[News] Smith: 'Age is just a number

[Otto-matic]

Now 36, Calgary Flames goaltender Mike Smith insists age is just a number entering his 13th NHL season.

He told the Calgary Sun on Thursday he believes he still has plenty left in the tank.

“I haven’t aged five years in one year, so I think I still feel young,” Smith said. “I still feel like I have a lot to give. I still feel like I’ve played some of my best hockey in the last three or four years. Hopefully that continues and I can stay healthy and be as consistent as possible.

“It was important for me to come in and have a really good start,” he said. “It’s another important year – the last year of my contract. I feel like I want to keep this thing going and be a stabilizing force back there. The consistency is something you always battle with as a goalie. As someone who likes to play a lot, you want to be as consistent as possible. Everyone in the league likes to have that; that’s something you scratch and claw for throughout your whole career…Then, the winning part of it. You want to be in the playoffs, that’s a team goal we’ll talk about more. But being a part of this organization, you want to get this team back in the playoffs.

It'll be a interesting year for Smith, All dependent on Gillies/Rittich if they can prove they can take the wheel and drive the bus but if they show they can't. I can see the Flames inking him to a new deal if he has another solid season.

https://www.tsn.ca/flames-g-smith-ag...mber-1.1169109

[ForeverFlameFan]

I’m betting we sign Smith to a 1 year deal after this season whether he’s 1A or 1B. And the cap hit will be cheaper.

[Toonage]

nm

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I’m betting we sign Smith to a 1 year deal after this season whether he’s 1A or 1B. And the cap hit will be cheaper.

Oh please no. With the rest of the team essentially locked in it's time to start looking for a long-term #1 solution between the pipes. No more band-aids and no more wishing and praying for unproven backups and far-off prospects to take sudden leaps forward.

I'm glad Smith feels good but it's getting to the point where it's a "when, not if" situation with him and significant injuries. I'd like the team to move on after his contract is up.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Oh please no. With the rest of the team essentially locked in it's time to start looking for a long-term #1 solution between the pipes. No more band-aids and no more wishing and praying for unproven backups and far-off prospects to take sudden leaps forward.

I'm glad Smith feels good but it's getting to the point where it's a "when, not if" situation with him and significant injuries. I'd like the team to move on after his contract is up.

If Gillies/Rittich prove they can't become a #1. Who out there is able to take over the reigns?

Do the Flames have enough assets to trade for a legit #1?

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

If Gillies/Rittich prove they can't become a #1. Who out there is able to take over the reigns?

Do the Flames have enough assets to trade for a legit #1?

I think we need to worry more about cap room vs's having the assets to chase a #1.

Tkachuk is going to command 6+

We will need Smith's cap hit to be able to fit Tkachuk in for next year based on the contracts that are locked up long term (2+ years)

In order to go out and get a #1 we'll need to get rid of assets + clear up space so you'd have to imagine a big contract will need to be moved just dont know who it would be.

Likely Stone & Frolik are looking at the most expendable next year based on cap hits, that gives us north of 6M if you fill those vacant spots with entry level deals. It's going to be interesting to see how this pans out for sure.

[PepsiFree]

Yeah, you don’t just “decide” to stop having bandaids at a particular position, and if you do, it usually comes with an extreme cost.

Our three realistic hopes are: A long term starter becomes available, one of guys in the pipeline emerges as a #1, or Smith continues to be a quality starter.

You don’t take away one of those options just because you want the other two more. If Smith continues to be a short term solution and neither of the other hopes are realised next offseason, you 100% have to sign him.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Yeah, you don’t just “decide” to stop having bandaids at a particular position, and if you do, it usually comes with an extreme cost.

Our three realistic hopes are: A long term starter becomes available, one of guys in the pipeline emerges as a #1, or Smith continues to be a quality starter.

You don’t take away one of those options just because you want the other two more. If Smith continues to be a short term solution and neither of the other hopes are realised next offseason, you 100% have to sign him.

Treliving has had how many years now to get this sorted out? I'd understand where you're coming from if we hadn't just been pasting one band-aid over another since Kiprusoff retired. Enough already.

[Inglewood Jack]

too bad, I kind of wanted him to say that he changed his workout regimen this summer and now he's in "the best shape of his life", and also his groin has been hardened to the point where it is like wrought iron.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Treliving has had how many years now to get this sorted out? I'd understand where you're coming from if we hadn't just been pasting one band-aid over another since Kiprusoff retired. Enough already.

So, what is your solution?

I am curious to know how you imagine the Flames find the starting goalie they need in the next summer, and what is required to acquire him.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

So, what is your solution?

