Stacy Shaikin: Dog Days of Summer

lol @flames...
by the way...first

For the exact reasons you mentioned, please trade him to the Leafs.

What's shaking' Shaikin! I know, original. I understand what you're saying, it is indeed slow times in the hockey world. I can only dream up so many JBo trade possibilities before I realize they're mostly asinine.

I don't really see much more happening before the season starts, of it does at all. Maybe after the 1st month teams will start seeing a Bigger need to get things done and maybe we see a blockbuster JBo trade.

What I could stand to read and comment more on, if you're looking for ideas is about our prospects. We have some significant guys makings jumps and strides this year. Gaudreau, Gillies and Sieloff made the cuts at US camp. That's awesome.

What's shaking' Shaikin! I know, original. I understand what you're saying, it is indeed slow times in the hockey world. I can only dream up so many JBo trade possibilities before I realize they're mostly asinine.

I don't really see much more happening before the season starts, of it does at all. Maybe after the 1st month teams will start seeing a Bigger need to get things done and maybe we see a blockbuster JBo trade.

What I could stand to read and comment more on, if you're looking for ideas is about our prospects. We have some significant guys makings jumps and strides this year. Gaudreau, Gillies and Sieloff made the cuts at US camp. That's awesome.
- TandA4Flames

Totally agree. All this JBO & Kipper posteruring is just GM's getting a feel for the landscape & a pulse of true interest & potential trade partners. I dont see any major moves by anybody until after the CBA gets dealt with. Once that happens, then it gets fun. Did you hear if Arnold try out for the US team again or is he not eligible?

What's shaking' Shaikin! I know, original. I understand what you're saying, it is indeed slow times in the hockey world. I can only dream up so many JBo trade possibilities before I realize they're mostly asinine.

I don't really see much more happening before the season starts, of it does at all. Maybe after the 1st month teams will start seeing a Bigger need to get things done and maybe we see a blockbuster JBo trade.

What I could stand to read and comment more on, if you're looking for ideas is about our prospects. We have some significant guys makings jumps and strides this year. Gaudreau, Gillies and Sieloff made the cuts at US camp. That's awesome.
- TandA4Flames

Ive written one already, and havnt been able to find much more to write about. Been thinking about it and might pull something together soon....but right now theyre not really playing, not really talking to the media and nothings going on

Im going to speak with the all knowing prospect guru Huddle and see if he has any ideas

Ive written one already, and havnt been able to find much more to write about. Been thinking about it and might pull something together soon....but right now theyre not really playing, not really talking to the media and nothings going on

Im going to speak with the all knowing prospect guru Huddle and see if he has any ideas
- Colin Dambrauskas

I read all the blogs you write Colin and I appreciate both you and Stacey writing here for us Flames fans. I'm just hungry for more However, I do realize it's the beginning of Aug. (a time my wife continues to tell me that I shouldn't be obsessing about hockey) and hockey stories have been saturated.

Here is a request, would either you or Stacey be able to do something in depth on Karri Ramo. He seems to be the most NHL starter ready and I would like a closer look. But, whatever you guys write, I'll read and probably comment on, especially if those pesky Oiler, Nucks and Leafs fans start getting all roudy

I read all the blogs you write Colin and I appreciate both you and Stacey writing here for us Flames fans. I'm just hungry for more However, I do realize it's the beginning of Aug. (a time my wife continues to tell me that I shouldn't be obsessing about hockey) and hockey stories have been saturated.

Here is a request, would either you or Stacey be able to do something in depth on Karri Ramo. He seems to be the most NHL starter ready and I would like a closer look. But, whatever you guys write, I'll read and probably comment on, especially if those pesky Oiler, Nucks and Leafs fans start getting all roudy
- TandA4Flames

This is what I wrote in one of my earlier blogs as I tried to do just that...I can try and dig up more if you'd like?

Karri Ramo
The 26 year old Finnish goaltender is still currently playing overseas in the KHL. Ramo’s rights were traded to Calgary alongside Mike Cammalleri in 2012. Since playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2008-09 season, he has been playing for the Avangard Omsk of the KHL and has posted some rather respectable numbers; 133(gp) 73(w) 39(l) 1.89(gaa) .926 (sv %).

Ramo did not have much success in Tampa Bay as he was sent down to the minors on several occasions which eventually led him to pack his bags for the KHL. Since his rights were traded to Calgary, it appears the tender is more than just entertaining the idea of returning to the NHL as he see’s an opportunity within Calgary that was not presented to him in Tampa.


"The reason why I left is I thought it was better for my hockey career to go there and play," said Ramo. "The last three years I played almost 200 games. That's what makes you a better player, when you play a lot of games. That's what I wanted, that's what everybody's looking for”.

