .932 in 59 games.

Quick, I'll listen to arguments about, but I'd still say he's an elite goalie. He hasn't had a GAA over 2.50 in nine years. 81 playoff games, .922 save %, 2 cups.

You can win without an elite goalie. You can't win without an above average goalie unless the team you play in the finals is running Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher out against the 2010 Blackhawks.

DazzlinDino · 10-11-2017, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azhouse

Although it might result in a goal or two against for the year, I am enjoying the hell out of watching him move the puck.

Seemed to throw the Ducks off a couple times when he sailed the puck right back out of the zone. I imagine the defensmen feel a bit more rested with less skating and battles along the boards. I could see thst being a big benefit during the playoffs.

Poe969 · 10-11-2017, 09:38 AM

and you know he's just going to start sending those long bomb passes to Johnny or whoever for breakaways.

GreenLantern2814 · 10-11-2017, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azhouse

Although it might result in a goal or two against for the year, I am enjoying the hell out of watching him move the puck.

How many goals does Smith prevent by quickly getting the puck out of the zone vs a couple mishandles/costs of doing business?

I'd wager Smith finishes the year with four or five assists - Even if he gives up five bad goals as a result of adventurous play, he isn't coming out anywhere but ahead.

JerryUnderscore · 10-11-2017, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Bobrovsky has 2 Vezina trophies. Holtby doesn't have a season as a full-time starter under .920, and his playoff career save % is .932 in 59 games.

Quick, I'll listen to arguments about, but I'd still say he's an elite goalie. He hasn't had a GAA over 2.50 in nine years. 81 playoff games, .922 save %, 2 cups.

You can win without an elite goalie. You can't win without an above average goalie unless the team you play in the finals is running Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher out against the 2010 Blackhawks.

Considering the Vezina trophy is given out every year I wouldn't say winning it makes you elite.

But I'm also willing to walk back the suggestion that Holtby may be borderline elite. Quick is also debatable.

The only two that I would seriously consider elite goalies would be Price and Lundqvist (among active goalies that is).

Textcritic · 10-11-2017, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azhouse

Although it might result in a goal or two against for the year, I am enjoying the hell out of watching him move the puck.

I have been surprised by how well he skates in the first three games. I don't know if I have ever seen a goalie move as effortlessly as he does—especially not anyone his size.

GreenLantern2814 · 10-11-2017, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerryUnderscore

Considering the Vezina trophy is given out every year I wouldn't say winning it makes you elite.

But I'm also willing to walk back the suggestion that Holtby may be borderline elite. Quick is also debatable.

The only two that I would seriously consider elite goalies would be Price and Lundqvist (among active goalies that is).

Winning it once can happen to anyone. Jim Carey has a Vezina.

When you win it twice, you're elite.

When you win it twice and the 2nd time you go 41-17-5 with 7 shutouts, a .931 save % and a 2.06 GAA, with a 15+ game winning streak thrown in for good measure, you're definitely elite.

Textcritic · 10-11-2017, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

He's been very reliable, but allowing over 40 shots in 2/3 can be a little concerning. I hope we can decrease those a little to make Smith's night a little easier.

I am late on this, but felt that the Anaheim game requires more context. I am surprised that no one has brought up how much score effects played into the lopsided shot-count on Monday night.

Mikael Backlund scored the Flames insurance goal at 6:19 of the third period. At that point the Ducks had a slight shot advantage 29–24, but the Flames were up 4–3 shots in the period. After the goal, the Ducks outshot the Flames 14–5, which included two power plays, and an extra skater on the ice for the final 3:20.

The very high shots allowed in Games #1 and #3 of the season is not an issue.