I would prefer to see us go with Ramo and Berra off the bat.
MacDonald should easily pass through waivers and can be called up in case neither works out. Berra and Ramo stand a chance to establish themselves as relatively young assets of value and I would hate to see a rebuilding team dedicate too many games to a guaranteed deadend asset like MacDonald even if it costs us a few games in the short term. We have to think big picture.
A veteran presence is always a good thing to have around the net. MacDonald, if he proves himself as a solid backup, will have value himself.
Too much uncertainty, even for a rebuilding team, to go with two goalies who've never played in the NHL. If they can't beat out MacDonald for the spot, they don't deserve it.
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I would prefer to see us go with Ramo and Berra off the bat.
MacDonald should easily pass through waivers and can be called up in case neither works out. Berra and Ramo stand a chance to establish themselves as relatively young assets of value and I would hate to see a rebuilding team dedicate too many games to a guaranteed deadend asset like MacDonald even if it costs us a few games in the short term. We have to think big picture.
Assuming Kipper is gone ()
I'd rather they start with MacDonald since he's earned it last year. He fought hard against bad odds and he did better than most of us thought he would;
He fought hard to finally be in a position to contend for a starting goalie position. I do not think he will disappoint.
Let Berra/Ramo beat him out.
That I think is the most fair and sends the best message to the team.
I would prefer to see us go with Ramo and Berra off the bat.
MacDonald should easily pass through waivers and can be called up in case neither works out. Berra and Ramo stand a chance to establish themselves as relatively young assets of value and I would hate to see a rebuilding team dedicate too many games to a guaranteed deadend asset like MacDonald even if it costs us a few games in the short term. We have to think big picture.
Like he did last year? MacDonald is a decent veteran backup who can provide some leadership to the younglings. There's a chance he gets through waivers, but I think there are a few teams that would be happy to pick him up. That said, if he is outperformed by both Berra and Ramo in training camp, they should absolutely go with the new guy tandem. They didn't sign MacDonald to be an AHL goalie, though.
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I would prefer to see us go with Ramo and Berra off the bat.
MacDonald should easily pass through waivers and can be called up in case neither works out. Berra and Ramo stand a chance to establish themselves as relatively young assets of value and I would hate to see a rebuilding team dedicate too many games to a guaranteed deadend asset like MacDonald even if it costs us a few games in the short term. We have to think big picture.
I want something similar but you need an experienced goalie and can't go with two rookies. Maybe, if Kipper wants to stick around as a goaltending coach.
I would like to see a 50/50 split of tending duties next season, between either Ramo/Mac or Berra/Mac, whoever of the two europeans wins the second spot.
Cause Mac certainly doesn't deserve to be shafted to backup playtime after proving himself behind our youngster last season as well as having that experience, but at the same time we need to give enough playtime to one of our euros to see if we have a potential future starter. So a 1a/1b split would be most ideal imo. It's going to be fun.
I want something similar but you need an experienced goalie and can't go with two rookies. Maybe, if Kipper wants to stick around as a goaltending coach.
If Kipper is going to stick around Calgary, he would rather play.
I fully expect him to retire and go back to Finland
I want something similar but you need an experienced goalie and can't go with two rookies. Maybe, if Kipper wants to stick around as a goaltending coach.
It's hard trying to peg anyone into the spots available. Our current stable of goalies is just too unproven to accurately guess where each one winds up. Hopefully Ramo, Berra, and Brossoit all have great training camps and we have a nice problem of trying to figure out who stays with the big club. If Ortio or Berra look like the ones likely relegated
to ECHL, any chance they stay in Europe? If Ramo is out played would he rather bolt back to the KHL instead of an AHL assignment? Is Brossoit eligible to return to the WHL of he's relegated to the ECHL? If all any 2 of Berra, Ramo, Ortio or Brossoit out play MacDonald would it be worth it to make him the starter in the AHL or should the young guys get the most of the playing time in the minors? So many questions. Training camp is going to be very interesting.
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Hoping the multi -year deal is 2 years, more than likely is. I am skeptical on the "best 2 goalies outside the NHL", but i do hope Ramo at least shows he can be a full time NHL backup.
