It's time to extend Johnson

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by dabrit

Last night kinda proved to me who's the better goalie between the 2 in a very competitive game where he faced a fair number of shots he came up big being positionally sound and not being leaky like Elliott. Had Chad played both games we could have taken a possible 4 of 4 points as clearly we were the better team in game 1 and only very slightly the better team last night.

I don't like the way this word gets thrown around. Johnson "proved" nothing more last night than that at the moment he is performing better than Elliott. He is having a very good season, and I hope it continues. But having said that, Elliott has looked characteristically worse than he has in the past four years, and I am equally hopeful that he returns to form. I don't believe either goalie has established himself as the "starter" for this team, and I expect they will ride out the season playing as a tandem. By the end of the year things may look very different. It is too soon to re-sign either of them.

[Erick Estrada]

Personally I feel Treliving is going to go big game hunting for a new starter in the offseason. While McDavid gets all the press the main reason for the Oilers turnaround is due largely to Talbot being very good almost every night for them. Flames haven't had that on a consistent basis from a goaltender since Kipper. It's clearly an issue again this season as the team alternates between two goaltenders. The two goaltender rotation is just not a recipe for success in the NHL.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Personally I feel Treliving is going to go big game hunting for a new starter in the offseason. While McDavid gets all the press the main reason for the Oilers turnaround is due largely to Talbot being very good almost every night for them. Flames haven't had that on a consistent basis from a goaltender since Kipper. It's clearly an issue again this season as the team alternates between two goaltenders. The two goaltender rotation is just not a recipe for success in the NHL.

I think you might be right EE, but I hope Tampa takes Ben Bishop off the market preventing Treliving throws big money at him in free agency. Just not a big fan of Bishop.

As for the topic at hand, I'm in agreement with those that say let's see how the rest of the season plays out with Johnson and Elliott (i.e. no rush to get either goalie signed).

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Slanter

Johnson has been huge, and rock solid. If I was managing a Johnson like that, I'd extend him for as long as possible. But not more than 4 years, that might start to get uncomfortable.

If he lasts more than 4 years, call your doctor.

[WesternCanadaKing]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

We need one of these guys to step up against the big dogs in the league.

I think Johnson has proved himself to be our best bet in that department, but neither of these guys are a true number one. That's still a missing element to making this a 'complete' team, along with a top line RW, and a solid number 4 dman.

[Badgers Nose]

Can either guy play sixty and win forty? They are good but I don't think so.

Flames have two backups. Keep 31 and get MAF.

Maybe send #1 back as part of a package along with a salary dump. Or if there is no dump maybe Pens add as a way to get MAF of the books.

[Zoller]

I like Johnson and I would re sign him but not right now. Reason being is that I still think Elliott can turn it around, and if he does that will create more competition in net. More competition, imo, would be a great thing to have going down the playoff stretch. And if you sign Johnson now that shows Elliott that he isn't really an option moving forward.

Definitely want Johnson back next year though. This isn't some historical year for him either. He has shown promise last year on a very bad Buffalo team. Yes he has some poor numbers with the Islanders but they werent a very good team that year. And he put up similar numbers to what hes doing now on a Boston team with arguably better defence.

I like Johnson and I think he likes the pressure of playing for his Hometown. I think a 3 year deal after this year would be fair.

[iggy_oi]

There are a lot of variables involved with a possible extension for Johnson. He is from here so I think the flames have that working in their favour in terms of a home town discount if they decide to wait to extend Johnson. On the other hand, extending johnson now would be big motivation for Elliott to play better heading into free agency which could help us as we make a push for a playoff spot.

[MarkGio]

It's possible Chad Johnson might want to chase free agency, since he is after all having a career year and this is his last chance to cash in.

If the Flames are really serious about extending their Johnson, they may have to stroke him a little bit. Really offer a juicy deal.

[Poe969]

We have to. Johnson has been. Johnson has been solid and no one can beat us when we have a solid Johnson.

[1_Flames_Fan]

If he will sign a team friendly/cap friendly contract for 2 years yes. If he will not then no. And definitely don't re-sign Elliott unless he can really show something big in the back half of the season. Even then a 1-2 year deal, tops.

[MarkGio]

Not every Tom, Dick and Harry can dangle around Johnson. Rarely do I see him flopping around. He's in perfect position and upright most of the time.

At the very least the Flames will be looking at him hard before they offer him anything juicy.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Can either guy play sixty and win forty? They are good but I don't think so.

Flames have two backups. Keep 31 and get MAF.

Maybe send #1 back as part of a package along with a salary dump. Or if there is no dump maybe Pens add as a way to get MAF of the books.

No! No MAF. That would be a damn disaster, you will get at best Elliott level goaltending at a much higher cost. Look at his numbers behind the best team in the NHL. No no no!!!

[heep223]

All I know is that as a fan I feel the most comfortable when Johnson is in net, out of any Flames goalie going back to Kipper.

[Cactus Jack]

Sign Johnson to a magnum contract

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

No! No MAF. That would be a damn disaster, you will get at best Elliott level goaltending at a much higher cost. Look at his numbers behind the best team in the NHL. No no no!!!

Who do you suggest then?

Johnson makes a good super backup. Keep him.

Bottom line is they don't have a number one on the roster. One of the kids might turn into one but that could be a few years away.

[Poe969]

Wait and see who becomes available. MAF seems like a really bad options at this point, especially with that contract. I think there's going to be a lot of goalies either available through trade or even as UFA's (because of buy outs) because of the expansion draft.

Just because the Flames don't have a clear cut #1 doesn't mean they should just get anyone at this point. MAF would be a mistake because he isn't good enough and has a bad contract.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Wait and see who becomes available. MAF seems like a really bad options at this point, especially with that contract. I think there's going to be a lot of goalies either available through trade or even as UFA's (because of buy outs) because of the expansion draft.

Just because the Flames don't have a clear cut #1 doesn't mean they should just get anyone at this point. MAF would be a mistake because he isn't good enough and has a bad contract.

Another frequently mentioned option is Bishop. He will be expensive and seems to get injued at critical times.

[GioforPM]

Just don't give up on Johnson if there's an occasional softie. It happens to everyone.

Or so I'm told.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I'd be all for extending Johnson right now, as long as it's for a dollar amount that doesn't cement him as our #1. If we can lock him down to a strong back up, or 1B type dollar value I'm there.

Very happy with what he's provided to date, he's clearly our best goalie so far and a big upgrade on last year. However, maybe it's just the stigma, but I'd need to see a lot more before the Flames committed to him in a big way that would force our hand to have him as our #1, I guess I'm not sold yet and would want another option next year for him to compete with (like this year).