[Trade] Flames acquire Mike Smith (25% retained) for Chad Johnson, Brandon Hickey, & cond 3rd

[GoJetsGo]

Yea with the addition of Hamonic and Stone as a #5, the difference in D is night and day without Wideman and a revolving door on the bottom pairing.

Pretty silly to even look at previous statistics when considering the upcoming season. It's a completely different d-core / dynamic on the back end.

[AC]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

Yea with the addition of Hamonic and Stone as a #5, the difference in D is night and day without Wideman and a revolving door on the bottom pairing.

Pretty silly to even look at previous statistics when considering the upcoming season. It's a completely different d-core / dynamic on the back end.

Anybody else find themselves occasionally forgetting we landed Hamonic?

It's like an exciting surprise each time!

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by AC

Anybody else find themselves occasionally forgetting we landed Hamonic?

It's like an exciting surprise each time!

It seems we are all having a little too much fermented crab meat then.

[jemjey]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

It seems we are all having a little too much fermented crab meat then.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Mike F

If you actually divide his season in half:
In the first half of the season (28 games up to Jan 21) Mike Smith had a .915 sv%
In the second half of the season (27 games up to Apr 8) Mike Smith had a .913 sv%

As for:



Up to Jan 21, the team was 14-26-6 (while Smith was healthy, 9-17-5). After that, they were 16-16-4. Hardly a team giving up.

Much better research than me for sure. I still take the mental aspect of your season being over early into account though. In the dog days of the season, it can't be easy getting up for games knowing that your season is already over. Mike Smith should feel plenty motivated from the start to the end of the season and if we can get the .920 Mike Smith, I think he'll surprise a lot of people.

[red sky]

I have gotten far too hyped about new goalies joining the team only to be let down/disappointed. Although there are a few arguments that suggest Smith will have better numbers with the Flames, I am actually expecting similar to worse stats. I suppose mentally I am preparing myself to be let down once again.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by red sky

I have gotten far too hyped about new goalies joining the team only to be let down/disappointed. Although there are a few arguments that suggest Smith will have better numbers with the Flames, I am actually expecting similar to worse stats. I suppose mentally I am preparing myself to be let down once again.

Interesting. Is this an insulating tactic for the self-protection of your own expectations, or is there a more concrete reason for expecting poorer returns from Smith than merely on the basis that it has happened before on this team?

[red sky]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Interesting. Is this an insulating tactic for the self-protection of your own expectations, or is there a more concrete reason for expecting poorer returns from Smith than merely on the basis that it has happened before on this team?

More the former really. I worry that because of Smith's age there could be a deterioration in his ability, although goalies tend not to have such a dramatic drop as say an aging forward.

[Poe969]

I wasn't a fan of getting Elliot and I wasn't too crazy about the Flames getting Smith either but I do have a lot more faith in him. Elliot was someone who people thought could turn into a good goalie but Smith is a good goalie and people are wondering if he can keep it up. We already know what Smith is capable of and if he just plays the way he always has, it'll be good enough for the Flames. We don't need to "gamble" on a goalie coming to the Flames and improving, we just need Smith to come in and not be terribad.

I'm not really expecting anything groundbreaking from Smith but I think he can stay in the top third of the league. I think his play may drop a slight bit but the team in front of him will be a lot better so it kind of evens out.

[VilleN]

How Smith will perform is impossible to predict... I have tempered expectations though, because I was excited when we signed Elliott. I am excited to have a puck moving goalie, that will be an interesting dynamic and could really change the way this team plays.

[red sky]

Originally Posted by VilleN

How Smith will perform is impossible to predict... I have tempered expectations though, because I was excited when we signed Elliott. I am excited to have a puck moving goalie, that will be an interesting dynamic and could really change the way this team plays.

I agree with both comments. His puck moving capabilities is something this team hasn't had in a long time (who would have been the last goalie with that skill set?). There will be times where Smith makes a mistake and it ends up in the back of the net but you have to take the bad with the good.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I wasn't a fan of getting Elliot and I wasn't too crazy about the Flames getting Smith either but I do have a lot more faith in him. Elliot was someone who people thought could turn into a good goalie but Smith is a good goalie and people are wondering if he can keep it up. We already know what Smith is capable of and if he just plays the way he always has, it'll be good enough for the Flames. We don't need to "gamble" on a goalie coming to the Flames and improving, we just need Smith to come in and not be terribad.

