Which goalie would you like/will be the best fit for the Flames?

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

We give up the 6th least shots in the league per game, so don't think it had anything to do with the number of shots the Flames D lets up.

Outside of the first two weeks of the season the team defense and limiting scoring chances has been pretty good.

There are some other holes in the team right now, namely #4 d-man and top 6 RW, but really until they get consistent goal-tending none of it matters.

Yeah, they've improved this year over the past few years. However many one goal games they've lost or the many shutouts they've faced, it's based on the shot quality the Flames gives up - even if it's a low shot count. My point is that you can't single out the goalie as the sole responsibility for a team's success or failure unless the guy's a real dork. The team has to learn to win in more ways than just stopping pucks. Even in a scoreless tie, the last team to score wins. So, it's mostly dependant on the players in front of the goalie that provide the ability to win games. The goalie can't provide much of the offence anyway. Heck you don't even need a goalie if your offence stays 100% of the time in the attack zone. That's what happens when you have a 6-man advantage in the last two minutes of the game or even in a powerplay situation.

[Classic_Sniper]

I still think the Flames should've went after James Reimer. He was my #1 choice for the team and is now playing very well for the Florida Panthers. Since December 13, he leads the entire league in save% with .936 and might even supplant Roberto Luongo as the #1 soon. Now we're still in a search for another starting goaltender when there was one available to us as a UFA and wouldn't have cost us any assets to acquire.

[badradio]

How old is Oskar Kiprusoff?

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by badradio

How old is Oskar Kiprusoff?

He is draft eligible in 14 years. So, 3 or 4 I guess.

[Harry Lime]

Has anyone been reasonable and asked for an internal option yet?

I would sign whichever of Elliott or Johnson we like best at the end of the season, for a one year contract, and then bring up Rittich (sp). We would have someone anointed as the #1 (for a year), and and see if the young guy can handle the speed of the NHL.

Let Gilles percolate for another year in the A.

I wouldn't spend a single prospect, draft pick or penny on acquiring a goalie. It's historically a crap shoot until you land a true number one. I also think that certain goalies like Bishop will suffer under the new uniform restrictions.

[N-E-B]

A bg part of goaltending, IMO, is the team in front of them. This team needs a #4 defenseman desperately. Maybe even more than a RW. Won't happen until after the expansion draft though.

[djsFlames]

A Wideman replacement that's adequate at back-checking and in the defensive zone would cut down on the odd goal against. But the way some of these goals are going in (probably about one a game that should be routine for a good starter - think of the one over Elliotts shoulder last game and those weak goals on Johnson's left side), there are concerns in net regardless.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

A Wideman replacement that's adequate at back-checking and in the defensive zone would cut down on the odd goal against. But the way some of these goals are going in (probably about one a game that should be routine for a good starter - think of the one over Elliotts shoulder last game and those weak goals on Johnson's left side), there are concerns in net regardless.

That can be said about almost any goalie in the the league though, with the exception of the very few elite. Even when we had Kiprusoff he allowed a muffin in most games.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

That can be said about almost any goalie in the the league though, with the exception of the very few elite. Even when we had Kiprusoff he allowed a muffin in most games.

But at the end of the day they should be able to make a couple of high difficulty saves (that should go in) to make up for it, and achieve that .920 average for a starter. That's what Kipper would do and it made a difference at the end of the day.

Elliott is allowing the odd muffin while allowing most of those high difficulty shots too. Johnson has done the same since falling back to earth.

Elliott's average isn't even close to what's needed, by any team. Even with defensive gaffs in front of him. It's easy to excuse difficult shots, but starter-quality goalies will find a way to get in front of the odd one and put up those numbers.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

Has anyone been reasonable and asked for an internal option yet?

I would sign whichever of Elliott or Johnson we like best at the end of the season, for a one year contract, and then bring up Rittich (sp). We would have someone anointed as the #1 (for a year), and and see if the young guy can handle the speed of the NHL.

