Final Cuts - Defensemen & Goalies

[bludawg]

Originally Posted by Zoller

Rittich Valimaki and Prout

Agreed.
Rittich for being slightly calmer than Gillies
Valimaki for his skating
Prout for some toughness

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

People voting for Rittich...why? Is it contract related? Gillies seemed to have the better pre-season

Pre-season is merely the warmup to the season and not always the greatest time to evaluate goalies because of the defensive breakdowns. I put a lot more stock in how Rittich and Gillies played last year in the regular season. IMO Rittich was slightly better and because he's slightly more developed I think he overall makes the most sense to keep up.

Gillies because he missed almost a year due to hip surgery still could use at least another half year to a year starting in the minors for his development. Prove he can be an elite AHL starter.

All around I think it makes the most sense to have Rittich backup and Gillies split time with Parsons.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

I didn't watch all of preseason but from what I did see I saw pleasantly surprised by Prout. He seems to be a very serviceable #6/7 guy. He's not young enough to worry about him being scratched so that makes him a great #7 unlike Andersson. Seemed to me to be very similar in style to Stone and looked at least as good as Stone in the time I saw him.

I guess Valimaki edged out Kulak. I'm fine with that although losing Kulak on waivers would hurt the LHD depth. It's nice if we work one of our young dmen in this year and a LHD makes more sense with the depth on the right.

[dammage79]

Picked Gillies and Andersson. Although I do think the thing is going to be a surprise to most where Andersson-Valimaki make up the 3rd pairing.

And even though I picked gillies, I think the Flames are actually go out and acquire another goalie. using the extra Goalie as part of the trade package.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

People voting for Rittich...why? Is it contract related? Gillies seemed to have the better pre-season

- The game in San Jose, Rittich faced much tougher quality shots than Gillies as the team cleaned it up in the second half. So I kind of toss that one out the window.

- Rittich's technique is more controlled and refined, which gives me more belief that when the Flames play well in front of him, he will make the saves he needs to make. He hasn't played well enough to make a case that he could push Smith out of the starter spot (though Smith's hardly been great), but I think he's our best bet at winning hockey games in the NHL compared to Gillies. Of course he's going to have the occasional off-game where he can't stop a beach ball, so will Smith and so will anybody else. But you can't overvalue those games just like you can't overvalue games where a guy is in the zone and stopping everything. One stat I look at is Quality Start % and Rittich actually led the team last year at .625 (10 of 16 starts were quality starts) - ahead of Smith (.582 or 32/55), Gillies (.556 or 5 of 9), and Lack (0 for 2). Any time you have a quality start, you have a chance to win a game and that's what it boils down to for me. Give him a chance as the backup to give the team a chance.

The last time the Flames had a goalie start 15+ games and post a QS% over .600 was Miikka Kiprusoff back in 2009-10 (44 of 71). That should give some perspective on why I feel most comfortable with him. At the very least he's earned more games to prove himself - I'm not convinced Gillies has.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Gillies, Andersson and Prout. Would prefer Valimaki over Prout, but Valimaki could use a little time in the AHL. Should be up around Christmas after they have an opportunity to move Stone.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by New Era

Gillies, Andersson and Prout. Would prefer Valimaki over Prout, but Valimaki could use a little time in the AHL. Should be up around Christmas after they have an opportunity to move Stone.

That would mean you'd have three RHD at the bottom of the roster. And none of Stone, Prout or Andersson has proven they can play their off side. I'd go so far as to say none of them have the skating to play their off side. I'd say that would be a pretty big mistake to not have one of our LHD on the bottom pairing (either Valimaki or Kulak.)

Brodie and his amazing skating can play the off side. None of Stone, Prout or Andersson can anywhere to the same degree. I know some people don't like to look at handedness but in this case I think it will play a huge role in the decision about who to keep.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

That would mean you'd have three RHD at the bottom of the roster. And none of Stone, Prout or Andersson has proven they can play their off side. I'd go so far as to say none of them have the skating to play their off side. I'd say that would be a pretty big mistake to not have one of our LHD on the bottom pairing (either Valimaki or Kulak.)

Brodie and his amazing skating can play the off side. None of Stone, Prout or Andersson can anywhere to the same degree. I know some people don't like to look at handedness but in this case I think it will play a huge role in the decision about who to keep.

I get what you are saying on handedness. I just don't think that should play into the equation when it comes to who you keep at this point. Andersson was the best of the young guys, so he's earned a position. Valimaki is going to be a good player, but I really think he needs time in the AHL to learn how to make his reads better. He will find his way back up to the big club soon. I would hate to see them rush him into the NHL just because they wanted a handedness balance on the blueline. If they are that concerned, send Stone packing and keep Kulak up. I say they keep the best players.



The only reason Prout stays is because he brings a certain dynamic needed to the team as a bit of a face puncher, but he also doesn't hurt you by having him munch on popcorn most nights. The only handedness that matters here is which hand connects with someone's face.