[News] Flames sign Reto Berra

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Fire

They have until August 15th I believe. No need for panic yet.

There's no need to panic either way. If they don't sign him I'm sure its by choice rather than him wanting to go elsewhere.

[expatflame]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Why???? Does he get to keep your quote if he is right, which he has better odds of being?

That's like all the posters that tell other posters they will have to eat crow when the flames make the playoffs. All that happens is that the original poster says nothing or joins in mocking the flames brutal season.

Not the same at all. I never said "he is definitely going to make the team based on the highlight reels that I watched on youtube" did I? I would never make a broad based assessment on limited highlight reels on the internet. That's the whole point. Completely uneducated statement to make.

The same thing was said about the acquisition of Hanowski based on a couple of video clips without having watched him play. It's just a knee-jerk reaction.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

KHL season is done, at least Ramo's is.

I would hope this doesn't affect his coming over. It's not like the Flames were just going to gift wrap him the starters job and let him run free despite him not playing an NHL game in years.

If he was expecting that, and decides he doesn't want to come over now because he has to complete for the starters job with some other guys, then he can stay in the KHL as far as I'm concerned.

No goalie worth his salt would let something like that stop him from coming over, if his true desire is to be an NHL star one day.

I thought no KHL player could sign elsewhere until May 1st or June 1st when their entire season is finished. Except in a case where an NHL buys out the last bit of the contract, but since the Flames aren't going to be in the playoffs they have no reason to pay his Russian club any money just to officially sign him a few weeks early.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Still no Ramage eh? Has that ship sailed?

I thought I read somewhere on here that Ramage wanted to finished the semester ad it would make him miss the rest of the Heat's season anyways. No need to rush him if he won't play for the Flames or Heat this year.

[The Swedish Flame]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

If you're ever trying to scout from a youtube clip, you're an idiot. Good or bad, that's a stupid thing to say.

Kevin Lowe & Co says hi!

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I thought no KHL player could sign elsewhere until May 1st or June 1st when their entire season is finished. Except in a case where an NHL buys out the last bit of the contract, but since the Flames aren't going to be in the playoffs they have no reason to pay his Russian club any money just to officially sign him a few weeks early.

I just meant that he's done playing games this season. What you've brought up is probably why he hasn't been signed yet.

[Nehkara]

Yeah, Ramo can't sign until after April 30th. I expect we will see an announcement on May 1st.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Berra being on a 2 way contract will have no bearing on Ramo coming over. I suspect Feaster will give Ramo a one way contract and probably overpay him at $2 million a season. The only thing i could see affecting Ramo coming over, is if Kipper decides to stay and the flames give him a 2-3 year extension. I highly doubt that will happen.

Cap Geek has Berra on a one-way contract.... AHL salary $765,000


The NHL plan obviously includes him next year.

[Stay Golden]

Well at least Feaster signed him up that would have been embarrassing to not get it done. Seems like a heavy contract for a potential NHL rookie. Why is this not only league min? $765k with bonus's 1.3m and why is this not a 2 way. So Berra and his agent get pull over Feaster when negotiating, come on Feaster seriously.

Kipper?
McDonald? NHL Backup
Ramos? Rookie
Berra Rookie

So the Feaster plans are to start the year with potentially 2 unproven NHL rookies?
If Kipper does retire (hopefully not) they should get something done in a 1 year for McDonald to have at least NHL experience.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Well at least Feaster signed him up that would have been embarrassing to not get it done. Seems like a heavy contract for a potential NHL rookie. Why is this not only league min? $765k with bonus's 1.3m and why is this not a 2 way. So Berra and his agent get pull over Feaster when negotiating, come on Feaster seriously.

Kipper?
McDonald? NHL Backup
Ramos? Rookie
Berra Rookie

So the Feaster plans are to start the year with potentially 2 unproven NHL rookies?
If Kipper does retire (hopefully not) they should get something done in a 1 year for McDonald to have at least NHL experience.

It is a 2-way. All ELCs are 2-way. Why is not league minimum? Because he was probably making decent money in Switzerland and the Flames wanted him to actually come over and play. It should be noted that he also isn't making the maximum for his draft year (which was $850k).

I don't see any reason not to go with Berra and Ramo to start next season.

