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Despite having many question marks going into the 2013-14 season, the Calgary Flames’ biggest question mark is thought to be goaltending. With the retirement of Miikka Kiprusoff who has been the Flames netminder since his debut during the 2003-04 season, many feel that the Flames are left somewhat in the dark with respect to goaltending.
The reason I say this is not because of a lack of prospects or depth in the crease, rather because of the simple fact that the Flames have not really played any other goalie aside from Kiprusoff over the past decade. To put that into perspective, of the 574 regular season games over the past seven full NHL seasons, Kiprusoff has played 514. That’s right, he played 90% of games for Calgary outside of last season where he only played 50% as Joey MacDonald stepped in as relief for the vet.
Though Miikka was a strong enough goalie that carrying such a load was not a problem for him(proven by his averages), it hasn’t really allowed for goalie prospects to step in or challenge for the role, until this year. As we’ve already discussed a few times now, the Flames are anticipating Karri Ramo’s debut in the Saddledome since acquiring his rights nearly two years ago and most fans are somewhat apprenhensive as to what to expect.
What has fans so worried is that Ramo has not played an NHL game in nearly four years, despite playing quite confidently in the KHL. While he's been noted as one of the best goalies in the KHL over the past four seasons, Flames fans have heard something similar with respect to forward Roman Cervenka which didn't end up too well...so you can understand their uneasiness.
I wrote a
blog a few weeks ago which discussed how I felt that the Flames have an opportunity with either Karri Ramo or Reto Berra to step in and become a legitimate starting goaltender in this league, just like Miikka did years ago. However, the goalie I failed to include in this discussion who is fighting to make his name known is Flames prospect Jon Gillies.
Drafted 75th overall by the Flames in 2012, the 6’5 215lbs 19 year old tender just wrapped up a week long evaluation camp in Lake Placid for the US WJC team. Through extensive drills and exhibition games, Gillies is currently thought to be the USA’s top choice for the starting position for the upcoming WJC, something he is both excited and humbled about.
“It’s definitely exciting to be thought of in that aspect and to have people saying that about you,” acknowledged Gillies who was finally getting a chance to enjoy his summer at a friend’s beach house, having wrapped up the U.S. development camp over the weekend. “But, then again, the people saying that about you aren’t really the people that have any say in the matter. It’s obviously flattering, for lack of a better term, and I’m really happy people believe in me like that. But at the end of the day, the only thing I can control in that scenario is how I play and how hard I work.
“I’m just going to go into the first half (of the season) and try to do that and hopefully prove to the people that believe in me that they picked the right guy.”
Kristen Odland, Calgary Herald
WJC aside, Gillies has been doing quite well playing in the NCAA for Providence College posting a 2.08 GAA and .931 SV% as a freshman. Furthermore, at the tender age of 19 years old, Gillies was awarded the Hockey East Rookie of the Year in addition to the NCAA Ice Hockey National Rookie of the Year for his 2012-13 campaign. Not too shabby if you ask me!
With that being said, it appears the Flames could have a few legitimate options between the pipes, one in particular who may stand above the rest…pardon the pun. Given his age and experience level, Jon is still a few years removed from the NHL and will return to play for Providence College against fellow prospect Johnny Gaudreau. This upcoming season the Flames appear to have options between Ramo and Berra with MacDonald looking to provide strong backup duties which should be more than fine for a rebuilding team.
There continues to be some light at the end of the tunnel for the Calgary Flames organization, provided most of their players reach their potential. Should be exciting for fans to watch a few of these kids develop into future fulltime NHLers, that’s for sure.
Thanks for reading!
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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