Confirmed: MacDonald on waivers

[Dion]

“Part of the plan right from Day 1 was to find out what our two goalies could do, especially at the NHL level,” explained Flames head coach Bob Hartley after Saturday's optional skate at WinSport's Markin MacPhail Centre.

“With Berra having a pretty good start at the AHL level with Abbotsford, we felt like we had debated for a while what would be the right timing, and obviously part of bringing Reto Berra was to get Joey MacDonald down, and the only way to get this done was by putting him through waivers.”

In fact, when asked Saturday about the recipe for success, Hartley mentioned that “to get a couple of key saves would definitely help.”

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/11/02...lie-reto-berra

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Sounds like he's one of those guys that's usually in the bare minimum condition expected rather than above and beyond. Have to say I would have expected a guy at his age in this situation with a starting job up for grabs that he would have really come in camp in the best shape of his career. Regardless I think he's done an admiral job over the past two seasons under the circumstances and hope that he get's another shot either with the Flames or another team.

This was the first summer in YEARS that Joey wasn't hurt AND had a pretty good shot at an NHL regular gig. That's probably why Feaster hoped he'd up his game in terms of conditioning.

[Frank MetaMusil]

So MacDonald says the Flames sat back in the first period? The shots were 12-5 and yet Detroit was up 2-0.

.818 save % and he's talking about 99 times out of 100? Guy can't even save 9 of 10 shots.

Agreed on the Tim Jackman waivers as well.

[GGG]

I hope Joey Mac doesn't get claimed. We need someone to put in the net when we are getting shelled this season who we don't mind destroying the confidence of. At some point this season is going to get ugly and you would like to be able to shield Berra and Ramo from it. Having Mac there was a good option. So I hope he passes through waivers.

I think Ortio has looked very promising and if things go to hell this season I suspect he gets a look for a few games as well. I still think we are 3 years from Gilles, (he goes back to college next year, then 1 year in the AHL, then 1 year NHL backup) assuming he works out so we need 1 of Berra, Brossoit, Ramo, or Ortio to be an average number 1.

[Matty81]

I hope he doesn't go down to Abby and start sucking up all the minutes there. I looked at Brossoit's profile on hockeydb earlier today and he has only played 100 minutes all season between Alaska and Abby...

Sorry Joey Mac but hopefully this is the end of the line with the Flames for you.

[Dx54]

Thank God.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Muta

Joey Mac is a good goalie, and I feel he's better than the way he's recently played. I hope he gets a chance elsewhere. Also, I have a brother? Cool.


Posted from Calgarypuck.com App for Android

Sure fine with me. I don't think it was that big of a deal and not sure why you seem so offended that people remember your opinion.

I thought Ozy_Flame was your brother, if not sorry honest mistake.

[flamesfan777]

Someone claim him please....Edmonton? Pittsburgh? Carolina?
He's not a good goaltender and his comments last night were garbage.

I don't blame him for all 4 goals...but I think a good goaltender may have stopped all 4 of those goals.

Goal 1 - Brutal rebound
Goal 2 - Either block the pass across or get yourself in a position to make the save
Goal 3 - Brutal
Goal 4 - Way too deep in his net

[Calgary4LIfe]

It was the right move to make. MacDonald was NOT the same goalie he was last season. Flames needed a competent backup, but he hasn't provided the team with that through most of this season thus far.

In hindsight of that, it just doesn't make sense to keep Berra in the AHL, and have Ortio sitting on the bench. Berra and Ramo will push each other and hopefully one of them takes over the starter's job. Ramo had a poor showing the night before, but all goalies go through that. Age is still on Ramo's and Berra's side, and they will improve. Not likely to be the case with MacDonald.

Does Brossoit come up to the Heat permanently now, or do the Flames look for an AHL backup? Not sure what the best way to develop two young goalies is - AHL 1A/1B? AHL starter/backup? Or would it just make more sense to have one be the starter in the AHL and the other to be the starter in the ECHL?

Ortio is still my bet to be the best of the goalies we currently have by the end of the season - though anything can happen. Ramo is definitely the most proven and most experienced, and there is still a possibility of significant improvement.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by moon

Sure fine with me. I don't think it was that big of a deal and not sure why you seem so offended that people remember your opinion.

It was the guy on the first page saying, 'Muta is sad' just because I like Joey Mac as a goaltender. Is that really necessary? It's not, whatsoever.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Muta

It was the guy on the first page saying, 'Muta is sad' just because I like Joey Mac as a goaltender. Is that really necessary? It's not, whatsoever.

