[News] Flames expanding goalie deparment. Sigalet named director. Labarbera new goalie coach

[tvp2003]

I read "Flames expanding goalie..." and thought it would be a Medvedev update...

[DomeFoam]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

This makes sense to me. I guess Sigalet has been good at spotting goaltending talent. Is that all based on Rittich? I'm not very clear on what his role has been thus far in "procuring" goaltending talent.

IIRC MacKinnon was scouting Daniel Pribyl in the Czech league and was enamoured by Rittich in net for the same team. I think he turned Sigalet on to him and Sigalet was essentially the guy that developed the relationship with him and brought him over. Rittich is still a very good goaltender, I would argue a top 5 goalie for his role in the league and still has potential to become a solid starter. So I think Sigalets eye for talent and potential is substantiated by this story a little bit. I like the move.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

This makes sense to me. I guess Sigalet has been good at spotting goaltending talent. Is that all based on Rittich? I'm not very clear on what his role has been thus far in "procuring" goaltending talent.

Chechelev was allegedly a Sigalet choice as well. Jury still out, but early returns are promising.

[dammage79]

Glad to see the position get a focus group. I dont think they've done poorly per se of acquiring the talent, but development has been something left to be desired. Also, Labarbera 9s a good hire IMO. If anything I think he will help Rittich manage the doldrums of being a pure #2 behind Markstrom.

[Jacks]

Glad to see something change. I couldn't pick Sigalet out of a police lineup and have no idea how good or bad he is but considering we haven't developed a #1 goalie since the 80's something must need fixing.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I read this as freeing up Sigalet for doing the things he has shown success at: Talent identification, relationship building, and the mental side of keeping goalies happy. Meanwhile the flames get to also bring in someone who might be superior at actual developing and maintaining the in game skills of the goalies.

Not an indictment of anyone, just a realization that improvement is still possible.

Agreed. I think Sigalet's strengths lay in what he's now doing.

Rittich had crumbled mentally the last two seasons down the stretch.

Of course this is on Rittich but going back to Hiller and Elliot even, mental breakdowns in key times February onwards, were a trend for this organization that happened under his watch.

Besides a new approach to the day to day teaching, simply a new day to day voice and differing opinion also will help.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by transplant99

So much so, they just gave him a promotion!

Kind of like how Kevin Lowe got promoted from GM to vice-chairman of Oilers Entertainment Group. Really though when it comes to scouting I like the idea of a goaltender coach being utilized to evaluate amateur and professional goaltending talent. Can't see any downsides to this.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by browna

Agreed. I think Sigalet's strengths lay in what he's now doing.

Rittich had crumbled mentally the last two seasons down the stretch.

Of course this is on Rittich but going back to Hiller and Elliot even, mental breakdowns in key times February onwards, were a trend for this organization that happened under his watch.

Besides a new approach to the day to day teaching, simply a new day to day voice and differing opinion also will help.

Crumbled mentally. You do know Rittich was actually injured each of the last 2 seasons, correct?

Elbow injury last year when the season was paused

https://www.nhl.com/news/calgary-fla...te/c-316506632

One day before leaving [Calgary], I had gotten a plasma injection into my elbow that had been bruised and I had some stretched tendons there… I could not do anything for a week. … This week, I started to exercise a bit and recover. I am in quarantine, so it was a bit of a problem to get some workout equipment from the fitness center. My friend is going to lend me some stuff here in Jihlava so that I can start with some preparations. So far it has been only working out with my own body weight

Knee injury the year before. Well known that he suffered it New Year’s Eve and it lingered the rest of the year

https://calgarysun.com/sports/hockey...ng-knee-injury


If you want to expand your analysis and question his durability, I could see that.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Kind of like how Kevin Lowe got promoted from GM to vice-chairman of Oilers Entertainment Group...

Except not even remotely the same, since Sigalet's new position looks like an actual job.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Except not even remotely the same, since Sigalet's new position looks like an actual job.

A job that actually plays to his strengths too

[Enoch Root]

Great to see them adding depth to the ... ... process.

And Team Canada is as good of a learning ground as Labarbera could get. This is all good news.

[hah]

"Dilbert Principle" for Sigalet, he should have parted company with the team.


Like the new hire.

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by calumniate

Tre said process - drink!

twice!

Double drink!

[bubbsy]

Feels like they are separating the tactical (day to day goalie coaching) vs the strategic (scouting/drafting/development/etc) roles.


It's no secret that other than trading for Kipper, this organization has basically sucked in almost all regards of goaltending player procurement (scouting, drafting, developing, improving) for decades now.



I don't know how long Sigalet has been part of that group of failures, but I always find it interesting when folk that haven't been able to crush it in the performance of their current roles get promoted up. It's rarely been a good idea with solid results in my professional experience in organizations. Here's hoping this is different....

[topfiverecords]

Nice, LaBarbera and his wife are good people.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Crumbled mentally. You do know Rittich was actually injured each of the last 2 seasons, correct?

Elbow injury last year when the season was paused

https://www.nhl.com/news/calgary-fla...te/c-316506632


Knee injury the year before. Well known that he suffered it New Year’s Eve and it lingered the rest of the year

https://calgarysun.com/sports/hockey...ng-knee-injury


If you want to expand your analysis and question his durability, I could see that.

I think "crumbled mentally" is an exaggeration, but it bears pointing out that Rittich's numbers were not great heading into the break. He was 10-10 with a 0.899 SP since 10 December. I think there was clearly something more than just an injury going on there.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Except not even remotely the same, since Sigalet's new position looks like an actual job.

Originally Posted by btimbit

A job that actually plays to his strengths too

Not an actual job... Kevin Lowe.



Ya know I actually do,.. see them both in places that suit their strengths,

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Sigalet scouted Rittich, and turned a free asset into a NHL goalie from out of nowhere. He seems to have an eye for talent.

Although I agree I think it may be accurate to say the Flames' European scouts identified Rittich (and perhaps it was someone on Rittich's club team that passed the info to a scout) and then maybe Sigalet signed off (which would entail a deep research project)?

I could be wrong but I don't think Sigalet saw him on tape while watching pro leagues around the world and said sign that man.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Feels like they are separating the tactical (day to day goalie coaching) vs the strategic (scouting/drafting/development/etc) roles.


It's no secret that other than trading for Kipper, this organization has basically sucked in almost all regards of goaltending player procurement (scouting, drafting, developing, improving) for decades now.



I don't know how long Sigalet has been part of that group of failures, but I always find it interesting when folk that haven't been able to crush it in the performance of their current roles get promoted up. It's rarely been a good idea with solid results in my professional experience in organizations. Here's hoping this is different....

I assume he must be a really good guy and the organization likes the person as a lot of organizations would have turned the page on the goaltending coach after a run the Flames had. Nothing wrong with keeping good people and finding roles they are suited for which is what appears they did here.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Although I agree I think it may be accurate to say the Flames' European scouts identified Rittich (and perhaps it was someone on Rittich's club team that passed the info to a scout) and then maybe Sigalet signed off (which would entail a deep research project)?

I could be wrong but I don't think Sigalet saw him on tape while watching pro leagues around the world and said sign that man.

I believe you are, in fact, wrong about this. I distinctly recall a story a couple years ago about how much Sigalet was pushing for the Flames to sign Rittich and get him over to NA.