Is Mike Smith the new Brian Elliot and is James Neal the new Troy Brouwer?

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Corral

I thought smith was to be the bridge to get us to when a goalie in our system would take the reign. Signing him was a risk given his age but for a short contract ok.

So the real problem is where is the heir apparent?

Yeah, that's where I am at right now too.

Appears we are going to have to sign another stop gap.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Corral

I thought smith was to be the bridge to get us to when a goalie in our system would take the reign. Signing him was a risk given his age but for a short contract ok.

So the real problem is where is the heir apparent?

That is an issue. The Flames seem to always have great goalie prospects that just seem to fade away. Is it just bad luck, poor development or poor scouting? I personally don't think it is scouting because many of our goalie prospects had pedigrees and were ranked well by scouting services when they were drafted. And it seems like it has been going on too long to be just bad luck.

I don't know though. I live in a Flames bubble these days. Maybe this is normal for most teams. But there are some teams that always seem to develop goalies well.

Not to pull an Oileresque move, but I wonder how Kiprusoff is doing in Finland as a goalie coach. I recall that he was trained in Finland by that old goalie coach that was helping Finland pump out elite goalies for a while. It would be nice to bring that wisdom here. I think he had a hand in developing Saros.

[mikeecho]

I get that Mike Smith is an athletic goalie and not so much a technical goalie, but all I see are red flags when Ovechkin has a one timer from the right side and Smith is flying through the air looking like he's throwing a drop kick and as the puck sits behind the net, he starts flailing around in a mad scramble to get back into the net. I see 10 year olds with better fundamentals.

[awildermode]

Originally Posted by mikeecho

I get that Mike Smith is an athletic goalie and not so much a technical goalie, but all I see are red flags when Ovechkin has a one timer from the right side and Smith is flying through the air looking like he's throwing a drop kick and as the puck sits behind the net, he starts flailing around in a mad scramble to get back into the net. I see 10 year olds with better fundamentals.

What is the count on how many times Smith has lost his mask this season?

[GaiJin]

I think they need to go and get a new #1, save Smith as the seasoned back up should they sneak into the playoffs some how.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by GaiJin

I think they need to go and get a new #1, save Smith as the seasoned back up should they sneak into the playoffs some how.

Please no. He is done. The law of diminishing returns started a few years ago.

[David Struch]

Originally Posted by redforever

Please no. He is done. The law of diminishing returns started a few years ago.

Are you suggesting the Flames buy-out Mike Smith?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by GaiJin

I think they need to go and get a new #1, save Smith as the seasoned back up should they sneak into the playoffs some how.

I just don't think it is possible to do something like that at this point in the season unless the selling team has another goalie capable of being a #1. Looking around, it doesn't look like there are many options.

When Treliving acquired Smith, there was a huge opportunity cost that came along with it. Whether we like it or not, Smith is the guy for this season.

[transplant99]

IF BT is actually looking for another G, then Neuvirth might be asset attainable and a guy that could be a #1 (only because of the Philly situation)....but beyond that i cant imagine anyone is looking to offload a starting caliber G less than a month into the season.

Its going to be Mike Smith and Rittich for a good long time yet i would think.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by transplant99

IF BT is actually looking for another G, then Neuvirth might be asset attainable and a guy that could be a #1 (only because of the Philly situation)....but beyond that i cant imagine anyone is looking to offload a starting caliber G less than a month into the season.



Its going to be Mike Smith and Rittich for a good long time yet i would think.

Bobrovsky/Columbus is not a happy situation right now, so there may be something there.

[David Struch]

And then there is also 26 year old Calvin Pickard, only a $800,000 contract too.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by David Struch

And then there is also 26 year old Calvin Pickard, only a $800,000 contract too.

Pickard's stats are worse than Smith's this season

[David Struch]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

Pickard's stats are worse than Smith's this season

You never know where our next goalie might come from, just look at Miikka Kiprusoff's stats when Darryl Sutter acquired him, people must've thought the Flames were clueless.

5 Wins 14 Losses 3.25 GAA .879 SV%

[David Struch]

Smith is getting the start against the Leafs.

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/toug...to/c-301381772

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Bobrovsky/Columbus is not a happy situation right now, so there may be something there.

The biggest problem with Bob is figuring out why he wants out. If he wants out because of personnel issues or just wants a change, get it done (ideally with an extension). If there’s a particular city he wants to go to, then you’re losing him anyway, which would be a disaster.

Originally Posted by David Struch

Smith is getting the start against the Leafs.

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/toug...to/c-301381772

I like Rittich in for the Buffalo game on Tuesday. Toronto is going to be a tough test, so if the team is playing poorly then it doesn’t matter who is in net. Buffalo, on the other hand, is a game Rittich can steal I think.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

The biggest problem with Bob is figuring out why he wants out. If he wants out because of personnel issues or just wants a change, get it done (ideally with an extension). If there’s a particular city he wants to go to, then you’re losing him anyway, which would be a disaster.







I like Rittich in for the Buffalo game on Tuesday. Toronto is going to be a tough test, so if the team is playing poorly then it doesn’t matter who is in net. Buffalo, on the other hand, is a game Rittich can steal I think.

Yeah, that Bobrovsky situation is an interesting one. As far as where he would want to play - all the “desirable” locations effectively have the position already filled.

So who would be looking for a starting goalie with a big cap-hit starting next year?

Vancouver
Calgary
Edmonton
Philadelphia
Detroit
Buffalo
Carolina
New York Islanders

Where would Bob want to play from that list?

If we went after him, showing the interest in trading for him - perhaps that would be what drives an extension?

It’ll be interesting to watch as things go - but at the end of the day, we definitely need a long-term goalie solution.

[Stanley]

Shoulda made a move for Grubauer when we had the chance

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Yeah, that Bobrovsky situation is an interesting one. As far as where he would want to play - all the “desirable” locations effectively have the position already filled.

So who would be looking for a starting goalie with a big cap-hit starting next year?

Vancouver
Calgary
Edmonton
Philadelphia
Detroit
Buffalo
Carolina
New York Islanders

Where would Bob want to play from that list?

If we went after him, showing the interest in trading for him - perhaps that would be what drives an extension?

It’ll be interesting to watch as things go - but at the end of the day, we definitely need a long-term goalie solution.

If he wants the big city, it's Phillie or NYI. I don't think he'd want Detroit.

If he wants bottom up rebuilding with big big upside, it's Buffalo.

The probably correct answer is "where does he make the most money (net of taxes).

Actually the probably correct answer is "Columbus".

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Stanley

Shoulda made a move for Grubauer when we had the chance

Unless we were able to buyout Orpik, we would have. Unfortunately, the Avs got a steal of a deal because of the space they had.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

Goaltending coach not responsible for goaltending woes in any capacity.

The logic doesn't follow here.

The person who should mostly be to blame for goaltending is the goalie himself. The goalie coach does not have a controller that he uses to make the goalies move.

Those trying to scapegoat Sigalet are just trying to shift blame. Players are ultimately responsible and accountable for their own performances. It’s not like there’s a new system that a goalie coach will teach a veteran goalie. You want someone to blame for Smith’s play? You need look no further than Smith and the defense.