Thanks to Mike Smith.

[TheScorpion]

I was hard on Mike Smith at the beginning of the year. He had a very rough start. But he came on hard as the year progressed and held the team in some games after the All-Star Break when the rest of the guys faltered.

And then... the playoffs. He emerged as a truly different beast. Easily the Flames' best player on a night-in, night-out basis, holding them in games in which they didn't nearly deserve to compete.

He's 37. He might not get a contract next year, and either way, I'm pretty confident he won't be a Flame. But he's been a great community guy, a winner at the Honda Centre, an All-Star, and has pitched a playoff shutout.

For that, Mike Smith, thank you. I apologize for being so quick to judge at the beginning of the season. Thanks for showing up when the team needed you to, even though the rest of them failed you. I hope you can continue your career to your heart's content.

[2ArmBands]

Thanks Smitty.... Nothing but respect after this series

[direwolf]

2nd best player in the series after MacKinnon IMO. Awesome performance from him in those first 4 games.

[Winsor_Pilates]

What a performance.
After all the crap he took all year, happy for Smith to be vindicated.

[WhiteTiger]

It was quite a treat watching him in the playoffs.

[woob]

Great post.

Smitty! Smitty! Smitty!

[btimbit]

Turned into a beast when it mattered most. Thanks Smitty!

[Manhattanboy]

Yup you were really harsh with that thread title but good on you for apologizing.

[Otto-matic]

Smitty is a gamer. Not only through the playoffs but he played well since the All-Star break.

I wouldn't be mad to see him back with the team next year.

[Reign of Fire]

Great performance in the playoffs. Goaltending could've actually carried us deep into playoffs. But with that said, hope we find a more steady option next year.

[CaptainCrunch]

I wouldn't blame him if he raised his middle finger to his rear view mirror as he left town.


I'm convinced that he had trouble adjusting to the new equipment rules.


At least he had the building chanting his name.

[Vinny01]

He tried his best in the playoffs. Still shocking he was able to perform like that but the team still failed that badly. I assume the team moves on and Smith may or may not resurface in the league next year

[Dion]

Smith proved all wrong when we had written him off in earlier in the season. He took the team on his back, and showed us the type of goaltending we were used to in Kirpusoff.

He can leave the team and possibly retire with his head held high saying I proved them all wrong!

[dino7c]

thanks for the memories

[dino7c]

maybe he is a guy that does better with a ton of shots

[soulchoice]

I definitely was not a fan for most of the year, due to his play and the way he would at times blame his team when certain goals would go in(stare, arm wave etc). However in this series he was a true leader. Battled harder than anyone on the team, never gave up and tried to carry this team. Very seldom to do you see a goalie as passionate as him who is a large character and presence on a team and it was proven in these 5 games.

He still has a place in the league as a back up, even at 37/38, as long as he continues to show this leadership and passes on whatever he can to whomever young goalie is ahead of him on the depth chart. Teach the goalie the strengths he has, just as Marty Turco taught him with puck handling.

[SuperMatt18]

Treliving and Maloney both have a lot of history with Smith. Personally I see him back here one more season after that performance as him and Rittich worked well in tandem together. Think he’s really close with Gio too.

Really there likely isnt a long term goalie available in UFA, and I’m not sure the Flames look at another goalie trade this offseason.

[camm13]

Thanks Smitty for being one of the few bright lights in this series. Everyone question whether or not goaltending was going to sick us. It did not. It was the rest of the team infront of him who didn't show up.

[Beninho]

One of the few players who showed real grit and fight. I was anti-Smith before the playoffs but he won me over. He turned it up before the playoffs and carried over his good play, while the rest of the team did the opposite.

Flames would have had a real shot with Smith in net if they would’ve found their game. Sucks man, he deserved better


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Originally Posted by camm13

Thanks Smitty for being one of the few bright lights in this series. Everyone question whether or not goaltending was going to sick us. It did not. It was the rest of the team infront of him who didn't show up.

Been having this convo for the past 3 days.. who'da thunk, post-TDL, that goaltending (and to a lesser degree, Sam Bennett) would be our only bright spots?