Flames Goaltending

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Sorry, can't agree with this. That means to start next year we would have a total of 50 games of NHL experience in net.

My answer to that would be... So? The only way the Flames need a goalie with NHL experience is if we somehow catch lightning in a bottle and Joey MacDonald isn't the guy that's going to catch that for us, Ramo might be. I'd much rather see what we have in our "best goalies outside North America" and pick up a Joey MacDonald greybeard back-up off of waivers (like we did with MacDonald) mid-season if need be.

Down on the farm what I'd like would be for the Flames to bring Ortio over full-time so that he and Broisset can share netminding duties in Abbotsford (No Taylor's and No Brust's please... I don't care if Ward wants one tell him to suck it up and give games to the actual prospects).

Time for Irving to find a home elsewhere. I hope he makes it but it's agonizingly apparent that he won't make it here.

[FlamesAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

MacDonald is the only goalie we have in our system with any real NHL experience. If the Flames go after a different free agent in the off-season, so be it. We still need someone who has played in the NHL in the last 3 years.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

Writing him off before we've even seen our alternatives because we're rebuilding and he wont be a part of the future is ridiculous. If none of our other goalies show they can play at the NHL right off the bat, not only would it be a total embarrassment having to roll with them anyways but it might also screw up any chance they had of actually becoming an NHL capable goalie.

At least with MacDonald we know exactly what we have - an NHL goaltender that can at least give you a chance to win games. Until someone else comes in and does a better job of that than him, which may and hopefully does happen, he's the only sure thing.

Personally (and all this assumes Kipper retires obviously) I wouldn't be surprised to see him and one of Ramo or Berra as our starting tandem next season.

By all accounts he sounds like a good dressing room guy as well.

[Ped]

If Kipper is retiring next season, why on earth wouldn't you try to resign MacDonald?

Sounds like Calgary will be one of places where he could get some playing time. So assuming Kipper's gone, you bring in MacDonald and Ramo and Berra and whoever else you want to and you let them actually battle for the job in training camp.

If MacDonald is good enough for starter or backup. If not there's a decent chance he'd clear waivers and you'd still have him as another option anyway.

At least he's showed enough over his career that he can be an okay NHL goalie and a good minor league one, which is more then anyone else has shown at this point.

[manilow78]

So your argument for not getting Bernier is he's too good? Sounds like we should hire you to be part of the Flames Management team!

Originally Posted by SanFranFlamesFan

Even if we could get Bernier somehow, there is a big problem with that. He's probably good enough that he would somewhat hide how bad the Flames are, just like Kipper did for many years while coming here. If we are really rebuilding, I don't think we want a great goalie to cover up all our warts until we actually have a lot of promising young talent.

[Jebus]

The goalie market looks deep this summer so I would not be in a hurry to resign MacDonald. If he walks, it would not be hard to replace him as far as finding a verteran with lots of experience.

Additionally, there may be a number of young guys stuck behind stud vets (ie Bernier, Lehner, etc) that could possibly be made available.

The Flames would be foolish to commit to anything at this point. Sniff around at the draft, and wait until free agenct rolls in.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by Jebus

The goalie market looks deep this summer so I would not be in a hurry to resign MacDonald. If he walks, it would not be hard to replace him as far as finding a verteran with lots of experience.

Additionally, there may be a number of young guys stuck behind stud vets (ie Bernier, Lehner, etc) that could possibly be made available.

The Flames would be foolish to commit to anything at this point. Sniff around at the draft, and wait until free agenct rolls in.

What commit? This year he's pretty much making league minimum and he probably won't garner too much of a raise, if any. It's not like the Flames are nearing the cap with Bouw and Iginla gone.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Originally Posted by Ped

What commit? This year he's pretty much making league minimum and he probably won't garner too much of a raise, if any. It's not like the Flames are nearing the cap with Bouw and Iginla gone.

No, but the Flames will likely continue being very close to the 50-contract limit. And I really don't want to see the Flames miss out on a player via trade, signing, or waivers, because they have SIX effing goalies signed to NHL contracts (Ramo, Berra, Ortio, Brossoit, McDonald, plus someone who's actually good when if becomes available).

[Stay Golden]

Irving should get his walking papers.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I am not convinced Kipper will retire. I might have missed it, but I didn't see any confirmation from Feaster or Kipper that retirement was a serious consideration. People are speculating he retires, but I don't think that is the case.

My guestimates for Kipper's future this summer:

1. Kipper retires: 50%
2. Kipper is traded: 25%
3. Kipper plays out his final year with the Flames: 15%
4. Kipper signs extension with the Flames: 10%

I'm hoping for #2. He would be quite attractive to low budget teams wanting to get to the cap floor.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Jebus

The goalie market looks deep this summer so I would not be in a hurry to resign MacDonald. If he walks, it would not be hard to replace him as far as finding a verteran with lots of experience.

Additionally, there may be a number of young guys stuck behind stud vets (ie Bernier, Lehner, etc) that could possibly be made available.

The Flames would be foolish to commit to anything at this point. Sniff around at the draft, and wait until free agenct rolls in.

I agree. There are a few "MacDonalds" out there in the offseason. I am willing to bet that we could even wait a month into the season and there would still be some free agent backup goalies sitting around to call on.

[OzSome]

If the rumour of Kipper retiring after this season is true, I see the Flames signing Joey Mac for one season while Ramo or Berra is playing as backup until one of them assume the starting position.

Brossoit will be playing in the AHL with the Heat backing up Taylor. I think Leland is done with the Flames. Gillies will be the goalie of the future.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by OzSome

If the rumour of Kipper retiring after this season is true, I see the Flames signing Joey Mac for one season while Ramo or Berra is playing as backup until one of them assume the starting position.

Brossoit will be playing in the AHL with the Heat backing up Taylor. I think Leland is done with the Flames. Gillies will be the goalie of the future.

Totally agree. Hopefully he's ready around the same time as Jankowski.

[Hair bleach and Vodka]

Joey Mac needs to be signed. We have huge unknowns in our crease going forward.. who's gonna pan out, does ability translate at the NHL level, etc. Anyone who thinks we should be fielding a goal tending duo of Ramo/Berra needs to give their heads a shake. Those two could become something, absolutely, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it. I think unless we're shooting for a possible crash and burn scenario so we can draft first next year (don't wanna see it happen, not when we have Joey Mac who can at least play at the NHL level).

Of course we very well may be heading for rock bottom even with Joey Mac on the team currently. I hope next season will truly be the beginning of something new. New aura..energy..hope.

[chedder]

Does anyone think there's any chance of getting Kipper to come back next 2 years? Maybe a one year extension at, say, $4 million making next two year avg salary $2.75 per. If he is just comfortable staying here he could play half the games and mentor Ramo or whoever steps up as our future tender?

[MissTeeks]

@Sz1909_Szemberg: Exciting for @NHLFlames fans; prospect G Reto Berra turns away 37 shots is Swiss' 2-1 pre-Worlds exh. win vs Russia in Fribourg.