16/17 Goalie Situation

[Strange Brew]

Too early to plan on Gillies being the answer IMO so still makes sense to draft a goalie and to target a young goalie in trade.

It's also very risky to pencil Ortio as the backup. I don't believe he's back. Ramo is the wildcard and whether he will be healthy at start of season. I do think he gets re-signed unless we get an established NHL starter.

Bishop is an interesting option.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

Trade for Hutchinson, re-sign Ortio and Poulin. Hutchinson is RFA this year, and will sign a 2 year bridge at low dollars.

NHL - Hutchinson / Ortio
AHL - Gilles / Poulin

I can only see a guy like Hutchinson acquired fir the backup role but it's a possibility as they will fill both positions from outside the organization.

[heep223]

Grab Antti Raanta.

Collect all the awesome names!

[Benched]

I actually really like Raanta, think he could be our guy for the right price. 3-4yr contract, nice stop gap for Gillies, and who might actually be 'the guy' if he can bring it consistently. He has to be frustrated getting almost no starts behind Lundqvist.

[flamesfan1297]

Originally Posted by cannon7

Think Neuvirth is the favorite in Philly, so you might be able to pry Steve Mason. Steve Mason is one of those unsung guys who really should be a starter in the NHL.

I just looked up Mason, for some reason I thought he was much older than 27. He's got experience and good stats behind him. I could get on board with a Steve Mason trade

[codynw]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I wouldn't mind giving Cam Ward or Jhonas Enroth a chance off the UFA list if they are available.

Cam Ward is a corpse. Hasn't been a relevant starting goalie for years now.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by codynw

Cam Ward is a corpse. Hasn't been a relevant starting goalie for years now.

He hasn't been that bad this year. Both he and Reimer would be okay stop-gap solutions for a couple years IMO.

Bishop, Mason, Reimer, Ward, Ramo all interest me to some extent if the Flames can't pry a young goalie out of somewhere.

As for young goalies we'd be looking at Murray in PIT who by all accounts is untouchable and the goalie of the future there, Malcolm Subban, not sure who else.

[Krule]

Please do not sign either Ramo or Hiller! They have been given ample opportunity to show what they have to give to the Flames. And it's nothing short of inconsistency! IMHO anyways.

I hope they will be making another attempt at acquiring Murray out of Pittsburg. Barring that, I think Bishop out of TB or Mason out of Philly are sound options.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by codynw

Cam Ward is a corpse. Hasn't been a relevant starting goalie for years now.

He may be an option if he's willing to sign a short term deal. He would likely be plan B in free agency after Reimer.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I think we go after Andersen at the draft. If that is unsuccessful, we sign Reimer on July 1 and trade for Murray from the Penguins.

I think going after Andersen would be a huge mistake. First off he reminds me of Roman Turek. I also don't see him as an upgrade over Ramo who I don't want to bring back either. He will also cost us too much because he is on a division rival. Just pass. I really thought the Leafs would re-up Reimer and they didn't which is great for us because he is a much better goalie than Andersen imo. Reimer at 5/5.5M per over Andersen who will need a new contract plus assets traded for his rights is a no brainer. Sign Ortio. He still has some flaws in his game but he has not hit his peak yet and has all the tools. Run with a Reimer/Ortio tandem next year.

[GranteedEV]

People want to give James Reimer his ask of 6.0M+?

[Funkhouser]

Go after who you want at the Draft: Murray, Bishop, etc...

If you can't grab either, sign Reimer (3x5M) and Ramo (1x2M)
Also try to sign Ortio and give him a shot to secure the backup role.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

People want to give James Reimer his ask of 6.0M+?

Nope. The report was refuted apparently as well.

Who would give Reimer that? Who would outbid us for him at w/e price actually?

I don't think I'd pay him much more if any more than Hiller or Ramo were making.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

People want to give James Reimer his ask of 6.0M+?

His agent denied that and we know he isn't getting that anyhow. I would be ok with 5M or 5.5 even.

[Poe969]

I think we could get Reimer for under 5 and I'd be ok with that. I wouldn't be surprised if he told the leafs that just so they knew he wanted out.

