And how exactly did that work out for them?
- Jeropotato

They lost in 7 the stanley cup champion

They lost in 7 the stanley cup champion
- Bigern4MVP

Shy, don't let Leaf fans hear that.

Shy, don't let Leaf fans hear that.
- Lahey

Why because they essentially traded Gibson and rakell for biggs

All year? Until march ramo was average at best, every other game he was posting 800% Hiller will have a bounce back year and claim the starting job, ramo will be done unless he has a great year this year, call up ortio next year as backup
- Bigern4MVP

Ramo had a .911 sv% last year over 40 games.....don't think that happened by posting .800 every other game all year....

Why because they essentially traded Gibson and rakell for biggs
- Bigern4MVP

No because they loss in the last 5 minutes to Boston in game 7

All year? Until march ramo was average at best, every other game he was posting 800% Hiller will have a bounce back year and claim the starting job, ramo will be done unless he has a great year this year, call up ortio next year as backup
- Bigern4MVP

I agree, the 1st half Ramo was sub par but he was likely trying to refamiliarize himself with NA hockey. 2nd half he posted some of the best #'s league wide. He ended with a little better than league average goaltending which is just fine. Not sure what your hate on for Ramo is but he was better than Hiller last year and is younger. It would be best if he played like last years last half and got resigned.

Ramo had a .911 sv% last year over 40 games.....don't think that happened by posting .800 every other game all year....
- The-O-G

I didn't say he posted 800% every other game all year read the comment first

No because they loss in the last 5 minutes to Boston in game 7
- Lahey

Who cares boston weren't the champs

I agree, the 1st half Ramo was sub par but he was likely trying to refamiliarize himself with NA hockey. 2nd half he posted some of the best #'s league wide. He ended with a little better than league average goaltending which is just fine. Not sure what your hate on for Ramo is but he was better than Hiller last year and is younger. It would be best if he played like last years last half and got resigned.
- TandA4Flames

I'm just saying he'll have to show his worth this year and outplay hiller

Ramo had a .911 sv% last year over 40 games.....don't think that happened by posting .800 every other game all year....
- The-O-G

6 of his first 8 starts were <.900 after that he really leveled out.

From November 29th through the end of the year he posted a .920

From January 29th through the end of the year he did even better, posting a .929

Ramo really wasn't the problem for the Flames last year.

All year? Until march ramo was average at best, every other game he was posting 800% Hiller will have a bounce back year and claim the starting job, ramo will be done unless he has a great year this year, call up ortio next year as backup
- Bigern4MVP

Yeah ok, at the beginning when he was just back into the NHL and north american hockey and when he was primarily splitting time with Berra. But once they showed that he was the started the guy was great. I just don't see how people can call Ramo the odd one out and not Ortio when the later has played 9 NHL games his entire career. If you dump Ramo just for the sake of bringing Ortio up it could be a huge mistake, especially if Ortio flops. I think the starting Job is Ramo's to lose not the other way around and until i'm proven wrong I stand by what I said in saying that Ortio is the odd man out.

Yeah ok, at the beginning when he was just back into the NHL and north american hockey and when he was primarily splitting time with Berra. But once they showed that he was the started the guy was great. I just don't see how people can call Ramo the odd one out and not Ortio when the later has played 9 NHL games his entire career. If you dump Ramo just for the sake of bringing Ortio up it could be a huge mistake, especially if Ortio flops. I think the starting Job is Ramo's to lose not the other way around and until i'm proven wrong I stand by what I said in saying that Ortio is the odd man out.
- Talking_hockey1

I think when we are saying who is the odd man out we are talking who wont be in the organization anymore....not who will be in the AHL.

Obviously Ortio will be in the AHL this year....but next year since he is on a one way it would be a shame to lose him.

I'm just saying he'll have to show his worth this year and outplay hiller
- Bigern4MVP

That's fair. I think it's the other way. Hiller will have to out play Ramo to grab #1 and play better by a long long way to have Flames management move the younger guy with more upside and keep the aging player. Ramo, realistically, should just be coming into his prime, Hiller, at this point, he is what he is.

And to suggest that Ortio is the odd guy out is just kinda' dumb. I know you didn't say it but others have.

How can you say Ortio is the odd man out when he is by far the rawest goalie?

If anyone is the odd man out its Hiller. If Ramo improves and Ortio is ready to play in the NHL next year I think they'd be better off sending Hiller to the A and eating his salary if nobody will take him off our hands.
- The-O-G

I did not say anything about Ortio being the odd man out. I just threw out a situation where he could be the odd man out. I like Ortio. He is a blast of a person and everyone seems to like him. If he don't make a starting goalie position he is exactly the type of person (not player) you want as a backup goalie.

Talk about the perfect storm for goaltenders in our system though.
Hiller - Proven #1 but on the down spin of his career at 32
Ramo - Entering his prime but still unproven at 28
Ortio - Looking at making a splash in the NHL at 23
Gillies - Finishing up his college looking at turning pro in a year
Mcdonald - Starting his Jr career

Literally we have goalies at every stage of their career. If one doesn't work out you move onto the next one.

We are also hitting up the best nations for goaltending

Swiss, two fins, a canuck, and a Murican!!

