Mike Smith's... woes? He blows? Eating crows? Who knows! (Also David Rittich exists!)

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by jg13

Not sure if it was shown on tv but after Smith let in the 2nd goal about a minute later he physically responded to a Bronx cheer by lifting his arms up. That to me shows a goalie that is a bit fragile mentally. You can't react to that, just keep your focus. Then he let in another softie shortly after.

Mike Smith is short on confidence and or lack of focus. Both things a goalie needs.

I certainly did not like his post-game comments.

[LWcrowfoot]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

I certainly did not like his post-game comments.

What were the comments?

Originally Posted by jg13

Not sure if it was shown on tv but after Smith let in the 2nd goal about a minute later he physically responded to a Bronx cheer by lifting his arms up. That to me shows a goalie that is a bit fragile mentally. You can't react to that, just keep your focus. Then he let in another softie shortly after.

Mike Smith is short on confidence and or lack of focus. Both things a goalie needs.

He comes across incredibly fragile mentally. For a vet that's on his last legs that's shocking. CBC showed him talking to Hanifin after that ugly goal, he seemed to be doing most of the talking. If that was me who f'd up (not a goalie but as a forward) I'd STFU and listen.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

I certainly did not like his post-game comments.

Missed it. What did he say?

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by transplant99

YOU called it a "major" weakness, not me.

And who would you have acquired to make the goaltending "great"?

But move those goalposts to feel better about being wrong.

You want a weakness on this team?

Look at the PK.

Try this on and see if it fits.

Between Sean Monahan and Sam Bennett there is a 60 goal scorer!

Combine Rittich and Smith's stats and the Flames are 8th in goals against!

You don't want an honest conversation here you just want to be glib about goaltending by pointing to #### like team goals against average or wins or other things that don't actually reflect on the individual goaltenders.

All of Calgary's chief playoff competitors added at the deadline, the Flames added fantenberg.

They didn't need to get a goalie to replace smith because that was likely impossible after letting the problem persist all year. They needed to add scoring, so that when mike smith lets in two absolutely awful goals, they have the horses to pull themselves out of it.

Not lose 4-2 to the Wild on Iginla's friggin retirement ceremony night, a guy who made it his career to absolutely torch the wild.

Mike Smith just put together his best 4 or 5 game streak of the season, I have no problem acknowledging that.

OUTSIDE OF THAT PERFORMANCE, he has maybe been the worst goalie in the league.

In a season where the Flames look like the Class of the west, knowing the backup is a worse goalie than Phil Sauve isn't exactly inspiring, as between now and the playoffs, the flames are still going to have to actually win games as well.

I'm going to try not to harp on it too much between now and the end of the season, but the flames blew a huge opportunity at the deadline and since then Mike Smith has decided to use a yellow highlighter to remind us all just how bad that decision may end up being.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Missed it. What did he say?

I don't know what comments the poster was referring to but this is from the Sun article:

“Just a mistake behind the net with the puck,” said Smith, owning up his error post-game. “You can’t make mistakes like that in close games, and tonight, it bit us.”

Gio, as always, is such a stand up guy and defended him:
“Smitty, one of his best parts of his game is playing the puck, and we want him to go out and play every puck,” the veteran defenceman said. “Those things are going to happen every once in a while. But the other thousand times that he comes out and plays it clean, it’s going to help us break the puck out.”

https://calgarysun.com/sports/hockey...ht-at-the-dome

Later this on being razzed after the 4th goal:
“I don’t think anyone likes to be jeered at home,” Smith said. “I think that’s just human nature. But they’re passionate fans, and mistakes are going to happen in games. I’m telling you that right now they’re going to happen.

“Unfortunately (Saturday night), it went the other way. That’s part of playing sports and being a professional. Obviously, they’re passionate fans, and when things are going well, they’re right there with you. But there are mistakes in games that happen, and they paid their money to come here to voice their displeasures, and that’s what happened.

“But I don’t think anyone likes to feel like that at home,” Smith continued. “It’s one thing to go on the road and get booed, but you don’t like to hear it in your own rink. But that’s the way it is. That’s part of the sport, and you just accept it and keep moving on.”

[LWcrowfoot]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I'm going to try not to harp on it too much between now and the end of the season, but the flames blew a huge opportunity at the deadline and since then Mike Smith has decided to use a yellow highlighter to remind us all just how bad that decision may end up being.

It's bordering on unforgivable to build such a fantastic team but start the season with Rittich and Smith. Besides a good run and two small streaks but Smith they've let us down and no one is surprised. Rittich would be good in a 1B role but Smith isn't that 1A that the tandem needs.

