Is Ortio for real?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

You're still not sold on Reimer? I don't understand why you aren't. He's been fantastic in San Jose after being very strong for Toronto.

200+ NHL games and a career .914 SV% while playing for one of the worst organizations in the NHL says you could do far, far worse than James Reimer.

[Owee18]

People also should remember that Kipper was 28 when we got him and he was not close to a starter with the sharks at the time, and people had no idea who he was or that he would turn into the great he did. Goalies take longer to develop and now that he is getting the starts and ice time he is getting better. Keep him next year as a 1b and see what we get in the off season. He may develop into the next Kipper if given the chance without others breathing down his neck. The team has to show confidence in him and let him run with the chance. They let Ramo and Hiller do it, why not give him the chance. He has shown lately he deserves it

[madmike]

I'd like a Reimer/Ortio combo. Partly because Reimer is free asset-wise.

The only concern I have with Reimer is his health. He always seemed to be dinged up when he was with the Leafs.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by madmike

I'd like a Reimer/Ortio combo. Partly because Reimer is free asset-wise.

The only concern I have with Reimer is his health. He always seemed to be dinged up when he was with the Leafs.

Exactly.

Especially considering we'll have to protect Gillies in the expansion draft.

[DJones]

The biggest benefit of Ramo/Ortio is cost. We could probably sign Ramo for a million next year.

While one of the UFAs may be better, it would allow the Flames to sign a RW. Think we're going to be a bubble team next year either way.

I am of the position that Ortio could be a solid 1b. Is it worth signing a UFA for a bunch of money if Ortio and Gilles are our future?

[hurtin_albertan]

I know it's cherry picking but I feel like scratching his starting numbers from this season from the record as I truly believe his game was affected by the re-signing of Ramo and the total uncertainty that followed the 3 goalies into training camp. In fact I think it affected all 3 of them as they were all hot garbage in every game they got into until Bob decided to just roll with Ramo for better or worse. Obviously you can't do that but I feel like the real Ortio is the guy we're seeing now.

Having said that evaluating his play over this second stint I'm extremely happy with him. I can think of one really rough game (vs OTT) but outside of that I think he's been solid. He's made a number of exceptional saves and on the flip side hasn't let in any that make you really groan.

I think at the very least he's earned a shot at being a tandem starter for next season, and I'll be really disappointed if the Flames move on from him. He's absolutely for real in my opinion.

[polak]

None of the available goalies are better than Ortio has been in stint 2 of 2016 and trading any of our solid assets just creates another hole.

Roll with Ortio.

[Bingo]

The biggest gains by the Flames with Ortio's recent play is that I think it opens up more options for next year if they're serious about getting back to the playoffs.

They don't need to move big assets for say Bishop possibly, because a guy that looks ready will have a back up that will push him.

That's a far cry from trading for a guy like Freddy Anderssen and just giving him 65 games.

His run gets him a contract, and with a good start next year he could even be part of a platoon. Don't need to find a beast in net now that Ortio has shown he can pitch in at NHL backup level.

[Enoch Root]

To those saying he can be our starter next year, no way IMO. He is still developing, and he is still learning how to be an NHLer.

The Flames need a starter for next year (whether that's an actual, bonafide starter or just a filler). Ortio can play maybe 30 games (at least that should be the plan).

If Ortio can wrestle the starting job away, great. But I think it's unfair and unreasonable to be expecting that next season, or putting 'starter' pressure on him.

[rain_e]

I think he has the potential. I'd like to see him around again next year fighting for the starting spot.

[Saqe]

I think Ortio may need another 1-2 years before he is ready to be a starter. The potential is there.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Bingo

The biggest gains by the Flames with Ortio's recent play is that I think it opens up more options for next year if they're serious about getting back to the playoffs.

They don't need to move big assets for say Bishop possibly, because a guy that looks ready will have a back up that will push him.

That's a far cry from trading for a guy like Freddy Anderssen and just giving him 65 games.

His run gets him a contract, and with a good start next year he could even be part of a platoon. Don't need to find a beast in net now that Ortio has shown he can pitch in at NHL backup level.

Ortio has changed nothing on that front. If they wanted Bishop badly a few months ago that will not change today based on performances in garbage time. If these games really counted largely in player evaluations the Flanes would be offering Colborne $3.5 million for next season. The Flames will still be big game hunting on the goaltender front in the offseason and all Ortio has earned is a contract and the opportunity to compete for a roster spot.

