Have the Flames found their new number one goalie?

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Henry Fool

I don't think he's necessarily behind the older goalies in the organisation. Having said that, no reason to rush him. I also don't want Berra to take away his AHL starts.

I agree that there is no reason to rush him.

I know what you are saying about Berra taking away starts but I'm just not ready to give up on him. He has lots of natural talent and flashes of brilliance. Better to have Berra getting some starts in Abby than MacDonald.

[MonsieurFish]

Karri Ramo's stats from Oct 3 -Nov 29:

0.884sv% and 3.51 GAA

Nov 30 to Jan 30:

0.917 sv% and 2.34 GAA

[drewtastic]

I'm certainly in the 'Keep Calm and Kari Ramo' camp, at least in the short-term like Jiri said. He brings a calm to the team that is infectious.


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[SeanCharles]

Out of the 5 under contract I think only 3 will be back.

Burke said they would draft a goalie in the later rounds in the upcoming draft so they want something different in the pipeline. He also said goaltending needed improving.

Gillies and Ortio will be brought along at whatever pace their play dictates but likely it will be slow.

Next season I predict Ortio and Berra will be in Abbey. Gillies at Providence and Ramo and some unknown on the Flames...

Roy and MacDonald will likely be let go..it's not unfathomable to imagine Berra being cut loose either.

I'm excited to see Ortio when he finally makes it..

[macrov]

Originally Posted by jaginla

Maybe feaster was actually a genius and Brian Burke just burked him.

That cammy + ramo for bourque + 2nd looks like a steal, especially if we trade cammy for a first...then it becomes:

1st + ramo for 2nd + bourque

[djsFlames]

Rambo is the man.

Been saying so for a few weeks. He's cranked up the consistency for some time now, yet people were still arguing for Berra every time he lost a game, but he never lost any in a landslide. Has kept it respectable for the most part. Also, the dude can win games in regulation. That must count for something.

I wouldn't hate keeping Berra around for backup duty and to work with the trainers on improving, but Ortio to me looks like he's poised to come up and grab the backup spot for himself.

[ForeverFlameFan]

When your goalie can manage to be over .500 with this kind of team, I think he deserves it.

[dying4acup]

I fear that ortio may become impatient when his rookie deal expires(not sure if it's 2014 or 2015) and he can sign as a free agent (RFA) in the KHL, or somewhere else.

Ramo is clearly #1 now, so I would like to see Berra go down and start 8-10games, and give Ortio an NHL look (and paycheck) for a few weeks, and keep him motivated. I do honestly want to see what he's got.

[Freeway]

Flames play better at even strength, on the PP and on the PK with Ramo. They generate more shots, generate more goals and generate more scoring chances. He has better metrics (wins, save percentage, goals against) than Berra.

[irrevocable]

I think Ramo is fine for the next 3-4 years. Berra.. love ya dude, but we're fine without you.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

I fear that ortio may become impatient when his rookie deal expires(not sure if it's 2014 or 2015) and he can sign as a free agent (RFA) in the KHL, or somewhere else.

Ramo is clearly #1 now, so I would like to see Berra go down and start 8-10games, and give Ortio an NHL look (and paycheck) for a few weeks, and keep him motivated. I do honestly want to see what he's got.

This is the final year of Ortio's ELC, but it's his first full season in North America. If he wants to continue following his NHL dream, he'll likely have to sign a two-way deal for next season, with the understanding that he'll most likely at least start the season in Abbotsford. He's unlikely to get a better offer from any other NHL team, and as a goalie, he's exempt from waivers for another season, so the Flames pretty much hold all the cards if he wants to be an NHLer.

He's basically in the same situation Ramo was in when he decided to go to Russia. He could go that same route, or choose to go back to Finland or another of the European leagues, but if he still wants to follow his NHL dream, he'll have to do it on the Flames' terms.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by getbak

This is the final year of Ortio's ELC, but it's his first full season in North America. If he wants to continue following his NHL dream, he'll likely have to sign a two-way deal for next season, with the understanding that he'll most likely at least start the season in Abbotsford. He's unlikely to get a better offer from any other NHL team, and as a goalie, he's exempt from waivers for another season, so the Flames pretty much hold all the cards if he wants to be an NHLer.



He's basically in the same situation Ramo was in when he decided to go to Russia. He could go that same route, or choose to go back to Finland or another of the European leagues, but if he still wants to follow his NHL dream, he'll have to do it on the Flames' terms.

That's the issue though. Why be patient, and take 5 figures, when a 7-figure salary is out there? If I was in the same situation, I would be stupid not to take a 7-figure salary seriously!

[Caged Great]

Ramo has become the number 1. I would not write Berra off though. Keep both through the year and sign Berra to a 1 year 2 way contract and let Ortio/Berra fight it out in preseason next year.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

That's the issue though. Why be patient, and take 5 figures, when a 7-figure salary is out there? If I was in the same situation, I would be stupid not to take a 7-figure salary seriously!

Because it is so, SO much harder coming back into the NHL if he ultimately wants to play here. After only one season of NA professional hockey, Ortio probably only considers the KHL if he does not think the NHL will be an option for him at any point of his career. He will stay because he hasn't had enough time yet to make that decision. If he was 25-years-old and still not on an NHL roster, then I think the KHL becomes a real viable option, but not now.

[Da_Chief]

Ramo is clearly much better the Berra. Remember, most starters in the NHL come out of nowhere and for the first while their management spends time trying to upgrade them. The likes of Thomas, Lundqvist, Crawford, Quick etc all had to battle for playing time and eventually turned into really good goalies.

He's done quite well despite having to play behind the like of SOB, Wideman, Butler and whatever other useless D's we've thrown out there.

Righ now, I don't see why Ramo can't be that #1. Fins work for us and hopefully he just keeps improving.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by bluck

I honestly feel it's not even close.

Pretty much this. I think Burke is going to address the goaltending issue sooner than we think.

[BurningSteel]

I like Jay Feaster.

[strombad]

I don't think they've found their new number one in the traditional sense of a guy who can be counted on for wins, but he's certainly been more dependable than Berra for the past couple months.

I'm down will having him hold down the fort for now. Ideally next season I'd like Ortio and Gillies in the A, Ramo and Berra (or a FA) on the Flames. I'd also be ok with having Gillies rock the ECHL for a season and having Ortio and Berra in the A. I still think Berra has some immense talent, I think he just needs to calm down and put it together. It'd be a shame to see him off so early.

[AcGold]

Berra seems more physically gifted while Ramo is smarter at the game of hockey presently, it's tough. In a year or two Berra could be much better, send Berra down and let him get more practice and then we'll see, unwise to completely abandon someone with so much potential. Berra seems to try to do too much and win the game on his own and ends up making dumb mistakes.

[Poe969]

He's a number 1 goalie on a bad team. I hope people don't think he's the future goalie of the Flames after the rebuild. Sure he has a few good games but he has more bad games. I do want to keep him on the team but I do hope that long term he isn't our #1 guy