[Trade] Flames acquire Mike Smith (25% retained) for Chad Johnson, Brandon Hickey, & cond 3rd

[1qqaaz]

For me, the two biggest problems with Smith are:

1) He's one of the oldest goalies in the league
As far as I know, Luongo is the only Lundqvist are the only goalies that are older. They're both probably Hall of Famers, and even they have sharply declined in play.

2) He's really only had one 92%+ season in his career.
Compare that to Matt Murray, who hasn't been sub 92% at any level at any time since his third year in the OHL. Consistent save percentages are one of the most telling stats in hockey, regardless of the defense IMO. Schneider managed to maintain his play after being traded to a weaker New Jersey team. Rask remains a good goalie, even though Boston is no longer a contender. Talbot's strong save percentage is still quite strong, even between a weak Oiler defense. Elliott had a great save percentage, but it really wasn't consistent at all.

I am glad that some of the salary was retained. Smith's contract is fairly manageable now. The Flames may be able to do something in free agency. I also don't think the Flames gave up too much. Hickey's development has slowed a bit, and the second round pick would be pretty late.

I don't like the trade, but it won't be a disaster.

[FaFaFlamey]

Originally Posted by Rubicant

I just feel like treliving could have picked up a better solution to the goaltending situation in this market. Hitching your wagon to an aging Mike smith, and giving up a draft pick to do so is not so good.

I'm pretty sure they looked at every possibility out there.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

For me, the two biggest problems with Smith are:

1) He's one of the oldest goalies in the league
As far as I know, Luongo is the only Lundqvist are the only goalies that are older. They're both probably Hall of Famers, and even they have sharply declined in play.

2) He's really only had one 92%+ season in his career.
Compare that to Matt Murray, who hasn't been sub 92% at any level at any time since his third year in the OHL. Consistent save percentages are one of the most telling stats in hockey, regardless of the defense IMO. Schneider managed to maintain his play after being traded to a weaker New Jersey team. Rask remains a good goalie, even though Boston is no longer a contender. Talbot's strong save percentage is still quite strong, even between a weak Oiler defense. Elliott had a great save percentage, but it really wasn't consistent at all.

I am glad that some of the salary was retained. Smith's contract is fairly manageable now. The Flames may be able to do something in free agency. I also don't think the Flames gave up too much. Hickey's development has slowed a bit, and the second round pick would be pretty late.

I don't like the trade, but it won't be a disaster.

Lundqvist has sharply declined in play, eh? He was unreal in the World Cup, he was unreal in the playoffs, and he was unreal wearing 35 at the WHC.

Anderson was just in the conference final, he's older than Smith. Pekka Rinne is a year younger. Tim Thomas won a Stanley Cup and a Vezina on the back half of his 30s. For two years, it's a minimal risk.

[Enoch Root]

There were a lot of options out there, none of which were perfect. Some were going to cost assets, some would require a big contract or lengthy term, and none were guarantees.

If we could have gotten one of the younger guys - like Raanta - at a low cost, I could have gotten on board with that. But low cost was always unlikely.

So for the most part, I wanted it to be someone with short term - two years was the ideal, considering the prospects. Parsons is the best goalie prospect out there, so the last thing I wanted to see was someone like Mason signed for 4 or 5 years.

Of the experienced goalie group, my opinion was Smith > Mason > Fleury > Elliott (and I doubt Mason would have even signed a short term deal).

I think the Flames will be a significantly better team with Smith in net than what we saw last year. And some of the comments in this thread have been ridiculous.

[IrishSpring2013]

The 1 thing I don't like.. Is the slow bleed of picks.. Tree has to get this right because we can't be bleeding picks for stop gaps every year or 2...i like smith tho.. hes old but the yotes haven't played defence well in years.. his numbers r better on cgy..

[The Professor]

Disappointed. I mean, now that he's a Flame I hope he plays awesome. But he was about the last guy I wanted. I just sort of had faith that Tre would pull off some wicked trade. I would have preferred about anyone else.

That said... Go Smith!

[Enoch Root]

Oh, and $4.25M is substantially better than $5.5M. My biggest concerns with Smith were:

1) cost, which didn't turn out to be too bad, and
2) cap hit, which turned out to be pretty good for a starter

[madmike]

Very meh trade in my opinion. I'd really almost rather go with Elliott - although it's unlikely he would sign for two years or less I guess.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by IrishSpring2013

The 1 thing I don't like.. Is the slow bleed of picks.. Tree has to get this right because we can't be bleeding picks for stop gaps every year or 2...i like smith tho.. hes old but the yotes haven't played defence well in years.. his numbers r better on cgy..

The Flames picked NINE players in last years entry draft.

That's more picks than they've had in any single year since 2004, the last year they had more than 7 rounds.

They also used one of the picks from this years draft to acquire a 22 year old who they believe will be with the team for 10+ years.