[Fire]

You can't rely on Ortio to be the starter next season but he should be given the backup position. Reimer on a 2-year deal isn't bad. Maybe look at Raanta or Enroth.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Ortio has changed nothing on that front. If they wanted Bishop badly a few months ago that will not change today based on performances in garbage time. If these games really counted largely in player evaluations the Flanes would be offering Colborne $3.5 million for next season. The Flames will still be big game hunting on the goaltender front in the offseason and all Ortio has earned is a contract and the opportunity to compete for a roster spot.

I don't see it like that.

I see a kid that put up back to back solid AHL seasons, had an amazing recall when it did matter last season and then righted ship after a rough start to this season.

Certainly not ready to hand him the starter's reigns by any means, but I think he's helped reduce the need to chase down a very expensive option and go more for a platoon than they would have if they walked away from all three goaltenders.

Just my gut though.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I don't see it like that.

I see a kid that put up back to back solid AHL seasons, had an amazing recall when it did matter last season and then righted ship after a rough start to this season.

Certainly not ready to hand him the starter's reigns by any means, but I think he's helped reduce the need to chase down a very expensive option and go more for a platoon than they would have if they walked away from all three goaltenders.

Just my gut though.

Agreed, and if Gillies doesn't get hurt this year we're all likely talking about a Gillies/Ortio combination as a very real possibility in Calgary next season.

[taxbuster]

Ortio as a backup next year is fine with me. His panic level (which some posters refer to) seems to be considerably lower now than it was earlier in the year. A good example was the portion of the game yesterday where he was without his stick - he was pretty composed I thought.

He needs to develop his "Kipper mentality" to get to the starter stage - to be more confident and to release his mistakes quickly and not dwell on them. It sometimes seems that he gets rattled in a game and then has problems. If he can quell that, then I think he can be a legit #1 within a few years.

The Flames still need a real NHL goalie to be the starter for next year, and none of Hiller, Ramo or Gillies is that person.

[Robbob]

A huge benefit for Ortio is the cost. He is currently making 600k on a one way. You could probably get him on a two year around 1.5M (total). Pretty decent value for what he can bring to the table.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I don't see it like that.

I see a kid that put up back to back solid AHL seasons, had an amazing recall when it did matter last season and then righted ship after a rough start to this season.

Certainly not ready to hand him the starter's reigns by any means, but I think he's helped reduce the need to chase down a very expensive option and go more for a platoon than they would have if they walked away from all three goaltenders.

Just my gut though.

That's fair but there is absolutely no way they don't chase down an expensive starter after seeing this season go up in flames due to goaltending. Absolutely no way they consider Ortio a 1B to share duties with another tweener like Ramo or Hiller. Make no mistake that finding a starting goaltender is the organization's top priority and the next priority after that isn't even in the same ballpark of urgency.

Don't believe me? Wait and see and it's not my gut here.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by polak

None of the available goalies are better than Ortio has been in stint 2 of 2016 and trading any of our solid assets just creates another hole.

Roll with Ortio.

While I'm with you on carefull asset management, saying that you are comfortable with Ortio because if a 16 game stint of meaningless games while he's been wildly inconsistent for the rest of the year, including being bad to average at best at the AHL level is crazy. Don't get me wrong, the best thing that could happen to the Flames is that Ortio is the answer, or better said, the best thing that could have happened to the Flames is that Ortio showed he was the answer this season, but he didn't.

Now we need to address goaltending, and Ortio can be a part of that plan, but he can't be the plan. People need to remember that Hiller showed multiple streaks of solid goaltending last year, and he's garbage. I'd be very careful assuming this past streak for Ortio is what he is, versus what he put up the rest of the year. He's still s young RFA goalie, so if say he's earned another chance to prove what he is, but anyone who's willing to simply hand him the keys next year is likely doing so more out of HOPE that he's the answer vs. actually confidence that he's a solid starter in this league.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

That's fair but there is absolutely no way they don't chase down an expensive starter after seeing this season go up in flames due to goaltending. Absolutely no way they consider Ortio a 1B to share duties with another tweener like Ramo or Hiller. Make no mistake that finding a starting goaltender is the organization's top priority and the next priority after that isn't even in the same ballpark of urgency.

Don't believe me? Wait and see and it's not my gut here.

Not your gut as in you know who they're going after? Due tell!

And no I don't think they risk it on an equivalent either. I just think you don't need the Bishop type if you have a guy with aspirations improving in house. Freddy Anderssen won't cost as much as Bishop for example.