Flames goaltending 2019-20

[getbak]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I think Smith would love to come back. He's still in town.

That's likely because of his kids finishing the school year.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

The one thing we do know is that they have very little money to play with and that a big splash may mean taking a less than favorable deal in moving more salary out.

I'm of the belief that the most important thing Treliving has on his plate is getting goaltending right. So if thay means dumping salary like Nashville did with PK, so be it. Not everyone is going to see it this way but the idea all along has been moving Frolik and Brodie to make the room.

That's 9 million ish there alone that Tree can use to lock up a 4m goalie and cover the important RFAs we need to re-sign.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Has there actually been any noise about the Flames looking on the open market for goaltending help? It's been remarkably quiet on that front even for a notoriously tight-lipped front office.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Fans have a history of wanting to find an injury reason whenever a player doesn't play up to their expectations. Remember Brouwer's finger injury or whatever it was?

Lots of talk about Rittich's lingering injury last year but I'm hopeful Flames management aren't putting much stock in that and that whatever goalie option the team goes with isn't dependent on Rittich playing at a level that he has yet been able to sustain.

I'm sure Rittich will be part of the solution, but I suppose there is at least a possibility a new #1 comes in for next year if Treliving starts shedding salary.

Well, given that Flames management and coaches are in direct contact with Rittich and principally involved in overseeing his development, there is no reason to think that they would ever resign themselves to mere hope. They know what’s going on.


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[David Struch]

I'm stilling rooting for Jon Gillies. (75th in 2012) But the competition will be heated down in Stockton. (Tyler Parsons, Artyom Zagidulin, Nick Schneider)

It would definitely suck big time to see Gillies pull a Jordan Binnington (88th in 2011) with another team (Binnington wasn't even a mention to win the back-up job with the Blues last off season, one of Ville Husso or Chad Johnson were expected to back-up Jake Allen)

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Has there actually been any noise about the Flames looking on the open market for goaltending help? It's been remarkably quiet on that front even for a notoriously tight-lipped front office.

It's been quiet period. Most we have heard was what? They're not shopping Brodie too hard.

Doubt we will hear anything for like a week.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by David Struch

I'm stilling rooting for Jon Gillies. (75th in 2012) But the competition will be heated down in Stockton. (Tyler Parsons, Artyom Zagidulin, Nick Schneider)

It would definitely suck big time to see Gillies pull a Jordan Binnington (88th in 2011) with another team (Binnington wasn't even a mention to win the back-up job with the Blues last off season, one of Ville Husso or Chad Johnson were expected to back-up Jake Allen)

Binnington has posted some impressive numbers in the AHL. This is something that Gillies has struggled to do in his professional career. I think this fact leaves a few posters—including myself—sceptical about his long term potential.


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[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Binnington has posted some impressive numbers in the AHL. This is something that Gillies has struggled to do in his professional career. I think this fact leaves a few posters—including myself—sceptical about his long term potential.


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I would agree with this.

I used to be bullish on Gillies' potential and to let him work things out as a long term asset, since that's the way all goalies go, but it looks like he has never been able to perform that well following his hip surgery. While he's not truly terrible, I doubt we ever see him in a meaningful role in the NHL.

Yes, I hear you out there, "Goalies are voodoo! They take time to develop!". Sure, that's true a lot of the time, but you usually see progression in their games, rather than regression. Last year was a significant step back for Gillies, even factoring in the significantly worse defense playing in front of him throughout the season. To be seriously considered as part of the team's plan going forward you would need to see a big bounce back year THIS year as his contract expires next year. Keep in mind Rittich is one year older but has shown more progress in a short amount of time of high levels of competition. Considering the goalies in the system, I would be surprised to see Gillies get another contract unless something big happens in his game.

[Erick Estrada]

If the Flames had a true number one goaltender I would be fine with giving Gillies as year as the backup to show what he's got. The issue is that Rittich seems to have mid-season slumps and confidence issues which will require the backup to start for periods of time and that could be problematic if Gillies isn't up to the task. That said Smith was absolutely terrible (was statistically the worst or close to the worst for a long time) for a good portion of the regular season last year so how good does Gillies really have to be?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Back on topic for what the Flames do for their pro goaltending situation, I think it's clear they are going to re-sign Rittich as a 1A option, so long as he doesn't end up in arbitration. If he goes to arbitration, it could get ugly quickly. Players that have done arbitration with Treliving are out of the organization in short order. I certainly hope that doesn't happen as I think Rittich can be a truly solid to good starting goaltender. I would guess that he gets a 2 or 3 year deal at $2 million since he's an RFA with limited history in North America. I doubt he has enough ammo to really win an arbitration hearing.

But then the question of who to pair with Rittich?

I think the idea of a 1B is the best course of action, so I would go with guys that have shown the ability to succeed in that environment. Look no further than the goalies the Hurricanes had last year: Curtis McElhinney and Petr Mrazek. Both had good numbers in similar playing time, with a slight edge to Mrazek. However, I think Mrazek prefers being the 1A rather than the 1B since he had some issues with playing time in Detroit. Plus, he's much younger than McElhinney, so he will likely repeat his performance last year (finger crossed).

But then the idea of cost comes up. McBackup can be had for probably less money at this point in his career than Mrazek. However, I'm more confident in handing the starting job to Mrazek than McBackup should Rittich falter in any way. I think it would be a wise strategy to go after Mrazek on a 3 year deal for $2.5-3 million. That's nearly double what he made last year, so he would likely be content with that and I think it would work with our cap structure.

