Examining different options to replace Mike Smith

[Yrebmi]

No speculation on Cam Talbot?
Expiring contract on a team that may become desperate to shed salary should Sekera become healthy. A GM that has a history of losing dealings.
Sure he hasn't been great this year, but wouldn't be the first ex Oiler to find success once the grease washes free.

[Phil Russell]

Excellent write-up that explains why Smith is getting opportunity after seemingly undeserved opportunity to find his game. There is nothing out there that will not either cost a fortune or be more likely to fail than succeed. It sucks, but Smith finding his game still remains the best option . . .

[Reign of Fire]

Originally Posted by Phil Russell

Excellent write-up that explains why Smith is getting opportunity after seemingly undeserved opportunity to find his game. There is nothing out there that will not either cost a fortune or be more likely to fail than succeed. It sucks, but Smith finding his game still remains the best option . . .

I would play the price if we have legit shot this year. Smith is clearly the Achilles heel this year.

[Erick Estrada]

A lot of the listed options are more offseason type moves. Realistically we are looking at a player such as McElhinney being added to back up Rittich. How often do teams ever acquire a new staring goaltender in the middle of the season or at the trade deadline? Not very often and I don't think you give up a 1st round pick for a rental like Howard as the team still owes the Islanders a 2nd round pick and going two straight drafts with no picks in the top two rounds would severely hamper this organization's prospect base which is already starting to look a thin.

[Northendzone]

i was thinking c-mac as well.

i would think the biggest challenge for Tre in making this deal would be trying to get it done at the right price, as presumably all 29 other GM's realize that Calgary has a goaltending issue.

[tvp2003]

If the plan is to roll with Rittich (and assuming he’s not out long term), I’m not sure why we’d spend serious assets to acquire a backup. I also don’t think a rental will come cheap, until a team is clearly out of the playoff picture and is in full tank mode. Not too many of those options yet.

So if you’ve given up on Smith, Plan B *should* be Gillies, but if you have absolutely no faith he can give you a chance to win a game in January, do you give Schneider a shot? Not saying he’s ready to be a full-time NHLer but he he’s probably earned a cup of coffee and a chance to earn a start in practice?

That said, if you can get someone decent on the cheap that’s another story — but unless someone gets healthy and pushes a guy like Chad Johnson back onto waivers, that seems unlikely to happen.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

If the plan is to roll with Rittich (and assuming he’s not out long term), I’m not sure why we’d spend serious assets to acquire a backup. I also don’t think a rental will come cheap, until a team is clearly out of the playoff picture and is in full tank mode. Not too many of those options yet.

So if you’ve given up on Smith, Plan B *should* be Gillies, but if you have absolutely no faith he can give you a chance to win a game in January, do you give Schneider a shot? Not saying he’s ready to be a full-time NHLer but he he’s probably earned a cup of coffee and a chance to earn a start in practice?

That said, if you can get someone decent on the cheap that’s another story — but unless someone gets healthy and pushes a guy like Chad Johnson back onto waivers, that seems unlikely to happen.

They have to bring in a new backup before the deadline. They have to. You can never assume your starting goaltender will remain healthy for the rest of the season and be able to start in the playoffs. If Rittich was to suffer a long term injury after in March it's basically season over.

Now is the time to play Gillies as the backup. Before the deadline as the team needs to know sooner rather than later if he's even an option. There's absolutely nothing to lose at this point and chances are he's probably going to be better than Smith. In 11 games last season he had a 2.88 GAA and 0.896 SV%. That's already an improvement on Smith.

[Freeway]

Expensive, old, or expensive *and* old?

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Yrebmi

No speculation on Cam Talbot?
Expiring contract on a team that may become desperate to shed salary should Sekera become healthy. A GM that has a history of losing dealings.
Sure he hasn't been great this year, but wouldn't be the first ex Oiler to find success once the grease washes free.

I don't think the Oilers are too interested in helping the Flames possibly solve their goalie problem. If he were an option it would probably have to be via three way trade.

[Luder]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

I saw a pylon on the way home from the bar after watching the game. I wonder if it is available

The Oilers signed it as a 2nd pairing D-Man.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

They have to bring in a new backup before the deadline. They have to. You can never assume your starting goaltender will remain healthy for the rest of the season and be able to start in the playoffs. If Rittich was to suffer a long term injury after in March it's basically season over.

Now is the time to play Gillies as the backup. Before the deadline as the team needs to know sooner rather than later if he's even an option. There's absolutely nothing to lose at this point and chances are he's probably going to be better than Smith. In 11 games last season he had a 2.88 GAA and 0.896 SV%. That's already an improvement on Smith.

Do any of the goalies on that list change that if Rittich goes down the season is done? How good of goalie do we need. On that list I don’t see any getting this team to the conference finals.

There is a lot of Smith clones in Miller and Schieder where you are hoping guys recover. Or very mediocre goalies. Mediocre backup goaltending I think is valuable to win the division but in the playoffs we need BSD to be competitive.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Inferno

I don't think the Oilers are too interested in helping the Flames possibly solve their goalie problem. If he were an option it would probably have to be via three way trade.