If goaltending ruins us in the playoffs the team needs to take a serious look at the GM.

House built on sand.

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Try this on and see if it fits.

Between Sean Monahan and Sam Bennett there is a 60 goal scorer!

Combine Rittich and Smith's stats and the Flames are 8th in goals against!

You don't want an honest conversation here you just want to be glib about goaltending by pointing to #### like team goals against average or wins or other things that don't actually reflect on the individual goaltenders.

All of Calgary's chief playoff competitors added at the deadline, the Flames added fantenberg.

They didn't need to get a goalie to replace smith because that was likely impossible after letting the problem persist all year. They needed to add scoring, so that when mike smith lets in two absolutely awful goals, they have the horses to pull themselves out of it.

Not lose 4-2 to the Wild on Iginla's friggin retirement ceremony night, a guy who made it his career to absolutely torch the wild.

Mike Smith just put together his best 4 or 5 game streak of the season, I have no problem acknowledging that.

OUTSIDE OF THAT PERFORMANCE, he has maybe been the worst goalie in the league.

In a season where the Flames look like the Class of the west, knowing the backup is a worse goalie than Phil Sauve isn't exactly inspiring, as between now and the playoffs, the flames are still going to have to actually win games as well.

I'm going to try not to harp on it too much between now and the end of the season, but the flames blew a huge opportunity at the deadline and since then Mike Smith has decided to use a yellow highlighter to remind us all just how bad that decision may end up being.

This. Thanks Flash. Could not have said it better.

[ResAlien]

I can only imagine how awful Rittich must look in practice for this coaching staff to gamble the team’s season on a washed up goalie that won’t be in the league next year. Best case scenario we pray that he hits a hot streak in the playoffs or we play Arizona in the first round. Outside of that it’s looking like Brian Elliott 2.0

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by LWcrowfoot

It's bordering on unforgivable to build such a fantastic team but start the season with Rittich and Smith. Besides a good run and two small streaks but Smith they've let us down and no one is surprised. Rittich would be good in a 1B role but Smith isn't that 1A that the tandem needs.

If goaltending ruins us in the playoffs the team needs to take a serious look at the GM.

House built on sand.

You think they should take a "serious look" at the GM after he assembled a roster that is putting together the best season in decades?
Sure let's do that. Let's fire that GM and bring another guy and wallow in misery for another 2 decades. Because constant swapping of management has worked SO WELL. Let's do it again!

If this is handled correctly this team can contend for next next 5-7 years, largely because of the work BT has done.

If the team doesn't have a run this year, we will likely have even more clarity as to why - at which point I'm confident he'll address it.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

I can only imagine how awful Rittich must look in practice for this coaching staff to gamble the team’s season on a washed up goalie that won’t be in the league next year. Best case scenario we pray that he hits a hot streak in the playoffs or we play Arizona in the first round. Outside of that it’s looking like Brian Elliott 2.0

I think a key difference is when Moose was here the team clearly had NO confidence in The Chad.
We can debate how much confidence they have in BSD - but they have some. So if Smith does start in the playoffs and falters, I don't think they will stick with him as they did Elliott.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Try this on and see if it fits.

Between Sean Monahan and Sam Bennett there is a 60 goal scorer!

Combine Rittich and Smith's stats and the Flames are 8th in goals against!

You don't want an honest conversation here you just want to be glib about goaltending by pointing to #### like team goals against average or wins or other things that don't actually reflect on the individual goaltenders.

All of Calgary's chief playoff competitors added at the deadline, the Flames added fantenberg.

They didn't need to get a goalie to replace smith because that was likely impossible after letting the problem persist all year. They needed to add scoring, so that when mike smith lets in two absolutely awful goals, they have the horses to pull themselves out of it.

Not lose 4-2 to the Wild on Iginla's friggin retirement ceremony night, a guy who made it his career to absolutely torch the wild.

Mike Smith just put together his best 4 or 5 game streak of the season, I have no problem acknowledging that.

OUTSIDE OF THAT PERFORMANCE, he has maybe been the worst goalie in the league.

In a season where the Flames look like the Class of the west, knowing the backup is a worse goalie than Phil Sauve isn't exactly inspiring, as between now and the playoffs, the flames are still going to have to actually win games as well.

I'm going to try not to harp on it too much between now and the end of the season, but the flames blew a huge opportunity at the deadline and since then Mike Smith has decided to use a yellow highlighter to remind us all just how bad that decision may end up being.

OK....so...is the goaltending that you called a major weakness....a major weakness or not? Im suggesting it is not because it ranks among the top 8 in the league, you may have a different definition.

