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

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by David Struch

Has any analysis been done to demonstrate if Mike Smith has let in more "bad" goals this season than others?

That's one of those questions you might really not want to know the answer to.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I was with you right up to here: When I watch Rittich play I see a VERY passionate and intense guy.

I agree: when he's on.

He plays his best when he's playing with passion.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Some guys need to be intense to perform, some guys need to be loose.

Conroy kept Iggy from getting too uptight, and I think sometimes someone has to get Mike Smith fired up.

Someone should sign him up to CalgaryPuck, that should get him fired up plenty.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

So basically the potential upside far outweighs the potential downside of firing sigalet.

The logic works in any case.

If Treliving upgrades the goaltending with someone proven who is better and the stats reflect that, it's a win, Sigalet being fired still does not vindicate him.

If Treliving fires Sigalet and still whiffs on a goalie signing and goaltending improves, it's a win.

If Treliving fires Sigalet and whiffs on a trade AND the goaltending is brutal, someone will be brought in who can find a damn goalie.

[killer_carlson]

I actually liked Smith's oppositional interview for this reason:

He was standing up for himself AND Rittich.

He spoke up for Rittich on multiple occasions on the interview I saw. That's buying some reprieve for Rittich who doesn't have to deal with tough interview questions.

This wasn't a cliché answer from smith. - I don't agree with what he was saying mind you.

But this was a guy standing up for himself and his teammate who might well take his job in the next few weeks.

I can respect that

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Mike Smith literally cannot entertain criticism that his performances may be bad. It's a sports psyche thing.

His entire demeanor is built on the notion that he is an elite performer. His mental makeup suggests even the slightest vulnerability has an extreme impact on his performance.

You can see it on the ice the way he flails at pucks that go past him or sticks his arms up etc. His propensity to blame his teammates is a preemptive deflection from his own performance.

If Mike Smith started rationally discussing which goals were his fault and which weren't, his abilities as a pro would be significantly diminished.

Some guys just cannot entertain weakness in their game. Some guys thrive on criticism.

Kipper's mental outlook was that he didn't care at all. Smith's outlook is that he cares too much, all the time.

When Mike Smith is at his worst, it's when he's not caring. When he's momentarily distracted. When he skates to the bench with a smile on his face and James Neal has to go over and tell him to 'make a ####in' save'.

When he's at his best is when he's in a controlled rage.

It's just the way he's wired.

Excellently stated. Thank you.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don't agree with everything here but broadly speaking I think you are on to something. Goalies certainly need to be confident - but Smith has always been described as a very confident dude.
So there is a disconnect between how he views himself and what is happening - creating probably some pretty bad cognitive dissonance and manifesting itself in how he responding to some of the questions being asked of him.

Kipper's confidence never waned but when his skills started to lessen - he very quickly walked away. That's how he handled it.
"I suck at this now so I'm going fishing".

As I understand it,
“I hate Hartley so I’m going fishing”

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

This was a common complaint from a lot of posters on this board, and also in the media, but nothing that specific came out of the player post-season interviews themselves. We did hear some whispers that there were issues in the room, and insinuations that he was part of the problem, but that is about it.


I really don't think they care much. I have spoken to the press a fair bit in my own line of work, and collaborate regularly with colleagues who are also in the public eye. Stuff that gets said in the media is never taken very seriously at all, because we all understand how the media works. I assume that players are no different—Mike Smith is actually alluding to this by dryly dismissing outside criticism when he says: "well that's important then."

I think players care much, MUCH more about the person they know in the Dressing Room, on the ice, and in private than they do about what they say to sports reporters.

How often are you interviewed about colleagues whose poor performance compromises your professional results?

Or even better, about when your poor performance costs your colleagues?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

How often are you interviewed about colleagues whose poor performance compromises your professional results?

Or even better, about when your poor performance costs your colleagues?

I am an academic working in religion. My entire field comprises ambitious individuals who are convinced that everyone else doesn't know what they are doing and they are wrong about everything.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

How often are you interviewed about colleagues whose poor performance compromises your professional results?

Or even better, about when your poor performance costs your colleagues?

.... annually at least.

[Locke]

Mike Smith lost to the Arizona Coyotes, thus far his only claim to fame had been his infallibility against them, so has he now truly become completely useless?

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

TBH I kinda like Smith's personality. Every time he makes a save it's like the biggest save ever and every time he gets bumped, it's like he died on the ice. I personally, find it entertaining except when it costs us on the scoreboard

I find it frustratingly entertaining as well. I have this feeling that after games where the Flames have won 5-4 and he put up a .900 sv%, he's skating off the ice thinking to himself that Martin Brodeur in his prime never played a game as good as he just did.

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by Locke

Mike Smith lost to the Arizona Coyotes, thus far his only claim to fame had been his infallibility against them, so has he now truly become completely useless?

The list of goaltenders who have won games in which their team scored a grand total of zero goals is a short one.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Macindoc

The list of goaltenders who have won games in which their team scored a grand total of zero goals is a short one.

Probably safe to say it isn't even a list.

[TheScorpion]

1-0 shootout games are a thing, but the general point stands.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I am an academic working in religion. My entire field comprises ambitious individuals who are convinced that everyone else doesn't know what they are doing and they are wrong about everything.

This certainly explains a lot!

[David Struch]

Sometimes a team loses its confidence early in the game and is then too worried on getting scored on again and they don't take the offensive chances (hard, inspired play) they would otherwise take.

I don't think the "Flames players" believe in Mike Smith as much as they believe in David Rittich.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by David Struch

Sometimes a team loses its confidence early in the game and is then too worried on getting scored on again and they don't take the offensive chances (hard, inspired play) they would otherwise take.

I don't think the "Flames players" believe in Mike Smith as much as they believe in David Rittich.

I hear ya, but not sure I buy it other than in a close game in the 3rd period - earlier in the season having Smith as a starter seemed to light a fire in them that they may need 7 goals to have a chance at winning the game...

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by David Struch

Sometimes a team loses its confidence early in the game and is then too worried on getting scored on again and they don't take the offensive chances (hard, inspired play) they would otherwise take.

I don't think the "Flames players" believe in Mike Smith as much as they believe in David Rittich.

You might be right.

Or maybe you are wrong.

[David Struch]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

You might be right.

Or maybe you are wrong.

I'd imagine all those Mike Smith softies this season has damaged the team psyche but as to what extent who knows?