Ramo already has NHL experience and will not be a rookie. He has 48 GP in the NHL.

Officially Berra won't be a rookie either because he will be 26+.

[shutout]

Ramo and Berra in the NHL next year. Let them rotate the first 20-30 games to allow them to get comfortable with the league and the team and just play their games without worrying about sitting on the bench and playing every 8th or 9th game. Play them and see what you have and then decide around December if one or both are not going to work out.

Brossoit and Ortio in the AHL next year. Clean house on the goalies currently here and let these two young guys learn the league and give Ortio another chance to adjust to the NA ice surface and the game. Same thing as the NHL tandem, let them alternative the first 20-30 games so that they can work on their games and build some confidence.

This is about the long term health of the franchise and not about a band-aid situation. The Flames need to do this the right way when it comes to developing these goaltenders.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Well at least Feaster signed him up that would have been embarrassing to not get it done. Seems like a heavy contract for a potential NHL rookie. Why is this not only league min? $765k with bonus's 1.3m and why is this not a 2 way. So Berra and his agent get pull over Feaster when negotiating, come on Feaster seriously.

Kipper?
McDonald? NHL Backup
Ramos? Rookie
Berra Rookie

So the Feaster plans are to start the year with potentially 2 unproven NHL rookies?
If Kipper does retire (hopefully not) they should get something done in a 1 year for McDonald to have at least NHL experience.

We have no clue on the behind the scenes stuff, there is so much stuff we don't know, Kipper may have made it 100% clear he is retiring, McDonald is UFA and may have made it 100% clear he does not want to come back.

Do we know what Berra makes in the Swiss league? Is he dragging his family half way around the world for a one year deal? I know I'd want more if that was the case.

I'm sure we won't be complaining at all if he hits his bonus money.

It doesn't always have to just be that Feaster doesn't know what he is doing.

[BruceCody]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

So the Feaster plans are to start the year with potentially 2 unproven NHL rookies?
If Kipper does retire (hopefully not) they should get something done in a 1 year for McDonald to have at least NHL experience.

why not.
1) inspect european goalie
2) another top pick next year
I think the finish line rebuild in one summer is unrealistic

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Cap Geek has Berra on a one-way contract.... AHL salary $765,000


The NHL plan obviously includes him next year.

An ELC is a 2way contract, there is no exceptions. So cao geek in this case is wrong.

[Da_Chief]

I don't want McDonald near this team next year. backup at best, don't need to waste a contract and starts on him. play Berra and Ramo for the year, if they suck = top pick if one grabs it then we have our guy.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

I don't want McDonald near this team next year. backup at best, don't need to waste a contract and starts on him. play Berra and Ramo for the year, if they suck = top pick if one grabs it then we have our guy.

Yeah, I agree.

We're rebuilding, MacDonald isn't going to help this team in 3-5 years, Ramo or Berra might though. Let's see what we've got with them.

[Alberta_Beef]

it's like people forget that veteran players, even backup goaltenders can teach young players a ton.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

it's like people forget that veteran players, even backup goaltenders can teach young players a ton.

They sure can. But we have four spots available for goalies. Brossoit isn't going back to junior. Ortio is make or break this year. Berra and Ramo are not going to the ahl, and the team isn't carrying three goalies.

Vets will be very necessary in the rebuild. Joey Mac is probably expendable.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

it's like people forget that veteran players, even backup goaltenders can teach young players a ton.

And thats why you have coaches...
You now like a goalie coach who played the game and can relate to these guys. They teach the young guys.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

They sure can. But we have four spots available for goalies. Brossoit isn't going back to junior. Ortio is make or break this year. Berra and Ramo are not going to the ahl, and the team isn't carrying three goalies.

Vets will be very necessary in the rebuild. Joey Mac is probably expendable.

Berra, Ortio and Brossoit have a combined 10 pro games in North America and Ramo hasn't played in North America since 2009 ... in my opinion, that's too much uncertainty. I'd rather have a known commodity like MacDonald, just to be safe. Re-sign him to a one-year deal and let him, Ramo and Berra battle it out in camp. If Berra isn't ready, we can send him to the AHL because of his ELC. If Ramo & Berra outplay MacDonald, we can always waive/trade him.

NHL: Ramo & MacDonald
AHL: Berra & Brossoit
Europe: Ortio