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Eric Francis of the Calgary Herald recently wrote an article on the Flames' goaltending situation and there were some interesting tidbits inside.
With not much else happening right now, I figured I'd comment on some of them.
After his rights were traded to the Dallas Stars by the Los Angeles Kings, Bishop signed a six-year, $29.5 million deal ($4.91 million average annual value) with the Stars on Friday.
Given there’s no state tax in Texas, you can bet heavily that number would have been much closer to $6 million annually if he were to have signed in Calgary.
I thought the Flames were smart to stay away from Bishop to begin with. Knowing it would have taken an even more lucrative deal to get his signature in Calgary, I can't help but feel the team dodged a bullet with Bishop landing elsewhere.
Over the last three seasons Steve Mason, Brian Elliott, and James Reimer, all of whom are realistic options for the Flames, own higher 5v5 save percentages than Bishop during that frame. The latter just isn't as good as many perceive him to be.
However, whatever wheeling and dealing might get done if the Flames are to get Fleury from Pittsburgh or via Vegas, the asking price would include several top prospects and/or a significant young roster player.
I have been asked numerous times if I think Marc-Andre Fleury would be a good option for the Flames.
*reads blurb above*
No, I do not.
Trading *several* top prospects or a significant young roster player (that sounds like Sam Bennett to me) for a 32-year-old goaltender making huge money seems like a horrible idea, especially when said goaltender posted a worse save percentage than the guy he'd be replacing.
I do have a hard time believing Fleury will command what Francis mentioned but, even so, I'd look elsewhere.
Johnson is a bit of a no-brainer to bring back, giving the team a 1B option at the very least.
I don't get how Johnson is a "no-brainer to bring back" while everyone throws Elliott, who was the better of the two this season, to the wolves but I am fine with Johnson returning. If not anything else, he's a capable backup who can handle a string of starts in a pinch.
“I’m not sure there are guys capable of 60 games, so is there a guy who can play 50 games or a guy who hasn’t done it that should get the chance?” asked Treliving.
STEVE MASON, PHILADELPHIA
2013-14 -- 61 GAMES, .917 SV%
2014-15 -- 51 GAMES, .928 SV%
2015-16 -- 54 GAMES, .918 SV%
2016-17 -- 58 GAMES, .908 SV%
2013-17 SV%: .917
2013-17 5V5 SV%: .931 (4th behind only Carey Price, Braden Holtby and Scott Darling, whose sample size is very small.)
If Treliving wants a guy who has proven he can play 50 games and isn't named Elliott, I don't think there's a better option on the market.
If Treliving is searching for a guy who hasn't done it that should get the chance,
I think New York's Antti Raanta or
Nashville's Juuse Saros would be great candidates.
Regardless of how Treliving wants to attack this, there seem to be a ton of options available. With a lot more supply than demand, there is no reason for Treliving to part with valuable assets to solidify the goaltending position. It just isn't necessary.
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Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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