Confirmed: MacDonald on waivers

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by Muta

Different opinions then. I saw great reflexes, good lateral movement, able to read plays well. Problem is, he could never do those all simultaneously.

I seriously question whether you can see anything at all.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

Sounds like we are throwing in the towel on the rebuild.

Originally Posted by codynw

How is waiving a 33 year old MacDonald so the younger guys can get some games throwing in the towel on the rebuild?

[SHOGUN]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Did you hear a rumour about Bryz coming to the Flames at Orange Julius too?

Bryz to the Flames would be one of the worst moves in recent memory.

For 1-2 mill per, it would be great move.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

This thread was better before we started talking about Muta's feelings.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Hells Bells

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muta

Different opinions then. I saw great reflexes, good lateral movement, able to read plays well. Problem is, he could never do those all simultaneously.

I seriously question whether you can see anything at all.

Zing!


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[Muta]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

This thread was better before we started talking about Muta's feelings.

Agreed. And I didn't start it.


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[strombad]

Originally Posted by Muta

Agreed. And I didn't start it.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by strombad

[getbak]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

For 1-2 mill per, it would be great move.

To what end? Would he make the Flames better enough to be a playoff team? If they made the playoffs, would they be good enough to win a round or two?

A few extra wins isn't going to be a significant benefit at the end of the year. An extra 8 points in the standings isn't likely to be enough to get them in the playoffs, but might change their draft position 5 or 6 spots.


Also, it's not like Bryz played like a superstar in Philly. His success in Phoenix appears to be more the result of their system in Phoenix than it was about his personal greatness.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by getbak

To what end? Would he make the Flames better enough to be a playoff team? If they made the playoffs, would they be good enough to win a round or two?

A few extra wins isn't going to be a significant benefit at the end of the year. An extra 8 points in the standings isn't likely to be enough to get them in the playoffs, but might change their draft position 5 or 6 spots.


Also, it's not like Bryz played like a superstar in Philly. His success in Phoenix appears to be more the result of their system in Phoenix than it was about his personal greatness.

I agree with everything you've said and I definitely do NOT believe Bryzgalov is a good solution to our goaltending issues.

However, it is really disappointing to see so many great efforts wasted by well below average goaltending. Don't get me wrong, there's been times where our goalies have been completely left out to dry, but the Flames are not getting the big saves when they need it very often. Allowing goals like the SH one against T.O. and that brutal third goal against Detroit are completely deflating.

Hopefully Berra can come in and help out, but who knows at this point.

[browna]

Originally Posted by getbak

To what end? Would he make the Flames better enough to be a playoff team? If they made the playoffs, would they be good enough to win a round or two?

A few extra wins isn't going to be a significant benefit at the end of the year. An extra 8 points in the standings isn't likely to be enough to get them in the playoffs, but might change their draft position 5 or 6 spots.

Tough call. Could you argue that in the first 13 games that the Flames could have 3 more points with slightly above average goaltending (whoever that may be)? Even after taking away some of the intangibles, and blind hate for McDonald, it could be argued yes, 2 points last night as a start and the SH goal vs Toronto (Ramo). Toss in tight games vs ANA, WSH on the road, and who knows.

Extrapolate 3 points every 13 games, over 82 games and we're at 18 points-ish more, not 8.

Is the team around him good enough for 82 games to keep up a current pace (but add a win instead of a loss, and a shootout/ot loss instead of an outright loss) every 13 games, with the coach cracking the whip early and now sending out weekly "messages" to skilled players? Clearly that's the million $ question, and its leaning toward no, IMO. But, if they believe that a better goalie can get them a win every 10-15 games on his own, and pull another one into a shootout, then the math works differently.

On another note, with McDonald's comments, you almost wonder if he knew before the game that he was on his way out after, no matter what.

Regardless, the shine has worn off him for coaches and the GM, so its off to the next new toy, the ones in the offseason promised to be better than McDonald, so we'll see.

[Hells Bells]

Zatkoff with the shutout @ CLB tonight. Maybe Joey Mac clears.

I hope not, I'd hate to see him take games away from Ortio.

[C_of_Red28]

I personally liked Joey Mac over Ramo.. So far I haven't been impressed with Ramo

[DeluxeMoustache]

^ Bad comments by MacDonald. You don't call out your team, especially as a career backup, and even more so in being dismissive of your own gaffe on the GWG.

Ramo has been ok except for lateral movement in the game 1 shootout and that goal that got through him against the leafs.

