Todd Cordell: Grading the Calgary Flames' off-season

Todd Cordell: Grading the Calgary Flames' off-season
- ToddCordellCGY

Good getting Hamonic and not moving any young talents for name players.
Missing the boat on Bishop and Fleury was bad, especially when they got Mike Smith instead. This Gillies kid must be next Patrick Roy because it seems like Flames management are avoiding the issue.

I think there hoping next Matt Murray!

I actually think Parsons will be better!

Parsons is starting to look like he'll be elite, and giving Gillies more time I don't have any issur with. Smith and Lack aren't our long tern plans, they are here until our prospects are ready to take over. Smith wasn't my first choice by any stretch of the imagination, but I think he'll do fine behind our defence.

Parsons is starting to look like he'll be elite, and giving Gillies more time I don't have any issur with. Smith and Lack aren't our long tern plans, they are here until our prospects are ready to take over. Smith wasn't my first choice by any stretch of the imagination, but I think he'll do fine behind our defence.
- Helios

You can be as high as you want on the goalie prospects, but until they play a full NHL season it's a gamble.
All I'm saying is the Flames are ready to make a run, all they're missing is an elite or at least top 15 starter in net.

You can be as high as you want on the goalie prospects, but until they play a full NHL season it's a gamble.
All I'm saying is the Flames are ready to make a run, all they're missing is an elite or at least top 15 starter in net.
- Larsson_fan

I think Smith is a top 15, but you never know. Gillies is undefeated in NHL, and I think the reason they felt comfortable dealing Broissant to the Oil. Let's hope he doesn't make us regret this.

I think Smith is a top 15, but you never know. Gillies is undefeated in NHL, and I think the reason they felt comfortable dealing Broissant to the Oil. Let's hope he doesn't make us regret this.
- K-man25

Really? Name your top 15. I think Smith should be closer to 20.

Price
Bob
Holtby
Murray
Dubnyk
Bishop
Rask
Talbot
Crawford
Allen
Gibson
Lundquist
Jones
Quick
Fleury

Whether or not you agree with the order of these guys, I don't think you can say Smith is better than any of them. I think he'll be fine in Calgary, but fine isn't good enough.

Good getting Hamonic and not moving any young talents for name players.
Missing the boat on Bishop and Fleury was bad, especially when they got Mike Smith instead. This Gillies kid must be next Patrick Roy because it seems like Flames management are avoiding the issue.
- Larsson_fan

I wanted flower ....bishop to me is overrated and I would rather smiths contract than his

Parsons is starting to look like he'll be elite, and giving Gillies more time I don't have any issur with. Smith and Lack aren't our long tern plans, they are here until our prospects are ready to take over. Smith wasn't my first choice by any stretch of the imagination, but I think he'll do fine behind our defence.
- Helios

I'm high on parsons but I don't think you can judge him when he hasn't faced men who can shoot the puck and played at a higher level pace ....good on him for looking good so far but he could easily be career backup at this point

Really? Name your top 15. I think Smith should be closer to 20.

Price
Bob
Holtby
Murray
Dubnyk
Bishop
Rask
Talbot
Crawford
Allen
Gibson
Lundquist
Jones
Quick
Fleury

Whether or not you agree with the order of these guys, I don't think you can say Smith is better than any of them. I think he'll be fine in Calgary, but fine isn't good enough.
- dr_soiledpants

I even think you are being a bit generous. I can think of more than 15 goalies I would rather have as my starter over Smith

I even think you are being a bit generous. I can think of more than 15 goalies I would rather have as my starter over Smith
- EastCoastOiler

He said 20....which is more than 15 ....

are you a Newfie ?

Really? Name your top 15. I think Smith should be closer to 20.

Price
Bob
Holtby
Murray
Dubnyk
Bishop
Rask
Talbot
Crawford
Allen
Gibson
Lundquist
Jones
Quick
Fleury

Whether or not you agree with the order of these guys, I don't think you can say Smith is better than any of them. I think he'll be fine in Calgary, but fine isn't good enough.
- dr_soiledpants

We get your point, now fcking beat it! So I guess like the Flames are wasting a good team with a bad goalie the Habs are wasting a good goalie with a bad team?

Imagine???!!! Quit being dumb!

We get your point, now fcking beat it! So I guess like the Flames are wasting a good team with a bad goalie the Habs are wasting a good goalie with a bad team?

Imagine???!!! Quit being dumb!
- Clyde334

Its not that far fetched, is it?

We get your point, now fcking beat it! So I guess like the Flames are wasting a good team with a bad goalie the Habs are wasting a good goalie with a bad team?

Imagine???!!! Quit being dumb!
- Clyde334

Well at least my point is clear. Not sure what you're babbling on about.

Well at least my point is clear. Not sure what you're babbling on about.
- dr_soiledpants

Maybe he thinks the team is beyond criticism, every player at every position is awesome, and the prospect pool is full to the brim with elite talent ?