In the end the Flames end up spending no more than $5 million on both goaltenders for the next couple of years (best case scenario).

Thoughts? Am I waaaay out to lunch on this?

[Jiri Hrdina]

I think you are low on Mrazek. He'll want more.
Talbot remains my #1 target. I think he and BSD would be an excellent tandem.
People are going to hate this, but I would be open to Jake Allen. He was awful last year but has performed well at times in the past.
St. Loo wants to move on from him I'm sure, so flip them a guy like Frolik so you balance the salaries.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Back on topic for what the Flames do for their pro goaltending situation, I think it's clear they are going to re-sign Rittich as a 1A option, so long as he doesn't end up in arbitration. If he goes to arbitration, it could get ugly quickly. Players that have done arbitration with Treliving are out of the organization in short order. I certainly hope that doesn't happen as I think Rittich can be a truly solid to good starting goaltender. I would guess that he gets a 2 or 3 year deal at $2 million since he's an RFA with limited history in North America. I doubt he has enough ammo to really win an arbitration hearing.

But then the question of who to pair with Rittich?

I think the idea of a 1B is the best course of action, so I would go with guys that have shown the ability to succeed in that environment. Look no further than the goalies the Hurricanes had last year: Curtis McElhinney and Petr Mrazek. Both had good numbers in similar playing time, with a slight edge to Mrazek. However, I think Mrazek prefers being the 1A rather than the 1B since he had some issues with playing time in Detroit. Plus, he's much younger than McElhinney, so he will likely repeat his performance last year (finger crossed).

But then the idea of cost comes up. McBackup can be had for probably less money at this point in his career than Mrazek. However, I'm more confident in handing the starting job to Mrazek than McBackup should Rittich falter in any way. I think it would be a wise strategy to go after Mrazek on a 3 year deal for $2.5-3 million. That's nearly double what he made last year, so he would likely be content with that and I think it would work with our cap structure.

In the end the Flames end up spending no more than $5 million on both goaltenders for the next couple of years (best case scenario).

Thoughts? Am I waaaay out to lunch on this?

I don’t think Mrazek is a realistic option. He is going to be fielding offers higher than $3 m AAV, and for the same money I would guess is more likely to return to Carolina.


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[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think you are low on Mrazek. He'll want more.
Talbot remains my #1 target. I think he and BSD would be an excellent tandem.
People are going to hate this, but I would be open to Jake Allen. He was awful last year but has performed well at times in the past.
St. Loo wants to move on from him I'm sure, so flip them a guy like Frolik so you balance the salaries.

You're probably right, but who's going to pay him more than $3 million a year for 3 years? Nevermind...I know someone out there will overpay for a solid option like him. Colorado immediately comes to mind if they don't re-sign Varlamov.

I would go for Talbot or Allen if we are certain that Rittich can truly handle a starter's load, meaning 50-60 games a year. If they are skeptical about that in any way, you need someone more reliable than those guys.

I would really hold my nose if they signed Allen. He had a great defensive team in front of him and led them to the basement of the league before they finally found Binnington and became a cup winner. The rest of the team didn't substantially change, so that tells me that Allen sewered his team's chances of winning far worse than say Mike Smith did last year, which says a LOT.

Talbot would be a solid choice as a pure backup, but not as a 1B IMO.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think you are low on Mrazek. He'll want more.
Talbot remains my #1 target. I think he and BSD would be an excellent tandem.
People are going to hate this, but I would be open to Jake Allen. He was awful last year but has performed well at times in the past.
St. Loo wants to move on from him I'm sure, so flip them a guy like Frolik so you balance the salaries.

I’d be ok with Talbot but I would like to be taking a pick or prospect back to take Allen. He looked absolutely dreadful last season and has an established history of inconsistency. He’s in cap dump territory at this point.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I don’t think Mrazek is a realistic option. He is going to be fielding offers higher than $3 m AAV, and for the same money I would guess is more likely to return to Carolina.


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I read something the other day indicating that Carolina doesn't think they'll be able to sign either goalie, but I'm not sure where I saw it now. Take it with a grain of salt obviously.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

I’d be ok with Talbot but I would like to be taking a pick or prospect back to take Allen. He looked absolutely dreadful last season and has an established history of inconsistency. He’s in cap dump territory at this point.

With only one year remaining though, they aren't going to throw in much of a sweetener.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I read something the other day indicating that Carolina doesn't think they'll be able to sign either goalie, but I'm not sure where I saw it now. Take it with a grain of salt obviously.

I suspect the reason for that is that Mrazek’s ask is well out of their price range. Like I said: if he was willing to settle in the range of $3 m, then I suspect that is a number Carolina could absorb. But he is getting more than that. Probably a lot more.


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[Cali Panthers Fan]

Okay, so what is the expected price for Mrazek? $5 million? More? Who are his comparables?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Okay, so what is the expected price for Mrazek? $5 million? More? Who are his comparables?

Well, Mrazek is a SUBSTANTIAL upgrade on the goalie in Edmonton who is under contract for $4.5 m x 3—BWAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Seriously though, he will get at least that much as a UFA.


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[Flash Walken]

I think if you can't move Brodie you're looking at under 7 million total for both goaltending positions.

Because of this it would not surprise me to see Mike Smith back.