My guess for money is $1.5 million a year for 2 years for Ramo.
Like he did last year? MacDonald is a decent veteran backup who can provide some leadership to the younglings. There's a chance he gets through waivers, but I think there are a few teams that would be happy to pick him up. That said, if he is outperformed by both Berra and Ramo in training camp, they should absolutely go with the new guy tandem. They didn't sign MacDonald to be an AHL goalie, though.
Yeah he's even less likely to pass through waivers now. He was coming off a back injury when we picked him up and he performed well last year. If Ramo and Berra both do well enough then I'd have no problem with them displacing MacDonald but not before then. If there's no room for MacDonald even though plays the same as last year he might even be able to be traded for a late pick instead of sending him on waivers.
He did at the beginning of the season when it is a lot easier to sneak players down through waivers. I really doubt any team would be claiming him on October 3rd (he wasn't THAT impressive last year). And there are no re-entry waivers, so if one of Ramo or Berra didn't work out, he could be re-called easily.
I am just saying that right off the bat, I would prefer to give Ramo and Berra both shots, not that I would stick with them throughout the season no matter what. I would just hate to see either one of them get buried right out of camp without an NHL crash course for the sake of half-hearted effort of trying to win a couple more games with MacDonald. As much as people want to build up MacDonald, he is not a difference maker for any NHL team and would be a 3rd stringer on most teams.
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It's hard trying to peg anyone into the spots available. Our current stable of goalies is just too unproven to accurately guess where each one winds up. Hopefully Ramo, Berra, and Brossoit all have great training camps and we have a nice problem of trying to figure out who stays with the big club. If Ortio or Berra look like the ones likely relegated
to ECHL, any chance they stay in Europe? If Ramo is out played would he rather bolt back to the KHL instead of an AHL assignment? Is Brossoit eligible to return to the WHL of he's relegated to the ECHL? If all any 2 of Berra, Ramo, Ortio or Brossoit out play MacDonald would it be worth it to make him the starter in the AHL or should the young guys get the most of the playing time in the minors? So many questions. Training camp is going to be very interesting.
I don't think Ramo would go back to the KHL if he's got a multi-year deal with us. I'd imagine he's got a 2-way contract set up to pay him well in the AHL since he's in such a good bargaining position with good pay in the KHL as the Flames' competition.
I also think Berra would stick it out and just try to battle his way back up if he landed in the ECHL. He obviously wants to give North America a shot and he can re-evaluate after his one-year contract is up. I don't think it's very likely Berra would get sent to the AHL because the Swiss league is pretty decent, he did well in the world championships, and if he struggles in the AHL they'll probably keep him there as the backup for a while with a better goalie coach to try to get him on track.
Ortio on the other hand would be the likely one to go back to Finland because he'd get quality starts in good league and he apparently has a good goalie coach there. The Flames would probably be just as happy with Ortio over there if things weren't going well whereas with the other guys leaving they wouldn't.
I can't see them spending assets on a high profile goalie until they find out what they've got in Ramo/Berra
From the sounds of it they already went after Bernier last season. Plus, Conroy said they are looking at their options in net.
Having to many good goalies is a good problem to have. Finding out that Berra/Ramo don't cut it on NA ice and being stuck with MacDonald as your starter would be pretty bad.
I don't think Ramo would go back to the KHL if he's got a multi-year deal with us. I'd imagine he's got a 2-way contract set up to pay him well in the AHL since he's in such a good bargaining position with good pay in the KHL as the Flames' competition.
I think differently. I think Ramo's contract will be one way. There's probably a clause in there that allows him to go back to the KHL if sent down. Guys like Ramo often protect themselves from the AHL.
Yeah he's even less likely to pass through waivers now. He was coming off a back injury when we picked him up and he performed well last year. If Ramo and Berra both do well enough then I'd have no problem with them displacing MacDonald but not before then. If there's no room for MacDonald even though plays the same as last year he might even be able to be traded for a late pick instead of sending him on waivers.
I am not 100% sure, but I think that Feaster mentioned at the Tuesday night season ticket holder session that the way MacDonald's contract was structured, he would not have to clear waivers to be sent down.
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