Confirmed: MacDonald on waivers

[t0rrent98]

Joey Mac was starting to grow on me. Oh wells.. hope he finds work else where in the NHL and owns it up.

[Henry Fool]

Was always going to be a tough year for goaltenders. I know some of us got our hopes up a bit but the lineup is what it is. They have time to see what their Euro pro scouting has brought them and then go from there.

At the same time, the goalies have been poor to mediocre. Can't build around uncertainty in the long run.

Should have given Rämö more games early though. I can't believe he spent like two weeks on the bench while the rest the league were getting their game legs on.

[Flashpoint]

Looking at cap geek, he's on a 1 way contract. I guess we'll pay him almost a million to ride the bus?

[moon]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

He's going to pass through waivers, so I don't know what the Flames intend to do here.

Don't want him taking time away from Ortio/Berra/Brossoit in the AHL.

They can have him go to Abbotsford and sit on the bench while they work out somewhere else for him to go either in the AHL or Europe.

I also think there are enough teams out there with injury or bad back-up goalie situations that some team may take a shot at him even if for only a week or two and then putting him on waivers again.

[Matty81]

Hope someone takes him or send him to the echl so guys with some future start getting more minutes at higher levels.

Ramo/Berra nhl
Brossoit/Ortio ahl

No need to carry an over the hill career backup on a rebuilding team that ain't making the playoffs.

Also he was horrible to watch. Overplays shots so badly he's out of position tons and can't control a rebound to save his life.

[FlamesAllTheWay]

Interesting to see what happens with our goalie situation now.

RE: MacDonalds comments. I'd like to hear a sound clip but they don't read well on the surface. There have been plenty of times this year where the team is generating chances and gets themselves back in a game only to need our goalie to come up with a save - not a big one mind you, but just a routine one - and the puck ends up in our net instead.

Just say you'd like to have a goal or two back and you have to be better and move on.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

He's going to pass through waivers, so I don't know what the Flames intend to do here.

Don't want him taking time away from Ortio/Berra/Brossoit in the AHL.

But isn't this the meritocracy you're always so mad about? Mac, a veteran, isn't playing well, so he gets put on waivers to give our two other, younger goalies a chances.

But you know Hartley, only likes his vets!

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Hope someone takes him or send him to the echl so guys with some future start getting more minutes at higher levels.

Ramo/Berra nhl
Brossoit/Ortio ahl

No need to carry an over the hill career backup on a rebuilding team that ain't making the playoffs.

Also he was horrible to watch. Overplays shots so badly he's out of position tons and can't control a rebound to save his life.

Unfortunately the CBA does not allow players on NHL contracts to be assigned to the ECHL without the player's permission (only exception is if the player is still on an ELC)

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by strombad

But isn't this the meritocracy you're always so mad about? Mac, a veteran, isn't playing well, so he gets put on waivers to give our two other, younger goalies a chances.

But you know Hartley, only likes his vets!

Please don't start an argument in this thread. Clearly I've been saying that Hartley's system of meritocracy is inconsistent between players, and that's all I meant.

[Wolfman]

I can see Carolina, Pittsburgh, Nashville putting in a claim. They all have injuries in net. Carolina has starter and backup injured. And we all know Nashville has Rinne out for a month or more.

[devel]

Not sure how to link the video directly of Joey Mac's comments, but it's up on Flames TV here.

http://video.flames.nhl.com/videocenter/

[stignasty]

Come on Flyers!! You know you want to!!

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Please don't start an argument in this thread. Clearly I've been saying that Hartley's system of meritocracy is inconsistent between players, and that's all I meant.

There's nothing to argue. I'm simply pointing out that your desire for meritocracy is as consistent as your perceived notion of Hartley's meritocracy. Clearly.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

@FriedgeHNIC: Flames are going to call up Reto Berra to see him at NHL level and want Joni Ortio to play in AHL.

That's the key right there. They want Ortio and Brossoit in the AHL.

There is a small window for these guys to impress before John Gillies comes to Calgary and starts on his quest to surpass Kiprusoff as best Flames goalie ever.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by moon

They can have him go to Abbotsford and sit on the bench while they work out somewhere else for him to go either in the AHL or Europe.

I also think there are enough teams out there with injury or bad back-up goalie situations that some team may take a shot at him even if for only a week or two and then putting him on waivers again.

This

Best to have him riding the pine in Abby while Orito or Broissoit start in either Abby or Alaska. Like others have said, injuries happen and there might even be a trade market for him later this season, ala Henrik Karlsson.

[PeteMoss]

Scott Cruickshank ‏@CruickshankCH 3m
#Flames Hartley confirms -- MacDonald on waivers, Berra coming up. Didn't rule out start tomorrow. #nhlpn

[Galakanokis]

He was never in the long term plans and the young guys need games against better competition. Good game bad game this move was coming eventually. I think he was only here to temper our (fans) expectations a bit for the new guys.

It is going to be a tough season but the Flames need to know what they have in the younger guys. I think this is just the start of many moves or at least I hope so.

[PeteMoss]

I'd give Berra/Ramo at least until Christmas to show what they have... if they are both terrible well then you can evaluate Ortio or make a move.

[Henry Fool]

I'm not upset about MacDonald's comments, he's not wrong and it's nothing the team would disagree with, but at same time there's a reason why goalies so rarely make those statements even though they're true.

[Wolfman]

I like this. Let the two young guys battle it out. Mac wasn't taking us to the playoffs anyway. Gives Brossoit and Ortio games too. Good move.