[News] Derek Grant assigned to Stockton. Hiller returns to practice.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by jg13

Back to the "always earned, never given" thing. I haven't heard Hartley say that all year and I haven't heard a reporter bring it up either. Something i'm actual curious about because the answer is either.

"No, we're no longer going by that anymore. We're going to give the guys that got us into the playoffs a chance night in night out regardless of their play."

Or

"Yes we still go by that motto." Which would be a straight up lie and Wideman wouldn't have left the press box in the past 10 games.

If they got the team into the playoffs last year, it kind of means they earned it. I guess the question is more of a temporal one.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

I don't know, I think it would be kind of dumb. We'd be left in the situation of potentially only having Gillies and Poulin as our goalies under contract for next year, forcing us into a position of weakness with other GMs. There are no guarantees in UFA and guys like Martin Jones apparently command 1st+ in trades. I wouldn't be on board with such a move at all.

Sink or swim with Ortio, he has potential still. Ramo and Hiller have proven to be below average, why not waive them instead? It's not like the Hartley has even given Ortio a chance, and we already know Hiller and Ramo are no good. Even if we somehow make the playoffs (LOL, ya right), Hiller and/or Ramo will be destined to poop the bed... so what's the point? So we can lose them for nothing after a disappointing season AND not have Ortio? Sounds like a move out of the Kevin Lowe play book, only he meant to tank his team.

If they lose him to waivers, I honestly hope Ortio goes on to become a star, it would be so fitting and deserved... and so Calgary Flames.

I share this sentiment. Makes 0 sense to me grooming a guy for years just to throw him away. Im honestly in disbelief that we have 2 goalies that we know what we have in (not terrible but not the future) taking the starting time away from a banished 24 year old. A 24 year old that probably has 0 confidence now. All started with this stupid 3 headed goalie monster. I said at the beginning of the year Ortio probably needed 25 starts this year to really show what he has to offer. Hes on pace for 8 right now when he is still developing and needs playing time to stay sharp.

I would have been fine with either Ramo/Ortio or Hiller/Ortio to start the season and i gaurantee either of those combos would have provided better goaltending then the 3 headed goalie mess.

Edit: and the team in front of them would have started better too.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

If they got the team into the playoffs last year, it kind of means they earned it. I guess the question is more of a temporal one.

'sometimes earned, sometimes given'

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I think the Flames should start Hiller in both games this week.

You know Ramo is playing better.

If Hiller plays terribly, waive him and put him in Stockton.

If Hiller plays well, waive Ortio and put him in Stockton.

If another team claims Ortio, so be it. It would be disappointing, but it would not be the end of the world.

He's had one day of practice, let's not get ahead of ourselves. No need to rush him back before he is ready.

[FiveSeven]

I think if you spent the time and made the choice of not waiving Ortio then they probably won't do so now.
You don't just risk losing him before you even have the slightest clue what he can actually offer. Give him a run before anything.

[dying4acup]

Ortio has historically been a slow starter that plays himself into a "kipper level" goalie at lower levels.

Waivers decided that Ortio cannot be sent down to play himself into form, and the Flames couldn't just throw him out there to figure it out.

That said, the last 2yrs call ups have shown that Ortio CAN. play quality NHL hockey. I'm not ready to give up on him.

If he has been practicing poorly, obviously AHL coaching has not corrected this. But if he can be a world class goalie, this short term suffering might be worth it, no?

I agree this season has sucked so far, but it isn't dead yet. Lots of positives coming...

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

Ortio has historically been a slow starter that plays himself into a "kipper level" goalie at lower levels.

Waivers decided that Ortio cannot be sent down to play himself into form, and the Flames couldn't just throw him out there to figure it out.

That said, the last 2yrs call ups have shown that Ortio CAN. play quality NHL hockey. I'm not ready to give up on him.

If he has been practicing poorly, obviously AHL coaching has not corrected this. But if he can be a world class goalie, this short term suffering might be worth it, no?

I agree this season has sucked so far, but it isn't dead yet. Lots of positives coming...

Ortio is not a historically slow starter. He's had 1 slow start.