It really seems like you're getting upset over nothing.

Anyways, to your actual point ON Joey Mac, he's not better than he has shown. His career averages are all very very close to his time as a Flame, and those are games where he hasn't been depended on and on stronger teams.

Joey Mac is a decent backup, nothing more. He's not even a really GOOD backup, let alone a passable starter.

[CSharp]

I was kind of surprised by this move. Even though JMacD didn't perform as well as he did at the tail end of last season, I still feel he's a way better goalie than Ramo is. His assessment of he team after the game is fair and I'm sure he wanted to win just as bad as anyone else on the team who wanted to win. But, let's face it, this team is supposed to suck and it's finally starting to show. I'm just hoping this team suck even more than the Oilers until the end of the season because we need to put together some really high end drafts picks.

[Fire]

I have nothing against MacDonald, but this is best for the development of the Flames other goaltenders. The best thing to happen would be for Joey to be picked up by another team. Jackman falls in the same category imo.

[Skyceman]

I recall Feaster being interviewed on the FAN and being quite blunt that they talked to Joey at the end of last season and how they wanted him to come to camp in top shape and be ready to compete hard to be a starter as they thought he had the potential to do so. He said they were really disappointed when he showed up for camp in poor shape. His commit level was just not there either as evidenced in camp and subsequent games.

These latest comments are even more telling.....sounds like the right move going forward.

[getbak]

MacDonald has only had a winning record in one season in the NHL, and that was the year when Detroit was unbeatable at home and he won six games in a row at home when Howard was injured.

Nothing against Mac, but I hope he gets claimed and we see what Berra and Ramo can do. I think it's also better for their development to have Brossoit and Ortio working with Sigalet full-time in Abbotsford.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by CSharp

I still feel he's a way better goalie than Ramo is.

umm...no. Ramo is much better positionally than MacDonald. Neither are going to lead anyone to the playoffs though.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by strombad

It really seems like you're getting upset over nothing.

LOL. So it's okay to say another poster is 'sad' based on their opinion? Laughable. If that's the case, strombad is sad; you're not that great of a poster. Just deal with it and don't complain.

See? Not necessary.

Originally Posted by strombad

Anyways, to your actual point ON Joey Mac, he's not better than he has shown. His career averages are all very very close to his time as a Flame, and those are games where he hasn't been depended on and on stronger teams.

Joey Mac is a decent backup, nothing more. He's not even a really GOOD backup, let alone a passable starter.

Joey may not have had the best record, but he has all the tools. Just has never had the toolbox. Stats don't tell his whole story, he just was never ever to put his skills together consistently. We saw flashes of an elite goaltender this season, parts of last season, and in Detroit and NYI. Did you even watch him play before his time as a Flame? I did. I'm speaking from experience actually watching him over the years.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Muta

LOL. So it's okay to say another poster is 'sad' based on their opinion? Laughable. If that's the case, strombad is sad; you're not that great of a poster. Just deal with it and don't complain.

See? Not necessary.

It seemed like a joke comment based on your past comments. But it wasn't said about me so you are obviously free to take it however you like.

Joey may not have had the best record, but he has all the tools. Just has never had the toolbox. Stats don't tell his whole story, he just was never ever to put his skills together consistently. We saw flashes of an elite goaltender this season, parts of last season, and in Detroit and NYI. Did you even watch him play before his time as a Flame? I did. I'm speaking from experience actually watching him over the years.

I don't see many tools from watching him play in Detroit and NYI. He always seemed slow and poor to react to the play. He does seem to make a lot of spectacular type saves but those seem to mainly come from him being out of position so much that he is forced to turn what should be routine saves into highlights as he recovers.

In his time with the Flames he showed flashes of brilliance zero times that I can remember and I don't even remember an above average game from him.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by moon

In his time with the Flames he showed flashes of brilliance zero times that I can remember and I don't even remember an above average game from him.

Different opinions then. I saw great reflexes, good lateral movement, able to read plays well. Problem is, he could never do those all simultaneously.

I just fail to see why it's wrong with liking him as a goaltender. I'm not a Ramo fan, however... guy flops all over the place and doesn't read plays well at all. he's got some raw skills though, so for the Flames' sake, I hope he develops them.

[nik-]

Well, this thread is awful now