Wonder if Hartley is regretting his request of Kipper to earn his time and gifting Joey a lot of starts last year. Because I think with Kipper, the Flames pull points out of both of the last 2 games.

MacDonald has from day 1 had issues with positioning and rebound control, but good compete, and seems to have marginally succeeded in spite of himself.

[FlameZilla]

Bryzgalov would get lit-up like a Christmas tree playing behind our current defence. Not a viable option IMO.

The first step to improving the goaltending situation is to improve the defence. Until that's achieved then there's no point acquiring a goalie who is going to be made to look foolish playing behind a sieve.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Bryzgalov would get lit-up like a Christmas tree playing behind our current defence. Not a viable option IMO.

The first step to improving the goaltending situation is to improve the defence. Until that's achieved then there's no point acquiring a goalie who is going to be made to look foolish playing behind a sieve.

So a better defense will allow our goalies to stop getting scored on from the corner, behind our own goal line?

Could our defense core be improved? Sure, but I think they're playing just fine given their "pedigree". Besides, overall team defense isn't just about the defensemen and I think our forward group have been helping out more this season than they have in years.

Also, giving up the 12th most shots per game in the league should not equal giving up the 29th most goals per game.....IMO the amount of quality scoring chances I've seen the team give up doesn't justify our goalies' pathetic sub .890 combined save percentages.

Just to be clear, I don't want to bring in Bryz, I'm just of the opinion that our goaltending has by far been our weakest point so far this season.

[badger89]

MacDonald is being waved to give Berra a chance. That's it. They're not going to go and get another goalie yet (Bryz or otherwise). Need to see what we have in Ramo and Berra first.

Also wouldn't be surprised to see MacDonald clear. He could even be recalled at some point if Berra falters.

Lots of overreaction in this thread.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

So a better defense will allow our goalies to stop getting scored on from the corner, behind our own goal line?

Could our defense core be improved? Sure, but I think they're playing just fine given their "pedigree". Besides, overall team defense isn't just about the defensemen and I think our forward group have been helping out more this season than they have in years.

Also, giving up the 12th most shots per game in the league should not equal giving up the 29th most goals per game.....IMO the amount of quality scoring chances I've seen the team give up doesn't justify our goalies' pathetic sub .890 combined save percentages.

Just to be clear, I don't want to bring in Bryz, I'm just of the opinion that our goaltending has by far been our weakest point so far this season.

The main issue with the defence is that our best Dmen aren't big or strong enough to clear the crease. Other than the handful of pitifully weak goals I'd say most of the goals I've seen us concede this season have been really dirty rebound goals in the crease where our Dmen have been embarrassingly outmuscled and pwned. If we had some stronger bodies with smarter postitioning I think the goalies would be posting slightly better stats.

Ideally I'd like to see both Defence and Goaltending upgraded. Management might be of the opinion that Ramo and Berra are capable stop-gaps until Gillies is ready. Probably a sensible position to take in the midst of a rebuild as truly capable number 1 goalie is expensive to acquire. If they could acquire some stronger defencemen to compliment the abilities of Wideman, Brodie and Russell I think it would take some of the heat off of these inexperienced new goalies.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

The main issue with the defence is that our best Dmen aren't big or strong enough to clear the crease. Other than the handful of pitifully weak goals I'd say most of the goals I've seen us concede this season have been really dirty rebound goals in the crease where our Dmen have been embarrassingly outmuscled and pwned. If we had some stronger bodies with smarter postitioning I think the goalies would be posting slightly better stats.

Ideally I'd like to see both Defence and Goaltending upgraded. Management might be of the opinion that Ramo and Berra are capable stop-gaps until Gillies is ready. Probably a sensible position to take in the midst of a rebuild as truly capable number 1 goalie is expensive to acquire. If they could acquire some stronger defencemen to compliment the abilities of Wideman, Brodie and Russell I think it would take some of the heat off of these inexperienced new goalies.

If anything, acquiring a number one G is not as costly as you indicate if you look at past transactions. Apart from Varlamov, G market is soft. STL picked up Halak for cents on the dollar. Wouldn't want us to part with a prospect to get a number one and would like us to see what we have in Ramo/Berra/Ortio/Broissoit before we look externally. But I do agree that upgrading the D will in turn upgrade the G.

[Vinny01]

Halak for cents on the $? Eller was a top 15 pick and is developing into a fine 2nd line C. I take Eller over Halak any day