[News] Flames sign Goaltender Tom McCollum to two-year, two-way contract

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by getbak

It looks McCollum was with the Kings on a PTO. Reports last night were that Quick could miss up to 4 months with his injury. At the very least, you'd think that would open the door for a backup job in the AHL for the Kings.


I wonder if this could mean the Flames are looking to flip Rittich to LA? The Kings don't appear to have any other goalies signed with Quick injured, Budaj and Zatkoff in LA, and Campbell as the only goalie in Ontario.

How about a swap of recent 2nd round picks? Mason McDonald for Erik Cernak?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by getbak

It looks McCollum was with the Kings on a PTO. Reports last night were that Quick could miss up to 4 months with his injury. At the very least, you'd think that would open the door for a backup job in the AHL for the Kings.


I wonder if this could mean the Flames are looking to flip Rittich to LA? The Kings don't appear to have any other goalies signed with Quick injured, Budaj and Zatkoff in LA, and Campbell as the only goalie in Ontario.

I don't think they flip Rittich. They may loan McCollum to Ontario though. Which would make some kind of sense. Kings get a AHL backup while the Flames pay the salary and meet the expansion draft requirements.

Anyways I expect McCollum to be on waivers tomorrow.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

I don't think they flip Rittich. They may loan McCollum to Ontario though. Which would make some kind of sense. Kings get a AHL backup while the Flames pay the salary and meet the expansion draft requirements.

Anyways I expect McCollum to be on waivers tomorrow.

Perhaps they didn't like what they saw from McDonald last night and want him to go back to the Q for another year? That would open a spot up for Rittich down there.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Perhaps they didn't like what they saw from McDonald last night and want him to go back to the Q for another year? That would open a spot up for Rittich down there.

I doubt management make these type of decisions based on one game.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Fire

I doubt management make these type of decisions based on one game.

They've been basically watching him daily since what the beginning of September? It's not hard to imagine it could be the final straw.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

They've been basically watching him daily since what the beginning of September? It's not hard to imagine it could be the final straw.

I find it hard to imagine it being a final straw. McDonald has already spent 4 seasons in junior. No reason for him to go back. Plus he won last night. McCollum was clearly signed for expansion draft reasons.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Fire

I find it hard to imagine it being a final straw. McDonald has already spent 4 seasons in junior. No reason for him to go back. Plus he won last night. McCollum was clearly signed for expansion draft reasons.

Yes he was, but he still needs somewhere to play. The Flames could have just as easily acquired someone later in the season that was a pending RFA and qualify him before the expansion draft but instead they chose now.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Beyond the expansion draft eligibility aspect, McCollum is actually a very nice depth add for the Heat. He's going to keep Stockton competitive in the event of injury, plus he's been around for a while and could groom Gillies a tad. Iron sharpens iron.

[devo22]

McDonald has 150 junior games under his belt plus 20 playoff games. IMO he has nothing left to prove at that level and the ECHL seems to be the right step at this point. Sending him back to juniors does nothing for his development.

I imagine McCollum will be sort of a mentor to Gillies and Rittich in Stockton, or maybe (less likely) Rittich goes to Adirondack too. The signing seemed weird at first, but with regards to the expansion draft, it makes sense. Plus he's played more than 200 AHL games already, the Heat can probably do with some experience in net.

[Caged Great]

This year's Kevin Poulin.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Yes he was, but he still needs somewhere to play. The Flames could have just as easily acquired someone later in the season that was a pending RFA and qualify him before the expansion draft but instead they chose now.

Price may have increased as teams got closer to a potential issue with their rosters. Best to take care of this type of stuff early.

[You Need a Thneed]

I wonder if this means that the Flames will not extend more than one other goalie before the expansion draft, essentially meaning that they can't possibly lose a goalie they want to keep.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by devo22

McDonald has 150 junior games under his belt plus 20 playoff games. IMO he has nothing left to prove at that level and the ECHL seems to be the right step at this point. Sending him back to juniors does nothing for his development.

I imagine McCollum will be sort of a mentor to Gillies and Rittich in Stockton, or maybe (less likely) Rittich goes to Adirondack too. The signing seemed weird at first, but with regards to the expansion draft, it makes sense. Plus he's played more than 200 AHL games already, the Heat can probably do with some experience in net.

How does he have nothing left to prove? He was only a starter for 2 years and only finished 6 games over .500 in each of those seasons and had very little playoff success. A 30 win season or a long a long playoff run would be proving something new.

Stockton only play 68 games, 3 goalies is far too many. Especially when one is the organizations top prospect (arguably) and another is AHL starter quality. If Gillies and McCollum are in Stockton I doubt there is room for Rittich too.

Originally Posted by Caged Great

This year's Kevin Poulin.

Other than the fact it's a 2 year contract.

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Price may have increased as teams got closer to a potential issue with their rosters. Best to take care of this type of stuff early.

Fair enough.

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I wonder if this means that the Flames will not extend more than one other goalie before the expansion draft, essentially meaning that they can't possibly lose a goalie they want to keep.

The only goalies they could potentially lose are Elliott (if he is extended), Johnson (if he is extended) and now McCollum. I doubt both Elliott and Johnson will be back next year.

[sureLoss]

Wes Gilbertson @WesGilbertson
For those wondering after addition of G Tom McCollum, #Flames will go with three goalies in Stockton, at least for now.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Wes Gilbertson @WesGilbertson
For those wondering after addition of G Tom McCollum, #Flames will go with three goalies in Stockton, at least for now.

That should go well.

[McG]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Wes Gilbertson @WesGilbertson
For those wondering after addition of G Tom McCollum, #Flames will go with three goalies in Stockton, at least for now.

Because it was such a success for the Flames! /greentext