Mike Smith's... woes? He blows? Eating crows? Who knows! (Also David Rittich exists!)

[Jiri Hrdina]

I have zero confidence in Smith but also believe patience is prudent. Not with him but using whatever time you have to hopefully acquire a better backup
The closer to the deadline the more teams will be out of it.
I don’t think a lot of teams will be looking for goaltending so hopefully the acquisition cost is low
And the higher the chance that a team is willing to take Smith back to balance salary
I have to believe Bt knows this ain’t working but is trying to use time to his advantage
And nothing he says publicly will reveal how he really feels or how urgently he is working to find another option

[GioforPM]

I don't put as much stock in AHL stats as some here do. It's a different league for goalies, and some just blossom in the more structured NHL.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I don't put as much stock in AHL stats as some here do. It's a different league for goalies, and some just blossom in the more structured NHL.

Examples?

[The Boy Wonder]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

But we then also need to be honest about all the attendant reasons why Smith was not on waivers ten games ago. His situation is a hell of a lot more complicated than it is dealing with a minor-league 'tweener.

Everyone is frustrated by Mike Smith's performance this season, but the solution is not as straightforward and simple as dispatching him to Stockton.

####ing just waive him and let him be someone else’s problem. He lets in such soft goals and has no confidence and you know as soon as one goes in it may as well be 4.

See if someone is silly enough to pick him up. If not send him straight to echl.

He still gets paid and he can suck it up and not report and who cares. He didn’t even take responsibility after a performance like tonight.

In the meantime deal frolik for a reasonable backup goalie and get on with it

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Examples?

Crawford is one. Also Bobrovsky (KHL)

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

But we then also need to be honest about all the attendant reasons why Smith was not on waivers ten games ago. His situation is a hell of a lot more complicated than it is dealing with a minor-league 'tweener.

Everyone is frustrated by Mike Smith's performance this season, but the solution is not as straightforward and simple as dispatching him to Stockton.

I totally get that, which is why I get why he's still with the team and it seems like everyone in the organization, from Treliving to Peters keeps treating the guy with kid gloves. But we're now halfway through the season, and Smith has shown no signs of getting out of whatever it is that has dogged him this season. I think the organization has shown enough patience with the situation, and risk messing up this season if they let this continue to fester. I would hope Treliving is working furiously in the background to address this. This really is the achilles heel for the team.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I don't put as much stock in AHL stats as some here do. It's a different league for goalies, and some just blossom in the more structured NHL.

There are not many examples of NHL starters who have not dominated at some point at the AHL level.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Wrong.

In every game there is exactly one (1) winner and one (1) loser. A dead average team is one that wins 41 games per season, plus some number of loser points. Sixteen of 31 teams make the playoffs, so that dead average team should be right on the bubble.

Winning 12 out of 22 prorates to 45 wins in an 82-game season. Last season, six of the 16 playoff teams had 45 wins or fewer. No team with 45 wins or more missed the playoffs.

Well I was going by two games under .500 at the end of the year

Still though his record is poor, Rittich is playing in front of the same team. 45 wins will get you a lower spot or wild card.

This team should be winning the division/conference...they would be running away with it if Smith could stop a beach ball

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

####ing just waive him and let him be someone else’s problem. He lets in such soft goals and has no confidence and you know as soon as one goes in it may as well be 4.

See if someone is silly enough to pick him up. If not send him straight to echl.

He still gets paid and he can suck it up and not report and who cares. He didn’t even take responsibility after a performance like tonight.

In the meantime deal frolik for a reasonable backup goalie and get on with it

You have to manage the human side
How will the team react if they waive Smith?
I think you are oversimplifying a complex situation
Also not sure which team would deal their back up for Frolik
If only things were that easy

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

####ing just waive him and let him be someone else’s problem.

At that salary? No one will take him.

See if someone is silly enough to pick him up. If not send him straight to echl.

You can't send a player to the ECHL unless he's on his ELC.

In the meantime deal frolik for a reasonable backup goalie and get on with it

So you want to permanently break up the 3M line, knowing that no other winger on the roster has shown chemistry with Tkachuk and Backlund, just so you can get rid of Smith a little faster? Who are you going to put in Frolik's spot – James freaking Neal? Crikey, I'm glad you're not the GM.

[dino7c]

When Smith out of the NHL next season at least the Flames can say they treated him right

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

####ing just waive him and let him be someone else’s problem. He lets in such soft goals and has no confidence and you know as soon as one goes in it may as well be 4.

See if someone is silly enough to pick him up. If not send him straight to echl.

He still gets paid and he can suck it up and not report and who cares. He didn’t even take responsibility after a performance like tonight.

In the meantime deal frolik for a reasonable backup goalie and get on with it

I honestly believe that if there was a palatable deal for a competent NHL backup goalie in the offing Treliving would have pulled the trigger by now.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

Crawford is one.

Crawford spent five years in the AHL before earning a regular NHL job. He never had a GAA above 3 in the A, and except for his rookie year, never had a save percentage below .907. He at least showed he was a competent AHL goalie. Gillies isn't anywhere near that level right now.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I honestly believe that if there was a palatable deal for a competent NHL backup goalie in the offing Treliving would have pulled the trigger by now.

It might be time to up the ante and go all in for a #1 goalie even if it costs more. Not that I have anything against Rittich. It would make a strong tandem with insurance.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

You have to manage the human side

How will the team react if they waive Smith?

I think you are oversimplifying a complex situation

Also not sure which team would deal their back up for Frolik

If only things were that easy

My beer league captain was a damn plug. Worst player on the team by far.

He was always in players ears about skating harder, etc, but never took any responsibility for his own suckage.

If I'm Gaudreau and I hear "we need to be better" I'm thinking eff that dude we can't outscore his ####ty tending every game.

How would you react? I'd be relieved he's gone honestly.

[gamesaver]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

He won his last game before tonight. It seems to me that is precisely what I suggested we could expect from him: a win here, a loss there.

I think you need to have higher expectations, considering how amazing our team is this season. Look at Domingue in Tampa. His number are mediocre, but he has amazing win-lose ratio because he is playing for a top team in the league. Being average backup goalie behind that team is good enough to post that splendid record. The reason why we are not chasing Tampa for the number 1 spot is because we are, unlike them, fine with the sub-par backup goaltending.

[Travis Munroe]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

####ing just waive him and let him be someone else’s problem. He lets in such soft goals and has no confidence and you know as soon as one goes in it may as well be 4.

See if someone is silly enough to pick him up. If not send him straight to echl.

He still gets paid and he can suck it up and not report and who cares. He didn’t even take responsibility after a performance like tonight.

In the meantime deal frolik for a reasonable backup goalie and get on with it

Man am I glad CP doesn't run the team.

Frolik is very important to this lineup and the success, especially should a top 9 guy go down with a injury.

Waiving Smith, sending him to the ECHL (even if it were a possibility), etc is all a awful message to not only send to the dressing room but also future free agents. Team A handled this player with class on the tail end of his career and found a mutual benefit for both sides while team B treated him like trash the moment he wasn't up to their liking...where would you like to go mr free agent?

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I don't put as much stock in AHL stats as some here do. It's a different league for goalies, and some just blossom in the more structured NHL.

Yeah, plus goalie stats are team stats - who the heck is even playing D down there?

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by dino7c

When Smith out of the NHL next season at least the Flames can say they treated him right

They made Conroy retire mid season.

Mike Smith : Special assistant to the goalie coach?

[chummer]

Poor Treliving. He's got a first place team but I bet he's not sleeping tonight.