[Rumour] UPD: Flames sign Cam Talbot (1yr, $2.75mil)

[bax]

All the Flames can do is make the most logical move and I think this is it. Of the UFA class

- Bobrovksy: Too much term and money required to sign
- Varlamov: Ditto here, can also be quite inconsistent
- Smith: Too old
- Ward: Not a good goalie anymore
- Elliot: No chance he comes back
- Neuvirth: Has fallen off and barely played last year
- Lehner: Has indicated he is only interested in signing on Long Island
- Mrazek: Will command too big of a contract and can be inconsistent
- McElhinney: Getting up there in age and better as a back up

Every goalie on this list has question marks. If Talbot comes as cheap as I think he will, I believe he has just as good as a shot as anybody on this list for putting up the best year (save for Bobrovsky). Keep in mind at most he will only play 50% of the games. The Flames still love Rittich and Treliving always talks about how a combo system is needed in today's NHL.

Who is available via trade?

- Quick: Too big of a contract and has battled injuries
- Forsberg: Struggled to maintain an NHL position
- Reimer: Basically a cap dump at this stage
- Sparks: Struggled in his first year as a backup

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Timbo

Cam Talbot, I’m okay with it. Which scares the hell out of me as I am usually wrong.

As I hockey fan, i’d rather be optimistic and wrong than pessimistic and right.

It’s all about fun!

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by bax

All the Flames can do is make the most logical move and I think this is it. Of the UFA class

- Bobrovksy: Too much term and money required to sign
- Varlamov: Ditto here, can also be quite inconsistent
- Smith: Too old
- Ward: Not a good goalie anymore
- Elliot: No chance he comes back
- Neuvirth: Has fallen off and barely played last year
- Lehner: Has indicated he is only interested in signing on Long Island
- Mrazek: Will command too big of a contract and can be inconsistent
- McElhinney: Getting up there in age and better as a back up

Every goalie on this list has question marks. If Talbot comes as cheap as I think he will, I believe he has just as good as a shot as anybody on this list for putting up the best year (save for Bobrovsky). Keep in mind at most he will only play 50% of the games. The Flames still love Rittich and Treliving always talks about how a combo system is needed in today's NHL.

Who is available via trade?

- Quick: Too big of a contract and has battled injuries
- Forsberg: Struggled to maintain an NHL position
- Reimer: Basically a cap dump at this stage
- Sparks: Struggled in his first year as a backup

Of your list, I think Talbot or Mrazek make the most sense as a tandom approach, McElhinney is absolutely putting your faith in Rittich and giving him a quality backup just in case, and the rest are either not good enough for either or would be the de facto starter, which brings questions about how much you trust Rittich as a starter.

The only solutions I’m not fine with are trying a tandem or backup scenario with guys like Reimer or Sparks.

[Textcritic]

Duhatschek is talking about Talbot now. He says that Talbot is an extremely popular player in the locker-room, and is a good bet for rehabilitation in the right environment. He expects that Talbot will come cheap, and thinks that Calgary provides a very good opportunity for him to regain his confidence and return to form.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by bax

All the Flames can do is make the most logical move and I think this is it. Of the UFA class

- Bobrovksy: Too much term and money required to sign
- Varlamov: Ditto here, can also be quite inconsistent
- Smith: Too old
- Ward: Not a good goalie anymore
- Elliot: No chance he comes back
- Neuvirth: Has fallen off and barely played last year
- Lehner: Has indicated he is only interested in signing on Long Island
- Mrazek: Will command too big of a contract and can be inconsistent
- McElhinney: Getting up there in age and better as a back up

Every goalie on this list has question marks. If Talbot comes as cheap as I think he will, I believe he has just as good as a shot as anybody on this list for putting up the best year (save for Bobrovsky). Keep in mind at most he will only play 50% of the games. The Flames still love Rittich and Treliving always talks about how a combo system is needed in today's NHL.

Who is available via trade?

- Quick: Too big of a contract and has battled injuries
- Forsberg: Struggled to maintain an NHL position
- Reimer: Basically a cap dump at this stage
- Sparks: Struggled in his first year as a backup

This post is sad but true unfortunately. Talbot might be the best of a bunch of terrible options.

That's why I am hoping for a trade to address the situation. Either to clear cap room for a good goalie, or trade to acquire acquire one that is ready to break through. I'd rather have an unknown with potential than a known with little potential.

[bax]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Of your list, I think Talbot or Mrazek make the most sense as a tandom approach, McElhinney is absolutely putting your faith in Rittich and giving him a quality backup just in case, and the rest are either not good enough for either or would be the de facto starter, which brings questions about how much you trust Rittich as a starter.

The only solutions I’m not fine with are trying a tandem or backup scenario with guys like Reimer or Sparks.

Yeah, I agree completely. Mrazek could work potentially, but Talbot will come cheaper and I get the sense that the Flames brass really believe in him and think he is capable of a bounce back.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

ONE. The Flames are not letting Rittich walk away.

I’d be very disappointed if they don’t look at all options. Aren’t you usually preaching the magnificence of Flames management in just this regard?

In any case it’s a fact that Rittich is unsigned and he may be too expensive for a backup if they find a way to bring in a legit starter.

[bax]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

This post is sad but true unfortunately. Talbot might be the best of a bunch of terrible options.

That's why I am hoping for a trade to address the situation. Either to clear cap room for a good goalie, or trade to acquire acquire one that is ready to break through. I'd rather have an unknown with potential than a known with little potential.