He said 20....which is more than 15 ....

are you a Newfie ?
- Redmile247

Sorry, I was just trying to be generous. I could have said I can think of more than 20 goalies I would rather have as my starter but I was just trying to be polite. Though Smith may not be the worst starting goalie in the league the reality is he is in the bottom tier.

Sorry, I was just trying to be generous. I could have said I can think of more than 20 goalies I would rather have as my starter but I was just trying to be polite. Though Smith may not be the worst starting goalie in the league the reality is he is in the bottom tier.
- EastCoastOiler

Based on what, you're fcked opinion? Based on stats? Based on he played for a horrible team therefore it makes him a low tier goalie. Fck me you clowns should at least wait until November before the all wisdom.

Sorry, I was just trying to be generous. I could have said I can think of more than 20 goalies I would rather have as my starter but I was just trying to be polite. Though Smith may not be the worst starting goalie in the league the reality is he is in the bottom tier.
- EastCoastOiler

Meh ....I think there's only a handful of goalies who are guys who truly make a difference ...the rest can look better or worse depending on who they play for ....I don't think smith is this great goalie but I'd like to see any of your top 15-20 play in Arizona and see if they still look that good

Sorry, I was just trying to be generous. I could have said I can think of more than 20 goalies I would rather have as my starter but I was just trying to be polite. Though Smith may not be the worst starting goalie in the league the reality is he is in the bottom tier.
- EastCoastOiler

So who else would you put ahead of him? I think bottom tier is a touch harsh. Maybe Vasilevskiy, Andersen, Rinne and Luongo? I think those guys are marginally better, depending on the day. Anyone else is probably equivalent, worse, or not yet proven. My two cents anyway.

Based on what, you're fcked opinion? Based on stats? Based on he played for a horrible team therefore it makes him a low tier goalie. Fck me you clowns should at least wait until November before the all wisdom.
- Kevin R

Geez, it's not like he's being rude about it. Would you rather talk about where to slot Brouwer? Or maybe let's talk about whether or not Sam should be moved to the wing? Sorry but at least it's a somewhat new discussion.

So who else would you put ahead of him? I think bottom tier is a touch harsh. Maybe Vasilevskiy, Andersen, Rinne and Luongo? I think those guys are marginally better, depending on the day. Anyone else is probably equivalent, worse, or not yet proven. My two cents anyway.
- dr_soiledpants

Personally I would take 20 goalies ahead of him. Out of the remaining I see some of them as marginally better or on par to him and the rest below him.

Ya bottom tier might have been a bit harsh but I would say he is in the 21-25th out of 31 possible starters but leaning closer to the 25th range.

The thing with Smith is his injury history and you better be prepared for your backup to potentially play more games then you want him to. Not sure if Lack is the guy to cover for him either.

I just think there was better options your GM could have gotten. Yes, the cost could have been higher but I think it would have been worth it.

I really thought you guys would have went after Raantta. Great young goalie ready to take the next step. Played for extended periods of time in Chicago and New York due to injuries and did really well. I think he would have been a great fit with your team.

Personally I would take 20 goalies ahead of him. Out of the remaining I see some of them as marginally better or on par to him and the rest below him.

Ya bottom tier might have been a bit harsh but I would say he is in the 21-25th out of 31 possible starters but leaning closer to the 25th range.

The thing with Smith is his injury history and you better be prepared for your backup to potentially play more games then you want him to. Not sure if Lack is the guy to cover for him either.

I just think there was better options your GM could have gotten. Yes, the cost could have been higher but I think it would have been worth it.

I really thought you guys would have went after Raantta. Great young goalie ready to take the next step. Played for extended periods of time in Chicago and New York due to injuries and did really well. I think he would have been a great fit with your team.
- EastCoastOiler

I certainly agree his injury history is the biggest concern and question mark. Really, only two of the last six seasons he's played less then 55 games. That's not terrible. I think most fans would have preferred a younger guy like Raanta, grubauer, or darling, but i wouldn't consider them better than Smith at this point. None of them have had nearly the work load of a starter. Darling had 32 games last year, which was the most of the three I mentioned.

Maybe he thinks the team is beyond criticism, every player at every position is awesome, and the prospect pool is full to the brim with elite talent ?
- Larsson_fan

Now you're getting it glad you see it our way.

Sorry, I was just trying to be generous. I could have said I can think of more than 20 goalies I would rather have as my starter but I was just trying to be polite. Though Smith may not be the worst starting goalie in the league the reality is he is in the bottom tier.
- EastCoastOiler

I'm not sold on Smith, never was I really was hoping he was not the guy. But my thought process is that he was brought in to be a stop gap for his 2 remaining contract seasons. Tre was still negotiating with Gillies and Rittich and probably wanted them to still see a path to the NHL with our club. Tre probably doesn't see the next 2 seasons as true cup competitors but beyond that. All Smith and Lack have to do is get us to the PO's and get the core some PO experience.