The Athletic: Absent for over a decade, the Russians are coming (again) to Calgary

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Zagidulin's signing likely spells the end of Jon Gillies' tenure with the organization. I expect him to be moved in a minor league deal.

I don't know about that.

Will be hard to off load a guy that is guaranteed 750K to play in the AHL...no?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Zagidulin's signing likely spells the end of Jon Gillies' tenure with the organization. I expect him to be moved in a minor league deal.

I don’t see why that would be the case.

It’s always risky to give up on goalies too early. How many of you knew we drafted Craig Andersson? Button gave up on Giguere right before he became a strong NHL starter. Roloson and Tim Thomas didn’t come into their own until their late 20’s.

Fans have no patience for goalies taking 6+ years to develop but that’s often how long it takes. Personally I think it would be a mistake to give up on Gillies this early unless they’re convinced he doesn’t have it.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I don’t see why that would be the case.

It’s always risky to give up on goalies too early. How many of you knew we drafted Craig Andersson? Button gave up on Giguere right before he became a strong NHL starter. Roloson and Tim Thomas didn’t come into their own until their late 20’s.

Fans have no patience for goalies taking 6+ years to develop but that’s often how long it takes. Personally I think it would be a mistake to give up on Gillies this early unless they’re convinced he doesn’t have it.

While I don't necessarily disagree, you really can have too many goalies in the organization, because there's only so many spots to go around.

So it's not so much "we're convinced he doesn't have it" as it is "we like all these other guys better".

(If that's how they decide. In any case, if he can't make an AHL team at 25, it doesn't look great for him.)

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Itse

While I don't necessarily disagree, you really can have too many goalies in the organization, because there's only so many spots to go around.

So it's not so much "we're convinced he doesn't have it" as it is "we like all these other guys better".

(If that's how they decide. In any case, if he can't make an AHL team at 25, it doesn't look great for him.)

Jack Campbell IMO is a perfect comparison for Gillies. Dallas wrote him off and shipped him to LA where he took a couple of seasons to crack some NHL starts. He looks decent enough. Goalies take a long while. But I think the Flames may be looking for a quicker hit. That and I suppose Parsons development is a factor.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Jack Campbell IMO is a perfect comparison for Gillies. Dallas wrote him off and shipped him to LA where he took a couple of seasons to crack some NHL starts. He looks decent enough. Goalies take a long while. But I think the Flames may be looking for a quicker hit. That and I suppose Parsons development is a factor.

Yeah I'm not denying that can happen.

Also, if there's one area where random fan forum opinions hold as much weight as Flames staffs, it's goalie scouting and development

(Because the Flames just haven't been good at it.)

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

It’s always risky to give up on goalies too early. How many of you knew we drafted Craig Andersson? Button gave up on Giguere right before he became a strong NHL starter. Roloson and Tim Thomas didn’t come into their own until their late 20’s.

Fans have no patience for goalies taking 6+ years to develop but that’s often how long it takes. Personally I think it would be a mistake to give up on Gillies this early unless they’re convinced he doesn’t have it.

I think this is more of a justification to just acquire goalies in their mid 20s, instead of drafting and wasting half a decade trying to develop them from 18. Why waste time being patient, when there are a handful of cheap Jon Gillies clones available every summer, already mostly developed for you, that you can take a shot on without having to wait?

[Funkhouser]

I see Gilles remaining Flames property but being loaned to another AHL club to either A) see if he can get back on-track, B) cut ties after the season

There is no point in buying him out, we can't promote him, and others need the development time on the farm.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I don’t see why that would be the case.

It’s always risky to give up on goalies too early. How many of you knew we drafted Craig Andersson? Button gave up on Giguere right before he became a strong NHL starter. Roloson and Tim Thomas didn’t come into their own until their late 20’s.

Fans have no patience for goalies taking 6+ years to develop but that’s often how long it takes. Personally I think it would be a mistake to give up on Gillies this early unless they’re convinced he doesn’t have it.

I think it's more of a matter of numbers: Gillies, Parsons and Zagidulin makes three AHL goaltenders. Then you have Schneider who's also starting to signs he's ready to move up a level.

They're not putting Zagidulin in the ECHL.

That's a crowded crease. Loaning a player to another organization isn't really the best solution if it's a developing player.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

I think it's more of a matter of numbers: Gillies, Parsons and Zagidulin makes three AHL goaltenders. Then you have Schneider who's also starting to signs he's ready to move up a level.

They're not putting Zagidulin in the ECHL.

That's a crowded crease. Loaning a player to another organization isn't really the best solution if it's a developing player.

It only looks crowded if every goalie at the NHL level and AHL level is healthy. I think you can look back at the past couple seasons in the minors and how many goalies played and see that 3 goalies in the minors won't be a crowded crease for long.

I mean the real danger in the summer as a fan is evaluating our depth as if we're 100% healthy. Sure on paper right now we're 100% healthy. But Treliving isn't building our NHL and minor league depth for only that situation, depth is built for injuries.

Parsons and Gillies have both had injury troubles the past couple years. I think having 3 good AHL goalies is depth. And at least one more capable one in the ECHL. You need that much over the season or you have to start scrambling mid season to find it (as we've seen in the past.)

There could be chunks of the season that there are 2-3 goalies injured in the organization. You need 5-6 goalies to survive those periods. You look at 3 potential goalies in the minors and see crowded crease and a need to deal one whereas I see 3 potential goalies in the minors and I'm thinking that's the minimum needed depth you want. Difference of perspective I guess.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by AC

There was also the rumour of the 3rd Russian being signed by Calgary, Andrei Chibisov.

I don't believe he has signed anywhere yet.

signed with the Jets this morning

Ken Wiebe
@WiebeSunSports
#NHLJets adding some forward depth by signing Russian F Andrei Chibisov to a one-year, two-way entry-level deal with a $925,000 cap hit in NHL. He will make $70,000 in #AHL He shoots left and can play either RW or LW. He's expected to attend the Jets development camp next month

[AC]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

signed with the Jets this morning

Ken Wiebe
@WiebeSunSports
#NHLJets adding some forward depth by signing Russian F Andrei Chibisov to a one-year, two-way entry-level deal with a $925,000 cap hit in NHL. He will make $70,000 in #AHL He shoots left and can play either RW or LW. He's expected to attend the Jets development camp next month

https://youtu.be/vdvGyWjOObM?t=12

[Reggie Dunlop]

Just as an aside, I wonder how good Mark Giordano's Russian is.

Was a while ago, and for a short time, but he must have picked a few phrases up.