If it is, and Mike Smith is the reason, then you dont play him in the playoffs, but until the post season starts BOTH guys need to (and have) played. In those most recent games, Mike Smith has the much better counting stats.

Right?

What is so hard about this?

As for the rest of your rant...sure... ok if that's what you think, fill your boots.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Try this on and see if it fits.



Between Sean Monahan and Sam Bennett there is a 60 goal scorer!



Combine Rittich and Smith's stats and the Flames are 8th in goals against!



You don't want an honest conversation here you just want to be glib about goaltending by pointing to #### like team goals against average or wins or other things that don't actually reflect on the individual goaltenders.



All of Calgary's chief playoff competitors added at the deadline, the Flames added fantenberg.



They didn't need to get a goalie to replace smith because that was likely impossible after letting the problem persist all year. They needed to add scoring, so that when mike smith lets in two absolutely awful goals, they have the horses to pull themselves out of it.



Not lose 4-2 to the Wild on Iginla's friggin retirement ceremony night, a guy who made it his career to absolutely torch the wild.



Mike Smith just put together his best 4 or 5 game streak of the season, I have no problem acknowledging that.



OUTSIDE OF THAT PERFORMANCE, he has maybe been the worst goalie in the league.



In a season where the Flames look like the Class of the west, knowing the backup is a worse goalie than Phil Sauve isn't exactly inspiring, as between now and the playoffs, the flames are still going to have to actually win games as well.



I'm going to try not to harp on it too much between now and the end of the season, but the flames blew a huge opportunity at the deadline and since then Mike Smith has decided to use a yellow highlighter to remind us all just how bad that decision may end up being.

I agree with everything you said on Smith. That being said, the first round pick and other assets the flames may of had on the table at the deadline may be used in a package to get a real starter next season. If goaltending does end up being this teams downfall then it would look pretty bad to not have any chips in the offseason to fix it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don't know what comments the poster was referring to but this is from the Sun article:

“Just a mistake behind the net with the puck,” said Smith, owning up his error post-game. “You can’t make mistakes like that in close games, and tonight, it bit us.”

Gio, as always, is such a stand up guy and defended him:
“Smitty, one of his best parts of his game is playing the puck, and we want him to go out and play every puck,” the veteran defenceman said. “Those things are going to happen every once in a while. But the other thousand times that he comes out and plays it clean, it’s going to help us break the puck out.”

https://calgarysun.com/sports/hockey...ht-at-the-dome

Later this on being razzed after the 4th goal:
“I don’t think anyone likes to be jeered at home,” Smith said. “I think that’s just human nature. But they’re passionate fans, and mistakes are going to happen in games. I’m telling you that right now they’re going to happen.

“Unfortunately (Saturday night), it went the other way. That’s part of playing sports and being a professional. Obviously, they’re passionate fans, and when things are going well, they’re right there with you. But there are mistakes in games that happen, and they paid their money to come here to voice their displeasures, and that’s what happened.

“But I don’t think anyone likes to feel like that at home,” Smith continued. “It’s one thing to go on the road and get booed, but you don’t like to hear it in your own rink. But that’s the way it is. That’s part of the sport, and you just accept it and keep moving on.”

Thats brutal.

The team was fighting like hell to overcome his mistakes and he lets that goal go right through him and then those are his comments?

I'd be livid as one of his teammates.

[LWcrowfoot]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

You think they should take a "serious look" at the GM after he assembled a roster that is putting together the best season in decades?
Sure let's do that. Let's fire that GM and bring another guy and wallow in misery for another 2 decades. Because constant swapping of management has worked SO WELL. Let's do it again!

If this is handled correctly this team can contend for next next 5-7 years, largely because of the work BT has done.

If the team doesn't have a run this year, we will likely have even more clarity as to why - at which point I'm confident he'll address it.

Yes, I do. Treliving has continually failed to address the goaltending. You can build a fantastic team but the if that foundation isn't there none of it matters. He's also not the only smart hockey mind out there. Maybe we need another GM to come in with a fresh approach and put us over the hump. I don't think it's that confusing to suggest and at least look at the GM, (if his team fails because of what he's failed to address).

There were both huge question marks to start the off season last year, coach and goaltending. He finally nailed coaching, Peters has been A++.. but goaltending is still an issue. Perhaps having such a good team gives him more rope to get a goalie this off season.

I've got some faith in Rittich, none in Smith and I think for a long playoff run we'll need two goalies. I'll be cheering my face off, trying to get my Dad's season tickets for a couple games.. but goaltending is such.. let down.