That would be hilarious, the oilers take less and a third team flips him to us for an extra pick.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

I feel that as much as Smith sucks on the ice, he's still contributing in a big way off the ice. Having a former all-star goalie like smith - who is the ultimate team mate and can probably see the end of the road - is much better for Rittich right now than having a goalie whos going to come in and try and steal Rittich's spot.

Rittich faltered last year when Smith went down. How much of that was driven by the lack of presence of smith, who is a great teammate and calming presence for Rittich? Why mess with that?

Right now Smith and Rittich have been together over a year. Rittich is being supported by Smith, who is clearly acting as a mentor. He's clearly learned a lot from Smith and I'm sure is continuing to learn. And as a second year pro still gaining confidence and learning the ropes, I think a former all star goalie who is a great teammate makes a Rittich better - he's been there before. And come the playoffs we can only play one goalie anyways, so we might as well keep the tandem - since we know it's working for Rittich.

how can you say Smith is the ultimate/great team mate? he has a career of calling out teammates for their play, and taking little blame for his.

bet if you google Mike Smith callin gout teammates, you get a hell of a lot more come up than if you google, mike smith ultimate teammate.

also don't see how he CLEARLY has been any sort of mentor or teacher. you can hope he has been, but it's far from clear he's done anything.

[The Original FFIV]

Here’s the problem. Treliving needs to upgrade G and everyone knows it.

Just as he had to overpay for smith, every Gm will make him overpay in any trade.

I believe that last night was a function of playing smith on back to backs, maybe Peters should have gone with Gillies.

One option that doesn’t involve an overpayment would be Darling from Carolina. Granted Peters had him in Carolina and may not want to touch him, but imagine a scenario where we move a disgruntled frolik for Darling (and hopefully a little more). Instead of hoping that smith finds his game, we hope that Darling does here.

[UK flame]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

i was thinking c-mac as well.

i would think the biggest challenge for Tre in making this deal would be trying to get it done at the right price, as presumably all 29 other GM's realize that Calgary has a goaltending issue.

I presume the 30th GM is Chia?

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Here’s the problem. Treliving needs to upgrade G and everyone knows it.

Just as he had to overpay for smith, every Gm will make him overpay in any trade.

I believe that last night was a function of playing smith on back to backs, maybe Peters should have gone with Gillies.

One option that doesn’t involve an overpayment would be Darling from Carolina. Granted Peters had him in Carolina and may not want to touch him, but imagine a scenario where we move a disgruntled frolik for Darling (and hopefully a little more). Instead of hoping that smith finds his game, we hope that Darling does here.

Wait you think Treliving overpaid for Smith? He cost the team a 3rd round pick and the Yotes retain 25% of his cap hit.

I would rather go after Jake Allen than Darling if we are bargain bin shopping. Let’s not acquire a goalie that was pure garbage when he played for our coach last year.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

I think Petr Mrazek is another viable option.

1.5M expiring contract, 2.61GAA 9.02SV% (Career 2.65GAA .910SV%)
26 Years Old, Czech. 6'1" 190lbs

I would trade any goalie in our stable but Rittich for him. And considering he's UFA and not having a great season, he won't likely command a 1st round pick.

I do also like the thought of McElhinney coming home.

I wouldn't trade Parsons and I wouldn't offer anything more than a 4th rounder to acquire Mrazek.

[calumniate]

Smith was under his frigging goal line on the two stinkers. Hopefully our goalie coach shows some tape of this? Smith needs to be more aggressive than that. When he's on his game he's almost too aggressive. Something's wrong for sure

[Robbob]

The way I see it is unless you pay a premium (at the very least a 1st round pick), what team is going to take on Smith contract? Putting him in the minors only gives you 900k relief. I think at the trade deadline their might be an opportunity to do something.

According to cap friendly our projected cap space is 400k. Treliving will need to work some magic to open up space.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Expensive, old, or expensive *and* old?

Yup...pretty much.

I implore those of you who can to listen to Friedman on the fan this morning as he laid it out pretty straight forward. Should be on podcast later.

Essentially what he is saying is that, there just isn't much available because everyone is still pretty much in it among those teams who may be interested in moving a guy.

Names like McHilleney, Reimer, Mrazek etc....all are options to a varying degree he thinks, but acquisition cost is the question. He said you can probably get Howard but he will cost you a 1st round pick.

One thing the Flames do have working in their favor is...time. With the start they have had and the deadline 7 weeks away yet, there is time to see what shakes out.

Im guessing BT has gone to his pro scouting guys and gotten all the info he can out of them and maybe has them watching a few specific guys in the ahl or other leagues to see if there is anyone who would be a clear upgrade on Smith and is available at a price he comfortable with.

This looks to be a very tricky situation unfortunately. Any deal for a current NHL G would have to include Smith going the other way as far as salary in and salary out works. So right there you truly limit the market. On top of that Smith has a limited no-trade which could limit you even further. And just to make it a bit more difficult, the Flames aren't the only team looking for a G.

This may really be a case of sit and wait and hope Smith can find some semblance of his confidence until they get much closer to the deadline. Give him every 5th or 6th game and pray he can squeeze a few wins out of them.

Something no one wants but what the situation simply dictates.