[FireGilbert]

I like it. Smith wasn't my first choice but the cost was low and it is an upgrade over Elliott.

Considering the Flames were already committed to giving up a 3rd for Elliott this is basically moving from pick 63-93 to pick 49-76. Also, moving Hickey was good asset management considering the risk of losing him for nothing.

My only concern is the timing as I was thinking Calgary would wait until after the expansion lists were submitted and try to make a deal with Vegas. I'm guessing Treliving did his research though and knew who Vegas would likely pick and what the trade cost would be.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Everyone needs to relax. Just played a game of NHL 17 with Smith in net for the Flames. Beat the Oilers 5-2. Smith with 36 saves.

We're in good hands.

Such a farce. There is no way the Flames surrender 38 shots to the Oilers.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

For me, the two biggest problems with Smith are:

1) He's one of the oldest goalies in the league
As far as I know, Luongo is the only Lundqvist are the only goalies that are older. They're both probably Hall of Famers, and even they have sharply declined in play.

2) He's really only had one 92%+ season in his career.
Compare that to Matt Murray, who hasn't been sub 92% at any level at any time since his third year in the OHL. Consistent save percentages are one of the most telling stats in hockey, regardless of the defense IMO. Schneider managed to maintain his play after being traded to a weaker New Jersey team. Rask remains a good goalie, even though Boston is no longer a contender. Talbot's strong save percentage is still quite strong, even between a weak Oiler defense. Elliott had a great save percentage, but it really wasn't consistent at all.

I am glad that some of the salary was retained. Smith's contract is fairly manageable now. The Flames may be able to do something in free agency. I also don't think the Flames gave up too much. Hickey's development has slowed a bit, and the second round pick would be pretty late.

I don't like the trade, but it won't be a disaster.

I'm going to say a few things but in the end I agree that the trade will unlikely be a disaster.

First of all though you cant point to Matt Murray, hes an outlier. His stats are great but hes also behind a Championship team and ultimately he hasnt played nearly as many games so his stats are skewed.

If you want to rest your discussion on Murray's stats then you basically have to put him in the same conversation as Carey Price and just say that they're Generational goaltenders and leave it at that.

I dont think any of us are saying the same of Mike Smith.

The biggest issue regarding this acquisition is also the most obvious, Smith's had a good career, hes a good goaltender and hes had signidicant accomplishments especially with Team Canada.

But like all non SkyNet Issued Non-Automatons, people get older, they get hurt and slower etc.

How will he do? We dont know. But to mitigate that, the price was pretty low all things considered. People dont like the 2nd/3rd, etc, okay.

Its a risk. He could blow his knee out or an airplane engine could fall through the roof of his house and savagely devastate his pinky toe.

Lets not forget that prior to coming to Calgary Brian Elliott was a goalie who was widely renowned for his ability to stop pucks and then for a few months there he completely forgot how to goalie. He picked it up again....but then he lost it.

It happens. It can happen again. It may not happen again, but it could.

Its a risk, they're just trying to buy time so people that they do have faith in have the opportunity to learn and grow and become successful as opposed to being thrown to the wolves by a GM who shrugs his shoulders and tells them to just figure it out.

Because thats something Hitler Edmonton would do and you never, ever, under any circumstances, go 'Full Oiler.'

[spetch]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Such a farce. There is no way the Flames surrender 38 shots to the Oilers.

30 of them came on the 10 PP's they got from McJesus Divesalot.

[Steveyoto]

Not happy with this move. I think Hickey has promise and a future in the NHL. I am not sure how much longer Mike Smith will be playing in the NHL. It seems that there must have been a better option on the table, too bad we could not pull the trigger on someone with a little bit of playing time remaining.

That said, Go Mike Smith Go.

[AC]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

I can't wait for AC to make a Smith video that isn't accompanied by godawful rap music.

If the Flames ever win the cup again, I'll do a video for the Flames goalie.

Or maybe if Parsons becomes elite.

[Moneyhands23]

Bt is on 960 now

[Badgers Nose]

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[Flash Walken]

It could be worse. Could be paying 8 million bucks for Hiller and Ramo.

It could be worse. Could be Elliott back.

It could be worse. Could end up being Mike Smith for a 2nd round pick.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Mike Smith's career GAA and save % are barely worse than Craig Anderson's. Smith plays for a Terrible team.

Why are people quoting career numbers on a 35 year old netminder? I mean, if you want to look at his career he's had one good season ever, the rest have been at best average, but even so you're not getting "prime" Mike Smith and his .916 save percentage from 08-09. People cannot possibly be this blind.

If he played on a good team, he'd have much better numbers. The one year the Coyotes were good, he was unbeatable.

Right, six years ago. And in 2010, Ryan Miller was the best goalie on the planet. Is he the savior now?

I get that people want to be optimistic but this is just insane.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Such a farce. There is no way the Flames surrender 38 shots to the Oilers.

This is why I don't play online.