"I can't leave right away, but you know things always change," said Ramo. "In the KHL especially."- The Canadian Press – 05/09/2012

Here is a request, would either you or Stacey be able to do something in depth on Karri Ramo. He seems to be the most NHL starter ready and I would like a closer look. But, whatever you guys write, I'll read and probably comment on, especially if those pesky Oiler, Nucks and Leafs fans start getting all roudy
- TandA4Flames

He isn't sure if he'll play in the NHL next season, as he still has one year left on his KHL deal, but he wants to return to North American hockey and envisions himself playing for the Flames. The 25-year-old keeper feels he has improved because of the work he has done overseas as the starting goalie for Avangard Omsk and he could end up as Calgary's backup as soon as next season. "I can't leave right away, but you know things always change," said Ramo. "In the KHL especially

Here is a request, would either you or Stacey be able to do something in depth on Karri Ramo. He seems to be the most NHL starter ready and I would like a closer look. But, whatever you guys write, I'll read and probably comment on, especially if those pesky Oiler, Nucks and Leafs fans start getting all roudy
- TandA4Flames

This may also be of interest to you, of the top 10 KHL players a year/two ago, he was rated numero uno (as per TSN)

No. Player Team Pos. Rating
1. Karri Ramo Avangard Omsk G 89.73
2. Alexander Radulov Ufa Salayet Yulayev RW 87.49
3. Petri Vehanen Kazan AK Bars G 85.03
4. Jakub Stepanek St. Petersburg SKA G 83.80
5. Mikhail Biryukov Khanty-Mansiysk Yugra G 83.07
6. Roman Cervenka Avangard Omsk F 82.82
7. Patrick Thoresen Ufa Salayet Yulayev LW 82.31
8. Stefan Liv Novosibirsk Siber G 81.57
9. Dimitrij Kotschnew Yaroslavl Lokomotiv G 81.10
10. Brandon Bochenski Astana Barys RW 81.01

This may also be of interest to you, of the top 10 KHL players a year/two ago, he was rated numero uno (as per TSN)

No. Player Team Pos. Rating
1. Karri Ramo Avangard Omsk G 89.73
2. Alexander Radulov Ufa Salayet Yulayev RW 87.49
3. Petri Vehanen Kazan AK Bars G 85.03
4. Jakub Stepanek St. Petersburg SKA G 83.80
5. Mikhail Biryukov Khanty-Mansiysk Yugra G 83.07
6. Roman Cervenka Avangard Omsk F 82.82
7. Patrick Thoresen Ufa Salayet Yulayev LW 82.31
8. Stefan Liv Novosibirsk Siber G 81.57
9. Dimitrij Kotschnew Yaroslavl Lokomotiv G 81.10
10. Brandon Bochenski Astana Barys RW 81.01
- Colin Dambrauskas

Holy Moley! Trade Kipper already, and work out a deal to get Ramo here this year instead of next.

Holy Moley! Trade Kipper already, and work out a deal to get Ramo here this year instead of next.
- FL4MES

Wasnt a ton of info on Ramo, but thats what I can offer for the time being. Tough to get more details from a guy playing overseas...asking one of our fellow bloggers who's in Russia for more info, will let you guys know if he provides me with any.

Holy Moley! Trade Kipper already, and work out a deal to get Ramo here this year instead of next.
- FL4MES

I have to agree 100% with this. You can trade Kipper anywhere and he is still a great keeper.

He is only owed $6.5M over the next 2 seasons, so real money affordable and a decent cap hit at $5.8M for a elite goalie.

Boston as a mentor to Rask, Florida, Columbus, NY Islanders (Good cap hit, low salary), Toronto and San Jose would all be significantly better with Kipper.

I have to agree 100% with this. You can trade Kipper anywhere and he is still a great keeper.

He is only owed $6.5M over the next 2 seasons, so real money affordable and a decent cap hit at $5.8M for a elite goalie.

Boston as a mentor to Rask, Florida, Columbus, NY Islanders (Good cap hit, low salary), Toronto and San Jose would all be significantly better with Kipper.
- scoot174

What do you think the return is? More than Iggy? Must have a 1st back & 1 or 2 very good young almost ready prospects my thinking is.

What do you think the return is? More than Iggy? Must have a 1st back & 1 or 2 very good young almost ready prospects my thinking is.
- Kevin R

That is the negative, not many teams need a real upgrade in net and the teams on the list, except Boston and San Jose, really aren't in a win now mentality.

Could probably add Chicago though. Chicago would be a serious threat for the Cup with Kipper

That is the negative, not many teams need a real upgrade in net and the teams on the list, except Boston and San Jose, really aren't in a win now mentality.

Could probably add Chicago though. Chicago would be a serious threat for the Cup with Kipper
- scoot174

Well thats why you have to assume whoever we trade him to is going to be a playoff team, either make the team a contender orget a team to the playoffs. So any 1st rounder is a later 1st rounder. Thats why Toronto isnt such a bad fit. Burke is really under the gun to make the playoffs with the new ownership, he may let go that 1st rounder & if we can get Franson & a decent prospect like a Colborne or Frattin or Ashley, then I dont mind doing a trade with our Nemisis. But Chicago would definitely be a potential trade partner & I wouldnt count out the Bruins if we took Thomas back in the deal.

Well thats why you have to assume whoever we trade him to is going to be a playoff team, either make the team a contender orget a team to the playoffs. So any 1st rounder is a later 1st rounder. Thats why Toronto isnt such a bad fit. Burke is really under the gun to make the playoffs with the new ownership, he may let go that 1st rounder & if we can get Franson & a decent prospect like a Colborne or Frattin or Ashley, then I dont mind doing a trade with our Nemisis. But Chicago would definitely be a potential trade partner & I wouldnt count out the Bruins if we took Thomas back in the deal.
- Kevin R

I'd send Kipper to Chicago for Crawford, and a 2nd round pick (I don't think we have one next year). Feaster are you listening!!!?