I would prefer Ward over Ramo this July. Ward has looked decent this year and I think he'd be a good mentor and a good example for the kids. Of the UFA's I'd say it's Raanta, Ward, Reimer for me in that order. I'd look at trying to get another teams RFA if possible though.

[Miniac]

Originally Posted by codynw

Ben Hanowski for Carey Price.

Good trade, one can skate and the other can't.

[Nehkara]

James Reimer is a bad goalie. I don't ever want to see him in a Flames uniform.

I like the idea of getting Bishop.

However, Karri Ramo was also quite good from December 1st onwards... might be worthwhile to retain him as we continue the rebuild. Maybe see if we can give Ortio more starts. Do a tandem thing of Ramo/Ortio if we don't acquire Bishop or someone else.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

James Reimer is a bad goalie. I don't ever want to see him in a Flames uniform.

I like the idea of getting Bishop.

However, Karri Ramo was also quite good from December 1st onwards... might be worthwhile to retain him as we continue the rebuild. Maybe see if we can give Ortio more starts. Do a tandem thing of Ramo/Ortio if we don't acquire Bishop or someone else.

He was league average, at best.

Reimer is better than Ramo (I don't want either goalie).

[Erick Estrada]

I'm not 100% sold on James Reimer but it's preposterous to say he's a bad goaltender in the same post where you say Ramo is good.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think Reimer is around as good as Ramo. If it is one thing we see him do, is have a really good stretch followed up with terrible games. He has been wildly inconsistent from what I have seen.

If he comes cheap, sure. I am ok with the Flames signing a cheap goalie off the UFA heap and hope for the best. It would be nauseating to me to give him a big contract, especially with term attached.

If they are trading for a goalie, then they better trade for a good one. If they can't find a significant upgrade on what is available on the UFA front, then please don't spend any assets. If there is a significant upgrade, I don't mind the Flames giving up significant (for a goalie) assets. Obviously no first round pick, but I would go as high as two 2nd round picks, or a 2nd round pick + B prospect. I just don't think goalies get traded for much, unless they are at the very top tier.

Will be interesting to see who ends up landing here. I can't even begin to guess. The only goalie that I know the Flames have been rumored in being interested in is Murray (excluding the last draft, as those they were interested in I would assume would be sticking with their new teams), but I am sure they have kicked a few tires around the league. UFA signing? Older stop-gap? Up can coming younger goalie through trade? Significant asset expenditure on a top-tier goalie?

Will be an interesting year to spend significant assets on a goalie. With the reduction of equipment size on goalies, I would suspect that some goalies trend a bit down relative to other goalies. Bishop is definitely one of the league's better goalies, but perhaps the 'shot-blocker' will have a bit less effective moving forward?

Bishop scares me on the Flames for one reason. Take a look at Tampa's defencemen. What do you notice? They have some HUGE guys there. Hedman 6'6", Sustr 6'7", Coburn 6'5"... One thing I have personally noted (and I admit confirmation bias may be playing into this) is that shot blockers work better with a defence core that has a lot of size and can box guys out better and get at those loose pucks. Smaller defences seem to work better with a goalie that is more of a catcher, with more limited rebounds.

Unfortunately in the last 2 seasons, the Flames have had 2 fairly inconsistent goalies in Ramo and Hiller to test that hypothesis out to a reasonable extent for me. Ramo hasn't swallowed up enough rebounds as one would like from a catcher, which makes it even more difficult to really get a handle on it.

My preference in looking at the Flames - both in the lineup right now, and organizationally down the pipeline - is to do their best in getting a solid catching style goalie of the Finnish school of thought. More emphasis on swallowing-up the puck, and controlling the rebounds when there are. I think Bishop is a very dependable goalie, and he is essentially the league's best shot blocker and would be an absolute instant upgrade for the team, but will his numbers remain anywhere near his career average with smaller defencemen trying to get at those loose pucks and boxing guys out? It is at least a point of concern - or at least, something to think about anyways.

If Hamilton was a bit sturdier and more physical, and played on the top pairing, while Engelland was a bit more dependable as a 2nd pairing defencemen, and Kanzig was developed and dependable on the third pairing, I would be all over Bishop. As it stands now, I really do think the Flames need to focus on getting the best catcher available, especially with guys like Andersson and Kylington coming up through the organization.