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think a key difference is when Moose was here the team clearly had NO confidence in The Chad.
We can debate how much confidence they have in BSD - but they have some. So if Smith does start in the playoffs and falters, I don't think they will stick with him as they did Elliott.

Yep you have to think that’s the plan. As much as I hate the idea, Smith starts game 1 and if it’s a repeat of last night or something like it they go with Rittich in game 2.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by LWcrowfoot

It's bordering on unforgivable to build such a fantastic team but start the season with Rittich and Smith. Besides a good run and two small streaks but Smith they've let us down and no one is surprised. Rittich would be good in a 1B role but Smith isn't that 1A that the tandem needs.

If goaltending ruins us in the playoffs the team needs to take a serious look at the GM.

House built on sand.

The opportunity cost of acquiring Smith is proving to be huge. It is hard to make goalie trades mid-season, except for maybe one that is a back-up. Starting goalies rarely ever get moved during the season. And if someone is moving a starting goalie, it is likely because a younger better goalie has usurped them, and that team isn't going to want to take back your old expensive crappy goalie.

Once we took on that anchor, we were going to be stuck with him. Other goalies that moved and acquired by other teams around the same time would have been better options. And that isn't a hindsight thing. If you look at the polls and threads on here before and after we acquired Smith, not many people wanted him or were very happy after we acquired him. Every team he played on in the NHL was always in the hunt for someone better.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

I can only imagine how awful Rittich must look in practice for this coaching staff to gamble the team’s season on a washed up goalie that won’t be in the league next year. Best case scenario we pray that he hits a hot streak in the playoffs or we play Arizona in the first round. Outside of that it’s looking like Brian Elliott 2.0

I just don't know if that's the case.

I have no problem with Smith getting the bulk of the starts between now and game 1 of the playoffs to insure that Rittich is healthy and rested.

I don't think there's any question that Rittich is the #1.

It's just that Mike Smith has been so routinely terrible that it is getting hard to justify why he should even be the backup at this point.

There is no other option, at all, which is why Smith sees himself getting starts. What a precarious position to find yourself in as the #2 team in the league.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don't know what comments the poster was referring to but this is from the Sun article:

“Just a mistake behind the net with the puck,” said Smith, owning up his error post-game. “You can’t make mistakes like that in close games, and tonight, it bit us.”

Gio, as always, is such a stand up guy and defended him:
“Smitty, one of his best parts of his game is playing the puck, and we want him to go out and play every puck,” the veteran defenceman said. “Those things are going to happen every once in a while. But the other thousand times that he comes out and plays it clean, it’s going to help us break the puck out.”

https://calgarysun.com/sports/hockey...ht-at-the-dome

Later this on being razzed after the 4th goal:
“I don’t think anyone likes to be jeered at home,” Smith said. “I think that’s just human nature. But they’re passionate fans, and mistakes are going to happen in games. I’m telling you that right now they’re going to happen.

“Unfortunately (Saturday night), it went the other way. That’s part of playing sports and being a professional. Obviously, they’re passionate fans, and when things are going well, they’re right there with you. But there are mistakes in games that happen, and they paid their money to come here to voice their displeasures, and that’s what happened.

“But I don’t think anyone likes to feel like that at home,” Smith continued. “It’s one thing to go on the road and get booed, but you don’t like to hear it in your own rink. But that’s the way it is. That’s part of the sport, and you just accept it and keep moving on.”

So a couple of things.

Smith, just a FYI, people pay to see a hockey game, I’m sure they would not feel shortchanged if there was no opportunity to voice displeasure.

Gio with the hyperbolic other ‘1000 times’ that Smith plays the puck without incident - just a few mere games ago, Francis had it at once every 200 times. I guess if Smith mishandles the puck in a costly way next game, it will be once in a million?

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Beninho

I agree with everything you said on Smith. That being said, the first round pick and other assets the flames may of had on the table at the deadline may be used in a package to get a real starter next season. If goaltending does end up being this teams downfall then it would look pretty bad to not have any chips in the offseason to fix it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

WHO CARES ABOUT NEXT SEASON

Best Flames team in 30 years:

"I bet they will be better next year."

I just don't understand it. I don't think I ever will.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

I can only imagine how awful Rittich must look in practice for this coaching staff to gamble the team’s season on a washed up goalie that won’t be in the league next year.

It has little to do with Rittich and everything to do with Sigalet and his obsession with contrived tandems. We're never gonna get a #1 goalie if we never trust anyone to be a #1 goalie. Rittich has a couple bad games against the highest scoring team and the third highest scoring team and he's suddenly the backup because Smith beat the Arizona ****ing Coyotes.