Is Ortio for real?

[madmike]

I'm not a huge Ortio homer, but I'd be upset if they don't bring him back as the backup. He's shown enough in my opinion that he's earned that shot. He'll also be relatively cheap and still has room to get better.

[Poe969]

I don't think there's a doubt that Ortio will be back next year. I think the team made sure he played enough games to be qualified or whatever and still be an RFA. Unless he's included in a trade for a more proven goalie, I think he'll be back.

On a side note, I think Ortio would be a great backup for a more veteran goalie if the Flames opt for the UFA route. Depending on what kind of contracts the goalies will be looking for, I think Ward would sign a contract that makes more sense for the Flames for around 2-3 years at 3-4 mil or so. Reimer will likely want a longer deal with more money and if that's the case, I'd be very hesitant to sign him.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

This is way different than the start of the year, when it was clear Ortio was third in line, but there was competition all around. Now he's clearly on top and its Hiller and Backstrom sharing the backup role in both games and practice. Ortio has way less pressure now.

It wasn't a 3-way competition at the beginning of the year either. It was Hiller and Ramo competing (and playing terrible) and Ortio sitting out until Treliving sent Ramo down.

[1qqaaz]

I think before the recent Ortio call-up, they were planning to bring back only Ramo. After Ortio's recent solid play, I think they will only bring back Ortio.

As for Reimer, I think the Flames will go fairly hard on him. Burke has heavily praised Reimer in the past. Is this the right move? I don't know, but time will tell.

[Strange Brew]

Two of the Flames better players down the stretch have been Ortio and Colborne. I would like to see both of them on one year contracts next year and let's see proof they can maintain this level of play for a full season.

[CroFlames]

Ortio has the potential to be a starter. Time will tell.

The good news is that he's only 24. Practically a baby in goalie years.

[mikephoen]

You can't afford a goalie who always has slow starts. Ortio has also looked terrible when he comes in after a long break, which is what a back ups job is. Sometimes they might go weeks between starts, and then they need to not be terrible, something Ortio has shown no ability to do.

I would move on from everyone who played goal for the Flames this year and just start fresh.

[polak]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

You can't afford a goalie who always has slow starts. Ortio has also looked terrible when he comes in after a long break, which is what a back ups job is. Sometimes they might go weeks between starts, and then they need to not be terrible, something Ortio has shown no ability to do.

I would move on from everyone who played goal for the Flames this year and just start fresh.

He's playing out of his mind right now and you just want to give up cause he had one bad start?

I got a strong feeling whoever takes Ortio from us will be laughing at us all the way to the goalie bank. Guy has solid #1 talent.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

You can't afford a goalie who always has slow starts. Ortio has also looked terrible when he comes in after a long break, which is what a back ups job is. Sometimes they might go weeks between starts, and then they need to not be terrible, something Ortio has shown no ability to do.

I would move on from everyone who played goal for the Flames this year and just start fresh.

All true.

But he's still young as heck and finding himself as a pro. Giving up on him now based on his body of work so far would be an absolute grave mistake.

Wait till he's at least 26 before you make the long term decision on him.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by polak

He's playing out of his mind right now and you just want to give up cause he had one bad start?

I got a strong feeling whoever takes Ortio from us will be laughing at us all the way to the goalie bank. Guy has solid #1 talent.

Who are you and what have you done with polak?

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

You can't afford a goalie who always has slow starts. Ortio has also looked terrible when he comes in after a long break, which is what a back ups job is. Sometimes they might go weeks between starts, and then they need to not be terrible, something Ortio has shown no ability to do.

I would move on from everyone who played goal for the Flames this year and just start fresh.

Plenty of goalies have bad starts. Remember Kipper and how the Flames always seemed to play catch up every season he was in net except for a couple seasons? In addition, the entire team was playing like crap. It was a #### storm of ####.

I'm more then willing to give him another year or 2. As mentioned before, 24 is quite young for a goaltender.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I think before the recent Ortio call-up, they were planning to bring back only Ramo. After Ortio's recent solid play, I think they will only bring back Ortio.

As for Reimer, I think the Flames will go fairly hard on him. Burke has heavily praised Reimer in the past. Is this the right move? I don't know, but time will tell.

I agree with this and think this is likely what the Flames are thinking. Ortio slotted in at the backup spot for now, with an attempt to bring in a true #1 as well. That said, I do think Ramo's last stretch brought him back in the convo, and I wouldn't be surprised if they can't land the right goalie to see them bring Ramo back as a plan B and have him and Ortio fight it out again for the starter role.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

All true.

But he's still young as heck and finding himself as a pro. Giving up on him now based on his body of work so far would be an absolute grave mistake.

Wait till he's at least 26 before you make the long term decision on him.

I'll give you that it could end up being a mistake, but not a 'grave mistake'. More like a Paul Byron on waivers instead of Mason Raymond level mistake. If he goes somewhere else and develops into a starter, it might be seen as a mistake, unless of course the guys we go with instead are as good or better.

With the proposed expansion rules, goalies should be cheaper to acquire than ever this summer (and they're always pretty cheap). I'd just prefer to start completely fresh, with only Gilles returning for the AHL team and the other 3 spots all going to guys that are new to the organization.

If anyone from this years goalie rotation comes back, I'd rather it be Ramo. At least we know he can come in as a 1B after a long layoff and pick up wins. I would want him cheaper than this year's contract though.

[dino7c]

I hope he comes back as the backup...that being said the Flames have no pressure to win right now so its hard to read too much into his play.

[Canada 02]

I think Ortio has very much been under pressure
Until this last month or so it was a foregone conclusion that Ortio was done with the Flames. He has been under pressure to fight for his career, and battled back to at least be in the conversation in whether he deserves another chance. I'm not sure one way or he other, but it's not a slam dunk anymore, imo

[AcGold]

Oh he's definitely gonna be the backup next year.

Best case Bishop/Ortio

Worst case

Ortio/Ramo/?

Ortio's the only goalie that's even a decent backup. We have no starters and one potential 2nd goalie, Ortio isn't going anywhere.

[djsFlames]

For 15-20 games of a season, yes. Proven himself a capable backup.

Not going to say that that's his ceiling but the sample size is still too small to say anything else.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

You can't afford a goalie who always has slow starts. Ortio has also looked terrible when he comes in after a long break, which is what a back ups job is. Sometimes they might go weeks between starts, and then they need to not be terrible, something Ortio has shown no ability to do.

I would move on from everyone who played goal for the Flames this year and just start fresh.

Highly unlikely we roll into a Kipper-type situation next year where the starter is playing 70 games. I would think we'll be in more of a 50/30 type situation.

Now, if they go all in on someone like Bishop, you may be right.

But even if they do, I still think you give Ortio that opportunity, as he will cost less than $1m.

[King Theo]

I think Ortio has proven that he is good enough to at worst be a back-up, and the Flames will bring him back. As for the other goalie, I don't think the UFA route is the best way to go, there is no one there who is going to be a true number 1. Reimer is going to want a 5 year deal and that is way to long for him.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by King Theo

I think Ortio has proven that he is good enough to at worst be a back-up, and the Flames will bring him back. As for the other goalie, I don't think the UFA route is the best way to go, there is no one there who is going to be a true number 1. Reimer is going to want a 5 year deal and that is way to long for him.

Do you really think Reimer will merit that long a deal? If so, yikes.