Karri Ramo

[tvp2003]

Article from the Sun yesterday that I thought was worth posting:

Flames head coach Bob Hartley said Ramo’s play is one of many positive stories that have evolved during the rebuilding season.

“I love Karri,” Hartley said. “I sat with him (Thursday) morning.

“Let’s remember this guy had the big ankle surgery in the middle of the summer.

“He showed up to camp and he was medically cleared. But was he great? Absolutely not.”

Hartley said Ramo, who will turn 28 on Canada Day, has come a long way from Day 1 and has had to battle his way through a few injuries to do it.

“I saw him after every game,” Hartley said. “Ice bags and ice bags.

“And it was tough to get back in an NHL rhythm. He needed time.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/04/10...-goalie-crease

This is the first time I heard of Ramo having ankle surgery this summer... it also helps to explain the slow start (in addition to getting used to NHL-sized ice).

From the rest of the article -- unless something changes, Hartley clearly likes Ramo and sees him as the likely #1 next season.

Also liked this part:

Hartley said Ramo’s work ethic and ability to shrug off negativity have allowed him to make major strides this season.

“It’s his mental strength,” Hartley said. “He’s not a normal goalie. You can touch his goalie mask and you can move his pads. You can talk to him and he’s great.

And he’s always working. He’s stretching, he’s lifting, he’s riding the bike. He’s the first guy on the ice for practice. So then you see him dominate in games and it’s pretty simple.”

[keenan87]

This explains why Berra played a lot more than Ramo at the start of the season

[PeteMoss]

I wasn't a huge fan of his at the beginning of the year... but when you look at his stats in comparison to the other guys who've suited up this year, they are outstanding.

And he's been good for a while now. Since the end of November he's got a .923 save percentage, with no month lower than .911.

[Enoch Root]

Looking at his season in 10 game segments (record / GAA / S%):

1st 10: 3-4-1 / 3.23 / 0.890
2nd 10: 4-4-2 / 2.57 / 0.910
3rd 10: 5-2-1 / 1.97 / 0.930
4th 10: 5-3-0 / 2.34 /0.931

Or taking the 1st half vs the 2nd half of the season:

1st: 7-8-3 / 2.88 / 0.900
2nd: 10-5-1 / 2.15 / 0.930

(for goalies with at least 20 games) his 2nd half stats would rank him 10th overall in GAA and 4th in save percentage

[GreenLantern2814]

Soooooo.... Best goalie outside the NHL or what?

[Major Major]

Great stuff, I also don't recall anyone talking about the post season ankle surgery. The comments on the mental side of his game are the most encouraging. The power of the Canada Day birthday is strong in this one.

[Imported_Aussie]

Ramo is what the team needs now - a goalie who can win games for them, could be a #1 going forward on a playoff team, or a good 1B option as young guys push for time, or valuable trade chip if he is pushed by a guy like Ortio

[GranteedEV]

It's wierd, and possibly influenced by sample size but Ramo is a completely different player on the road. I can't help but wonder if he simply gets nervous early in games at Saddledome:

Home: .891
Away: .931

That's a 4% difference... basically that one backbreaking softy he always seems to let in at home. Or maybe it's that one overly fancy turnover someone always seems to make in the first period.

Compare that to other guys hovering in the ~.912 sv% range - none of these guys are higher OR lower - Ramo covers BOTH extremes:

Hiller:
Home: .906
Away: .920

Ward
Home: .928
Away: .902

Bishop
Home: .924
Away: .895

Miller:
Home: .912
Away: .914

Niemi
Home: .899
Away: .926

Bobrovsky
Home: .913
Away: .913

Halak
Home: .911
Away: .909

I find it interesting that for Ramo, the road is a comfort zone. Maybe he's going to blow up next year in a non-Hockey market where there's no one to impress.

[Erick Estrada]

Hiller's stats are better away also which may point to the Flames simply playing a more defensively tighter game on the road and at home maybe trying too hard to put on a show for the fans.

[hariton]

Good work, Karri!!

[DeluxeMoustache]

Ramo has been very good, with some exceptions.

The D has largely been a mess. D is not only several games of guys like Dougie struggling to adapt, Gio getting back in to form after not only missing time but major surgery, plus bumps in the road with the 5 man unit, and the odd brain farts like Brodie (who is frankly the best D by a large margin so far) to Jagr (I just wish that when Brodie bungled the play that Jagr had sufficient time to regrow the luxurious mullet he has promised)