Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell …‹ A year ago the Calgary Flames expressed interest in Ben Bishop before eventually bringing in Brian Elliott to be the team's starter.
That didn't work out as well as either side hoped, obviously, so GM Brad Treliving is in the market for a starting goaltender once again.
As expected, Treliving went back to the well and tried to acquire Bishop but was unsuccessful in doing so.
CGY, as it was last summer, was in on trade talks to get Ben Bishop's rights before LA ultimately dealt him to DAL.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 9, 2017
On one hand, a 4th round pick shouldn't be enough to outbid you for a goaltender if you really want him. On the other, the Flames didn't really have the ammo to make a better offer (they don't have 2nd or 3rd round picks) and Bishop's preference definitely seemed to be Dallas. Whatever the case, the Flames can scratch their top goaltending target off the list.
They're undoubtedly disappointed with how it played out but I think Bishop ending up in Dallas is a blessing in disguise. His 5v5 save percentage last season was worse than Kari Lehtonen's, for example, and it'd cost a lot in both term and money to get him signed. He is not an ideal answer, at least for me.
I'd be content with giving Elliott another chance -- he is likely going to bounce back next season and it would be cheap, relatively speaking, to get him signed -- but it would seem the Flames aren't willing to do that.
No way Jim Nill could sell to his team on keeping goaltending status quo another yr. I believe that also to be true for #nhljets and #Flames
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) May 9, 2017
Where Treliving goes from here is anyone's guess but I think he'd be smart to prioritize cheaper goaltenders like Elliott and Antti Raanta as opposed to expensive ones such as Marc-Andre Fleury and Jimmy Howard.
We'll see if Treliving feels the same way.
Recent posts: Could Raanta be an option for the Flames?