I'm not really expecting anything groundbreaking from Smith but I think he can stay in the top third of the league. I think his play may drop a slight bit but the team in front of him will be a lot better so it kind of evens out.

agree with the bolded. I am also pretty negative on the goalie outlook given the history we've had, but we aren't expecting a goalie to come in and now be something he hasn't ever been.

Elliott came in with all kinds of question marks on whether he had the consistency and sustainability to be 'the guy'. He proved, to me at least, that he is exactly a goalie who, can play great for a stretch of time but not someone you can lean on to be consistent and there when you need him most.

With Smith, you just hope he can bring the game he has in past years. The question is only whether his game degrades due to age (though goalies seem to be able to play longer?) or if his recent injury issues continue to be a theme.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

If anything playing in front of the Flames defense is bad for goaltenders stats relative to where they played previously. Maybe Hamonic can bring some defensive stability but while a very good overall group of defensemen with good skating, skill and puck movement it's nowhere close to being an air-tight defensive back end. I would expect Smith to be in the area of .915 at best but that's probably good enough for this team.

You realize you are comparing the Blues/Ducks defence to the Yotes right? Smith is certainly playing in front of a better team than his last. Our previous two starters came from higher echelon teams not a bottom feeder like Smith. Also, the Flames D has had a Major upgrade over game one last season.

[GoJetsGo]

Smith was super frustrating to play against even last season for us.

Hopefully he can keep that up now that he's on our side, as well as his stellar play against the Coilers.

Winning a game in the Honda Center would be a nice bonus too.

[Badgers Nose]

I think the only way to be excited about our goaltender is with homer glasses on.

IMO a wicked offence is going to be the way forward until one of the Flames goalie kids is ready. That might be as soon as late winter.

I'm expecting a lot of 4-3 and 5-4 wins for the Flames this year. Works for me.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Interesting. Is this an insulating tactic for the self-protection of your own expectations, or is there a more concrete reason for expecting poorer returns from Smith than merely on the basis that it has happened before on this team?

FWIW I believe Smith will struggle with the lower shot totals. I am always skeptical of goalies who see the puck regularily and thrive in that. Last year Elliott faced 28.2 shots a game, and I expect Smith to face even less if we replace Bart-Engo with Kulak-Stone. Not everyone can handle a Jonathan Quick type reduced workload from a mental perspective.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

FWIW I believe Smith will struggle with the lower shot totals. I am always skeptical of goalies who see the puck regularily and thrive in that. Last year Elliott faced 28.2 shots a game, and I expect Smith to face even less if we replace Bart-Engo with Kulak-Stone. Not everyone can handle a Jonathan Quick type reduced workload from a mental perspective.

Maybe. Although I don't believe there is any good evidence to suggest that this might occur. On the contrary, if we factor Smith's annual save percentage against his shots faced relative to minutes played over the past six seasons, there doesn't seem to be any correlation.

From top to bottom according to shots against/min:

2016–17 0.568 SA/min, 0.914 SP (55 starts)
2014–15 0.550, 0.904 (61 starts)
2011–12 0.529, 0.930 (67 starts)
2015–16 0.525, 0.916 (32 starts)
2013–14 0.518, 0.915 (61 starts)
2012–13 0.480, 0.910 (34 starts)

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dino7c

You realize you are comparing the Blues/Ducks defence to the Yotes right? Smith is certainly playing in front of a better team than his last. Our previous two starters came from higher echelon teams not a bottom feeder like Smith. Also, the Flames D has had a Major upgrade over game one last season.

Yes I realize that however Johnson's stats dipped from his time in Buffalo and they certainly aren't a higher echelon team. Smith is playing in front of a better defense with the Flames but that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to put up better numbers as there will be much, much more pressure on him in Calgary.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Yes I realize that however Johnson's stats dipped from his time in Buffalo and they certainly aren't a higher echelon team. Smith is playing in front of a better defense with the Flames but that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to put up better numbers as there will be much, much more pressure on him in Calgary.

But if you look at Johnson's numbers historically they are all over the map—some exceptional years admixed with some that were not very good. It seems like a better bet that Smith—who has been pretty consistent for a while now—will do fine behind a better Calgary defence.

[Toonage]

If anything, with Smith in the net there won't be many dull moments.