Lemelin was even nominated for the Vezina one of his years in Calgary.
Don Edwards? He was terrible for the Flames. I remember the excitement when we acquired him because he looked good in Buffalo. He wasn't any good in Calgary.
After Lemelin.... much debate could be had who would round out the top-5 all-time Calgary goaltenders.
When was the last time Bingo put up a poll for the best Flames all-time at each position? It probably wouldn't be much different right now.
Look at this guy. Like, literally look at him. Look at what he had to work with. Look at his size, look at how small his equipment is. Look at his style; he played the same style that anyone not named Patrick Roy did back then: stand up. No scrambling, no butterfly. Stand up, make the save, stand back up again, make the next save, stand back up, etc. Everything about this guy was position and reflexes.
Relative to the era he played in, he was un-freaking believable.
Is Gaudreau the best left-winger in Flames history, or is it Roberts?
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Blah, I'm still pissed off about Kidd. In theory everything was going to plan: He was given a few years to develop in SLC, along with a full year as a backup to Vernie in 93-94. Finally given the Goalie-1 designation during the 95 strike year, and had a really good regular season for a first year starter at 23 years old. Then the 95 playoffs happened. If you look at the game log from that series you'll see that CGY lost games 1 and 2 with Kidd giving up 5 goals in each. Dave King infamously sticks with TK with him only to respond with three straight wins, including a SO in game 5. Ha, history is written from there. TK lays two straight eggs in games 6 and 7 and never truly recovers. Makes you wonder how things would have turned out if CGY made a run in the 95 playoffs.
The Flames set a playoff series record for most goals against the Sharks and we still lost because of stupid mullet man!
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2nd place in 1984, only 3 points behind Barrasso and 1 more first place vote. 3rd place the following year, but not as close.
It's funny to look at the top 5 for Vezina voting in 1984 ... Lemelin, Riggin, and Bouchard. The Flames 3 goalies at the start of the 1980-81 season.
Funny how in 89-90 Lemelin was 4th (with the Bruins) and Moog was 3rd (also with the Bruins. Haven't seen a tandem like that really until this year with Lehner/Greiss.
Losing Lemelin really hurt the Flames in 87-88 in my opinion. Vernon had to play 64 games which was a high for him because Dadswell was so awful. Also, it forced the Flames to trade Brett Hull for Wamsley to get an experienced goalie in there (Vernon only played 52 in 88-89).
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I remember him and he was absolutely brutal as a Flame. Even my 10 year-ish old self winced when he was in net. My analytic mind back then used to blame it on his super small pads.
Lemelin was ok but I remember he had confidence issues early on. But was disappointed the year he was edged out by Barrasso for the Vezina.
He let in so many bad goals that Bob Johnson even sent him to an optometrist, hoping that was the problem...it was not.
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Vernon was good and certainly was crucial in the 89 run to the Cup.
However, skill wise, he was not in the same category as Kipper. Kipper was elite, both as a Flame and as a goalie in the NHL.
In fact I think skill wise, one could argue
1. Kipper
2. none
3.none
4. none
5. Vernon
6. Lemelin
7. the rest
Pretty bang on, Kipper was the only elite goalie this franchise has ever seen. Goalies like that don't come around often, franchises are lucky to have one grace their history
Lemelin holds down that 3rd spot but Brathwaite was so fun to cheer for as a fan
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Seems like Vernon is underrated here. You don't make three Stanley Cup final appearances and win two Stanley Cups on two different teams if you are an average goaltender. He was very good in an era where goaltenders used small equipment and were judged not on how many saves they made but when they made key saves.
The goal he let in against Tikannen in game 7 in 1991 was so bad it makes Smith look good.
It was 3-0 Calgary at the time and he lets in a brutal softie from the blue line.
Calgary should have won that game and the series.
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Being a newer Flames fan, having just moved to Calgary in the late nineties, I would say that this thread pretty well explains to me why the Flames have had limited success and issues in the first round. Hopefully it can be addressed this offseason as a top priority.
After Kipper and Vernie there's a whole lotta suck. Lemelin edges out Turek in terms of goalies with some regular season success and a bit more sample size.
P.S. I have no problem putting Kipper ahead of Vernon, but for those who think Vernon is overrated they must not have watched much hockey in the 80's. The numbers speak for themselves IMO, including long playoff runs in '86 (finally taking down the Oilers) and '89 (easily could have won the Conn Smythe). Also, keep in mind he was runner-up with Wamsley for the Jennings, and played in FIVE all-star games. And that was all before he had similar success in the 90's with the Red Wings.