I am curious to know how you imagine the Flames find the starting goalie they need in the next summer, and what is required to acquire him.

For one thing, let's see what happens with Bobrovsky and the Jackets. My understanding is that there's a reasonable chance he hits UFA. At the end of the day it's not really my job to speculate on what's out there and who might be available a year from now. It's a futile exercise. But it's a results-oriented business, you find a way to solve the goaltending problem or you don't. And if you don't, well, your ass should rightfully be on the hot seat.

If the Flames miss the playoffs again and the goaltending didn't hold water, would you be satisfied to just shrug your shoulders and re-sign the same tandem that couldn't get it done two years in a row? Something tells me I'm not the only one who would be pissed about going back to the 37-year-old Mike Smith well in that scenario. Even if the Flames barely scrape into a wildcard spot and have another mediocre finish, it would still suck.

[Jay Random]

As I like to say, age is just a number. A very large number.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

As I like to say, age is just a number. A very large number.

Mine feels like it these days.

[Yoho]

Father time is undefeated.

Start planning now for Smiths replacement next season.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Exactly. Father Time always wins. Ask Jagr, Iginla

I don’t know why Smith thinks he was so #### hot here, because it was only on the road.
Seems like at home, where the altitude must affect old bones, he was not very good.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

For one thing, let's see what happens with Bobrovsky and the Jackets. My understanding is that there's a reasonable chance he hits UFA. At the end of the day it's not really my job to speculate on what's out there and who might be available a year from now. It's a futile exercise. But it's a results-oriented business, you find a way to solve the goaltending problem or you don't. And if you don't, well, your ass should rightfully be on the hot seat.

I suspect that Bobrovsky's next contract is a minimum of six years and likely to be at least a $7 m AAV, but more probably closer to $8. Certainly, it is something that the GM needs to look into, but within the current salary structure I am not sure how plausible it is to add a top UFA goalie to this team.

As for the "goaltending problem," I don't think Treliving has the luxury of viewing it in isolation apart from the several other critical elements of building a NHL team. Moreover, I don't believe it was ever feasible for him to realize his vision for this team within even a five-year timeframe. The Flames's goaltending situation remains an open question because Treliving has prioritized other parts of the roster, but also because every General Manager is confronted by situational and circumstantial realities that make building a team non-linear. Had he opted for a better solution in goal earlier it almost certainly would have come at the expense of upgrades and improvements he has made elsewhere. This means that one or perhaps two of the Hamilton trade, the Tkachuk acquisition, the Hamonic trade, the Lindholm/Hanifin trade never happen. So, while the goaltending hole would be filled already, there would be other holes in the roster that still require filling.

If the Flames miss the playoffs again and the goaltending didn't hold water, would you be satisfied to just shrug your shoulders and re-sign the same tandem that couldn't get it done two years in a row? Something tells me I'm not the only one who would be pissed about going back to the 37-year-old Mike Smith well in that scenario. Even if the Flames barely scrape into a wildcard spot and have another mediocre finish, it would still suck.

Sure. IF the Flames miss playoffs, or IF they just barely scrape in and disappoint, then I would think a change in goal is something that will need to be addressed. But we are not there yet. Not even close. The other side of this discussion is IF Smith, Rittich and the Flames have an excellent year, and IF they play a couple of playoff rounds then I think there is a very strong case to be made for extending Smith.

PepsiFree has correctly pointed out that you seem at the outset to have limited the options moving forward by an insistence that Smith needs to be replaced. Period. I think that is shortsighted.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Yeah, you don’t just “decide” to stop having bandaids at a particular position, and if you do, it usually comes with an extreme cost.

Our three realistic hopes are: A long term starter becomes available, one of guys in the pipeline emerges as a #1, or Smith continues to be a quality starter.

You don’t take away one of those options just because you want the other two more. If Smith continues to be a short term solution and neither of the other hopes are realised next offseason, you 100% have to sign him.

I just don't see many goalies that are upgrades on Smith on the UFA market.

https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/free-age...oaltender/ufa/

Bobrovsky will get 8+ from a team, Varlamov is a toss.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

As I like to say, age is just a number. A very large number.

But is it the loneliest number?

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

So, what is your solution?

I am curious to know how you imagine the Flames find the starting goalie they need in the next summer, and what is required to acquire him.

Goalies that were recently on the move that the Flames passed on... choosing to spend cap and Draft picks elsewhere:

Grubauer, Fluery, Bishop, Raanta ( all in the West)

[Toonage]

Flames never passed on Bishop. Tried landing him 3 times.

Never passed on Fleury. Tried to get him actually.