Yeah ok, at the beginning when he was just back into the NHL and north american hockey and when he was primarily splitting time with Berra. But once they showed that he was the started the guy was great. I just don't see how people can call Ramo the odd one out and not Ortio when the later has played 9 NHL games his entire career. If you dump Ramo just for the sake of bringing Ortio up it could be a huge mistake, especially if Ortio flops. I think the starting Job is Ramo's to lose not the other way around and until i'm proven wrong I stand by what I said in saying that Ortio is the odd man out.
- Talking_hockey1

That's exactly the point, Ortio has only played 9 games. But, he was good in most of those 9 and was stellar in the AHL. I can't see the organization giving up on him by trading him or even risk losing him via waivers by demoting him to the A. I think worse case, if no goalie is moved/lost, CGY runs with 3 goalies to start 2015-16 until they're forced to make a move, and again, I can't see it being the younger, most promising of the 3.

I think when we are saying who is the odd man out we are talking who wont be in the organization anymore....not who will be in the AHL.

Obviously Ortio will be in the AHL this year....but next year since he is on a one way it would be a shame to lose him.
- The-O-G

And I understand that, but what if both Hiller and Ramo are lights out next year? Then do you get rid of one to make room for an unproven rookie? Really it all depends on the play of the two guys this year but what I'm saying is that if those two do really well, then Ortio seems to be the odd man out when it comes to the 2015-2016 season. I just don't get how you could replace a guy who's been playing really well just because his contract is up.

And I understand that, but what if both Hiller and Ramo are lights out next year? Then do you get rid of one to make room for an unproven rookie? Really it all depends on the play of the two guys this year but what I'm saying is that if those two do really well, then Ortio seems to be the odd man out when it comes to the 2015-2016 season. I just don't get how you could replace a guy who's been playing really well just because his contract is up.
- Talking_hockey1

That case you keep him in the AHL to mentor gillies and if he refuses dump his ass for draft picks

That case you keep him in the AHL to mentor gillies and if he refuses dump his ass for draft picks
- Bigern4MVP

At that point, you'd have to assess your assets and decide who you want to run with moving forward. None of the 3 can be assigned to the AHL without exposing them to waivers so you'd look to move the odd man out for whatever assets you can get.

My gut says you'd keep the 2 youngest guys with all else being equal. Ortio can push Ramo for the starting gig, and you move Hiller. Of course, if any of the 3 falter, you drop the weakest guy.

And I understand that, but what if both Hiller and Ramo are lights out next year? Then do you get rid of one to make room for an unproven rookie? Really it all depends on the play of the two guys this year but what I'm saying is that if those two do really well, then Ortio seems to be the odd man out when it comes to the 2015-2016 season. I just don't get how you could replace a guy who's been playing really well just because his contract is up.
- Talking_hockey1

If Ortio has another strong AHL season and maybe some good games on call ups, and the brass feel he is ready, then you move 1 of the older goalies, a position of strength, to acquire a piece that helps fill a void. If both Hiller and Ramo have strong seasons that would be enough to prove Ramo is the real deal and should convince BT/BB that they can count on Ramo while Ortio slowly gains more confidence at the NHL level as a back up. You dont keep an aging player if there is younger version to supplant him.

At that point, you'd have to assess your assets and decide who you want to run with moving forward. None of the 3 can be assigned to the AHL without exposing them to waivers so you'd look to move the odd man out for whatever assets you can get.

My gut says you'd keep the 2 youngest guys with all else being equal. Ortio can push Ramo for the starting gig, and you move Hiller. Of course, if any of the 3 falter, you drop the weakest guy.
- jtommyt

Ortio would get a longer leash as he is still learning and nowhere close to his peak.

All year? Until march ramo was average at best, every other game he was posting 800% Hiller will have a bounce back year and claim the starting job, ramo will be done unless he has a great year this year, call up ortio next year as backup
- Bigern4MVP

Am I the only one who thinks these Anaheim goalies are going to look pretty average in front of teams that aren't, well, Anaheim?

All of Hillers stats were posted with one of the best teams in the league, I'm going to take them with a grain of salt. I think Ramos the better goalie, and has more upside/less issues. Ramos first half stats weren't great, but remember, he rarely got to play more than 1 or 2 games in a row (Hartley kept going back to Joey Mac--tgen Berra). Once he got a chance to actually play, he improved steadily and posted a pretty impressive 2nd half.

It wasn't even the first half... He had a rough start, 8 games to be exact. From November 29th on he was near-elite.

And I understand that, but what if both Hiller and Ramo are lights out next year? Then do you get rid of one to make room for an unproven rookie? Really it all depends on the play of the two guys this year but what I'm saying is that if those two do really well, then Ortio seems to be the odd man out when it comes to the 2015-2016 season. I just don't get how you could replace a guy who's been playing really well just because his contract is up.
- Talking_hockey1

Now we all know the flames aren't going to make the playoffs this year.

But will the flames push for the playoffs in two years or three years? Competitive in three or four?

Now we all know the flames aren't going to make the playoffs this year.

But will the flames push for the playoffs in two years or three years? Competitive in three or four?
- tmurph

That would be the ideal rebuild timeline. I think next year will be the first year where we see some improvements in the standings.

Heard someone in Bowness was shot last night.....what type of gun did you use?
- The-O-G

Lets just say you won't see Vantel posting on here for a while...