Joey MacDonald Our New #1

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

I would be disappointed with the Flames organization if Kipper doesn't get the ANA start. That would be for the Flames faithful fans he plays that game.

And what happens if he gets lit up?

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by blah blah

There are many benefits to having MacDonald. Your backup plan of getting Bernier out of the blue isn't realistic, so one benefit is stability and not finding yourself up the creek without a paddle.

To be clear, I said "someone like Bernier". It may not be realistic to go after Bernier (especially with his contract expiring this summer) mid-season next year but there are always goalies on the market that are at least of MacDonald's calibre, if not Bernier's calibre. It all depends on how much we want to pay.

Originally Posted by blah blah

It also promotes a competitive culture rather than just throwing a bunch of unseasoned players into a position. Icing a more competitive squad is more entertaining for fans so it's better from a business standpoint. Throwing new players to the wolves isn't always the best for their development. It can kill players' and even the team's confidence.

Having MacDonald doesn't foster a competitive culture. He is a safety net and what he brings to the team is pretty much the exact opposite of a competitive situation. A competitive culture would endorse going forward with two goaltenders who are equally fighting for the #1G position going forward beyond the Flames rebuild.

I think what you want to say is "winning" culture and I would love it if the Flames immediately started winning again next year. However, I do not think MacDonald is the answer to generating either a competitive culture nor a winning culture. If Kipper were to stay on, I could see him being able to steal games and bring the Flames wins that we would not see otherwise but I really do not see MacDonald being that guy.

Originally Posted by blah blah

You advocate bringing Ramo, Berra, Irving, Taylor, Ortio and Brossoit into camp but you ignore the fact they'd all need to be signed and that you'd have to put them all somewhere after. The logistics of that just doesn't work.

I certainly understand that we cannot keep everyone and I said as much in my previous post as I said that I would be willing to walk away from MacDonald and Irving if it looks like Taylor and Brossoit would be the duo in the Heat while Ortio stays in Europe.

Originally Posted by blah blah

It takes up roster spots unnecessarily just to delay making some decisions now instead of later.

This sentence stuck out with what I am trying to convey. Keeping MacDonald is the ultimate form of the Flames delaying making a decision in the goaltending position. As you said, he is a stop-gap and we have two 26 year old goaltenders who both want to come to the NHL and fight for jobs. Next season would be the time to let them compete, just like all of the other young guys we are going to give chances to.

Unless you think MacDonald is going to make us a playoff team next year I really do not see where the big gamble is in going with Ramo/Berra next season. Odds are, with or without MacDonald this team is going to be fighting for draft position instead of playoff position.

[DeluxeMoustache]

The Coyotes, Lightning, and Blue Jackets demonstrate pretty clearly the impact of team defensive game on goalies. Smith is good in Dallas, bad in Tampa, a rock star in Phoenix. Bryzgalov was a rock star in Phoenix then struggles in Philly. Bobrovsky struggles in Philly and is light out in Columbus. Where Steve Mason once put up some dazzling numbers. And now Tampa is having "goalie troubles"

Joey MacDonald has been fine here given what he has has to play behind. Outside of the Edmonton meltdown, this team has given him a lot better D post deadline by giving away less unstoppable chances. He even has said as much.

Looking at his fundamentals, he is improving, but has issues with rebound control, tracking the puck and at times positioning for the next save. He let in 3 pretty rough ones last game.

Whoever plays net next year will have performance only as good as the chance the team in front of him gives him to give them a chance to win.

A fine backup but that is it right now.

[Enoch Root]

No way is he a #1

I am not even keen on him as a #2

However, I would be happy to have him in the organization as the #3 insurance policy.

I hope they go with Ramo and Berra next year, with MAcDonald as a safety net.

If those two don't work out, then you look to spend assets acquiring a goalie.

[Roof-Daddy]

I can see the Flames taking a run at Anton Khudobin as a potential starter, but of course they certainly won't be the only team trying to sign him.

He's 26, right in the apex wheel house
Wouldn't cost any assets to acquire (just cap space and contract spot)
Not proven as a starter, but more proven than Ramo or Berra without a doubt

Doesn't come without risk though. Sign him to a UFA type contract, and he doesn't pan out behind a much weaker team than Boston then it's a potential disaster.

...because of that risk, MacDonald would be a much cheaper, less risky option as a 1B with Ramo/Berra next season.

[OzSome]

Flames don't have a chance to make the playoff so Hartley and the management are probably giving Joey Mac all the chances to see if he is worth signing next season. I really think Kipper is still hurting and also think that he will be back next season. They want Kipper to stay healthy so he'll be physically be back at the beginning of the next season 100% healthy.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

No way is he a #1

I am not even keen on him as a #2

However, I would be happy to have him in the organization as the #3 insurance policy.

I hope they go with Ramo and Berra next year, with MAcDonald as a safety net.

If those two don't work out, then you look to spend assets acquiring a goalie.

The potential Ramo/Berra tandem next season must henceforth be called Berrorama.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

The potential Ramo/Berra tandem next season must henceforth be called Berrorama.

I fully support this.

[zunie75]

Originally Posted by OzSome

Flames don't have a chance to make the playoff so Hartley and the management are probably giving Joey Mac all the chances to see if he is worth signing next season. I really think Kipper is still hurting and also think that he will be back next season. They want Kipper to stay healthy so he'll be physically be back at the beginning of the next season 100% healthy.

I hope your right. I want him to have a final season that he can be some what proud of. I couldn't imagine leaving the game for good after the season he is currently having. And you don't want to have to pull a Hasek and come out of retirement later.

[cannon7]

MacDonald is a UFA at the end of the season, so if he is our new #1, Feaster better extend his contact. Although I suspect Feaster will try to bring in Ramo in the offseason.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by cannon7

MacDonald is a UFA at the end of the season, so if he is our new #1, Feaster better extend his contact. Although I suspect Feaster will try to bring in Ramo in the offseason.

I do not think it will take a lot of effort on Feaster's part to convince Ramo to come back to the NHL.

Karri Ramo TSN Article (hints at coming to Calgary next season)

[GreenLantern2814]

There were legitimate reasons for Joey Mac to have started the last three games; the Phoenix game had Hartley going game for game with his netminders. Edmonton was giving him a shot at redemption after the 8-2 game. By that point, he'd won back to back games, so give him a third straight start. He lost, so now we go back to Kipper.