Let Gilles percolate for another year

Yep. Me. Posts 94 & 96

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Where did I say any of that? I guess we are done if you can't properly comprehend posts.

My "we're done" comment was in reference to the Flames, not my post or your post or this conversation. Meaning, the Flames are done if there is no hope to resolve our goaltending issues.

My point was, your common theme through your posts indicates you have 0 faith in the Flames not erecting a goalie tombstone for whatever solution they decide to bring in. You've expressed concern about going out and paying someone like Bishop to play net, because you think the risk on the salary commitment would be too high and is likely to blow up in our face because we are a goalie graveyard. So we don't want to pay top dollar to bring in someone with a fairly proven track record.

You also expressed concern about giving up assets to bring in a young goalie who appears to be on the upswing, again because you don't trust the Flames to not wreck the goalie.

In both scenarios, you don't seem to be open to risking assets (cap space, picks & prospects or both) to try and resolve the goalie issue. I'd love it if a sure thing came along as an option, but we are never going to be offered or get the opportunity to acquire a sure thing, all those goalies have jobs and their teams still want them.

So we either have to take somewhat of a risk and bring in some net minding, or we do nothing, continue to have it be a weak spot and hope our prospects become ready in the next 3 years or so. Thus my we are done comment. If we are only willing to invest in a sure thing in net, we might as well write off the next 3 seasons because best case scenario this team does what it does this year with out better net minding (and maybe that is the right call, our window has yet to really begin). BT basically acquired the lowest risk goaltending option we had this offseason that looked like it could solve our problem, unfortunately it didn't. He's now going to have to take a risk in one form or another to fix this in the short term, or chose not to.

Maybe I've miss read your stance on this situation, if so my apologies.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

I still think the Flames should've went after James Reimer. He was my #1 choice for the team and is now playing very well for the Florida Panthers. Since December 13, he leads the entire league in save% with .936 and might even supplant Roberto Luongo as the #1 soon. Now we're still in a search for another starting goaltender when there was one available to us as a UFA and wouldn't have cost us any assets to acquire.

I like Reimer too, but what is magical about December 13? Lots of goalies have very strong stretches (see Johnson, Chad).

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I like Reimer too, but what is magical about December 13? Lots of goalies have very strong stretches (see Johnson, Chad).

Nothing special. Just saw the stat from my nhl fantasy league notification. All I'm trying to get at is he would've been the perfect goaltender for a team looking for stability in goal, that wouldn't have cost them any assets and at a relatively inexpensive price. The higher ups really need to evaluate the person in charge of goaltender scouting because we've had a lot of strikeouts from the pro level and the amateur level in recent years.

[robbie111]

Originally Posted by blender

Interesting. What is his contract status? Are the Blackhawks in a situation where they will be compelled to move him?

Scott Darling is a UFA for the upcoming season.

[Bunk]

Not sure it's been covered but there are potentially significant goalie equipment changes coming soon. Some argue this will benefit and enable more smaller athletic goalies over the big dudes dominating today. In light of that, maybe we have to think a little differently. Our prospect Parsons seems to fit this mould.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Not sure it's been covered but there are potentially significant goalie equipment changes coming soon. Some argue this will benefit and enable more smaller athletic goalies over the big dudes dominating today. In light of that, maybe we have to think a little differently. Our prospect Parsons seems to fit this mould.

I thought they were made mandatory two days ago - are we talking about something other than the new streamlined pants?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Not sure it's been covered but there are potentially significant goalie equipment changes coming soon. Some argue this will benefit and enable more smaller athletic goalies over the big dudes dominating today. In light of that, maybe we have to think a little differently. Our prospect Parsons seems to fit this mould.

Parsons is at least another three years away.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I thought they were made mandatory two days ago - are we talking about something other than the new streamlined pants?

The pants, as I heard today from Eric Duhatschek on the Fan this morning, are just the first step. Appartently there is a potential move to do a swath of changes before the beginning of next season.