I do think Talbot brings with him a ton of potential though. I think he is capable of being a .920 goalie for 40 or so games. We already have Rittich as our younger guy with potential to grow, so bringing in a guy with some experience to his name isn't a bad idea.

Also, I can't think of any goalie that is ready to break through right now that is available via trade.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

This post is sad but true unfortunately. Talbot might be the best of a bunch of terrible options.

That's why I am hoping for a trade to address the situation. Either to clear cap room for a good goalie, or trade to acquire acquire one that is ready to break through. I'd rather have an unknown with potential than a known with little potential.

The situation is not that bad. The Flames have in house a "known with more potential" in Rittich—a goalie who is as good a bet as any to break through. I think that supplementing him with a guy who is capable for starting ±35 games should be fine. It sure as hell won't be any worse than what they started the year with last season.

[bax]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I’d be very disappointed if they don’t look at all options. Aren’t you usually preaching the magnificence of Flames management in just this regard?

In any case it’s a fact that Rittich is unsigned and he may be too expensive for a backup if they find a way to bring in a legit starter.

They won't be bringing in a legit 6 million dollar + starter. Treliving has gone over how he believes you need 2 strong goalies in the modern NHL. He won't just walk away from a 26 year old goalie that just put up a very good rookie season.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

As I hockey fan, i’d rather be optimistic and wrong than pessimistic and right.

It’s all about fun!

There’s also the realistic option and not let the lows, or other’s approaches, bother you and just enjoy the ride.

[Rando]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I’d be very disappointed if they don’t look at all options. Aren’t you usually preaching the magnificence of Flames management in just this regard?

In any case it’s a fact that Rittich is unsigned and he may be too expensive for a backup if they find a way to bring in a legit starter.

You're not exactly wrong but an organization cutting loose the one goalie they've finally developed and has shown some promise would be... bizarre. Yes Rittich is unsigned but he's a RFA, hardly a unique situation.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by bax

They won't be bringing in a legit 6 million dollar + starter. Treliving has gone over how he believes you need 2 strong goalies in the modern NHL. He won't just walk away from a 26 year old goalie that just put up a very good rookie season.

This is the same GM that has been in in on multiple goalie trades and signings over last few years. Guys like Bishop and Fleury were almost Flames. The main reason we won’t likely see a big $ starter is that the Flames simply don’t have the cap room.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I’d be very disappointed if they don’t look at all options. Aren’t you usually preaching the magnificence of Flames management in just this regard?

Hilarious. Qualifying Rittich does not preclude the option of the Flames doing their due diligence.

In any case it’s a fact that Rittich is unsigned and he may be too expensive for a backup if they find a way to bring in a legit starter.

Rittich has not yet been signed because the QO deadline is not for another two hours. I don't foresee a realistic scenario in which the Flames opt not to qualify their second-year NHL goalie who just posted 27 wins. If he is qualified he will be signed.

[FanIn80]

Talbot is intriguing... but how does having him here impact Rittich's growth?

I can't see Talbot signing for a "redemption year" unless the team commits to playing him as the starter. I also think Rittich needs to be given the ball as the starter in order to progress further.

- Rittich is too good to be a backup
- Talbot can't prove he's still a starter unless he succeeds as a starter.

So the question becomes do the Flames believe Rittich is a starting goalie?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Rando

You're not exactly wrong but an organization cutting loose the one goalie they've finally developed and has shown some promise would be... bizarre. Yes Rittich is unsigned but he's a RFA, hardly a unique situation.

Not unique at all. I have not once suggested they would cut Rittich loose or let him walk so don’t know where that is coming from. He is unsigned so their options remain wide open in that regard and they could do any number of things with him.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Not unique at all. I have not once suggested they would cut Rittich loose or let him walk so don’t know where that is coming from. He is unsigned so their options remain wide open in that regard and they could do any number of things with him.

Not really. They either need to qualify Rittich today or let him go to unrestricted free agency.

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Duhatschek is talking about Talbot now. He says that Talbot is an extremely popular player in the locker-room, and is a good bet for rehabilitation in the right environment. He expects that Talbot will come cheap, and thinks that Calgary provides a very good opportunity for him to regain his confidence and return to form.

I'm nervous if the Flames sign Talbot. Cause his past few years have been rocky at best. But I trust Duha's word more than any other insider. I remember two years ago Steinberg asked him who he thought the Flames should target to play on the top line for the Flames. And he said Elias Lindholm, and I thought there is no way he would be a good fit on the Flames. Boy, was I wrong.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Hilarious. Qualifying Rittich does not preclude the option of the Flames doing their due diligence.


Rittich has not yet been signed because the QO deadline is not for another two hours. I don't foresee a realistic scenario in which the Flames opt not to qualify their second-year NHL goalie who just posted 27 wins. If he is qualified he will be signed.

I will go back and review my posts where I discussed Flames not qualifying Rittich.

[bax]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

This is the same GM that has been in in on multiple goalie trades and signings over last few years. Guys like Bishop and Fleury were almost Flames. The main reason we won’t likely see a big $ starter is that the Flames simply don’t have the cap room.

I think the main reason is because there isn't any big name starters available. The only guy is Bobrovsky and it's been widely reported that he wants to go to a city with a large Russian community- probably Florida.

Even if Treliving did pull off a move for Bishop or Fleury I think he would still want a quality back up. Instead of a 41-41 split I think he would to see something like 50-32.