Here's the thing, Markstrom & Lehner havent won a fcking thig yet, Holtby has & played with a team that had to work their way to finally break through to a cup. He would also fit somewhere between Lehner & Jarry. I would be thrilled to get him.
- Kevin R

They haven't played on a team like the Caps...Holtby is done

Carolina definitely F’ed up rushing hanifin, but as said between two different teams he hasn’t shown year to year improvement. It’s the same difference between mangiapane who’s the same age but keeps getting better and Sam Bennett who’s only a year older and is what he is.

It’s not impossible for a player to have a random William Karlsson type breakout but it is also far from likely.

Player development may not be linear but if it plateaus ...well if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck
- RedC21

D men usually dont mature until their mid twenties. Some forwards dont get there until 23-24, Backlund didnt get better until that age, same with Turris. Not all players progress on the same curve. Jankowski at age 26 is pretty well what he is, a 4th liner & PK. Tough crowd.

They haven't played on a team like the Caps...Holtby is done
- flashfire

Yeah I guess he's way too old eh. People said the same about Talbot too last year, looked pretty good in that series against the Stars. I think he's older than Holtby, isnt he? Why would he be done, just curious?

Yeah I guess he's way too old eh. People said the same about Talbot too last year, looked pretty good in that series against the Stars. I think he's older than Holtby, isnt he? Why would he be done, just curious?
- Kevin R

Well Talbot was terrible in the biggest game of the year

Holtby has been terrible the last 2 seasons playing for a stacked team...there is a reason they don't want him back

Well Talbot was terrible in the biggest game of the year

Holtby has been terrible the last 2 seasons playing for a stacked team...there is a reason they don't want him back
- flashfire

Have to agree with this. Talbot pooped his sheets at the worst possible moment - which is sort-of his calling card. Holtby would have been a great pickup 5 years ago.

Have to agree with this. Talbot pooped his sheets at the worst possible moment - which is sort-of his calling card. Holtby would have been a great pickup 5 years ago.
- bsimms

Seems to be modus operandi in Calgary when it comes to goalies - Elliot. Hiller. Talbot. Rittich.

That game was just awful, and the goals allowed were deflating - but credit where credit due, Talbot kept the Flames in a lot of games that they had no business winning or being close in. The team also totally took their foot off the gas after they went up 3-0 and let the Stars dance all over them.

I still think you look for an upgrade, be it in net or by getting some shutdown D in there to limit the ice. For me, Markstrom is the only keeper I'd be targeting right now. Maybe Crawford, but that injury last year worries me.

Holtby has lost it the last couple of years, Murray has a wacky history, Fleury is on the decline, Lundquist has already declined, Anderson and Howard are too old, Greiss and Khudobin are question marks and everyone else is generally not great.

Re: Hanafin
It’s pretty well known that D is toughest position to learn in hockey. I think Hanifun will get it really soon; everything will click. He’s on a good deal and I think would be a mistake if we traded him. JMO.

People might want to check out Markstrom's final game before condemning Talbot for a bad game.

The Flames can't afford Markstrom. Goaltending hasn't been the problem the last few years and having Markstrom wouldn't have changed anything. Talbot outplayed the Vezina winner and the guy the Stars rode to the finals. Elliott, Smith, and Talbot all gave them good enough goaltending to win if the rest of the team had showed up.

Talbot + a $3-4 million defenceman is better than Markstrom.

Re: Hanafin
It’s pretty well known that D is toughest position to learn in hockey. I think Hanifun will get it really soon; everything will click. He’s on a good deal and I think would be a mistake if we traded him. JMO.
- TandA4Flames

Unless the return is awesome I agree!

Well Josh Anderson is off the board... and Max Domi for that matter.

Well Josh Anderson is off the board... and Max Domi for that matter.
- Clyde334

Toffoli is available now though

People might want to check out Markstrom's final game before condemning Talbot for a bad game.

The Flames can't afford Markstrom. Goaltending hasn't been the problem the last few years and having Markstrom wouldn't have changed anything. Talbot outplayed the Vezina winner and the guy the Stars rode to the finals. Elliott, Smith, and Talbot all gave them good enough goaltending to win if the rest of the team had showed up.

Talbot + a $3-4 million defenceman is better than Markstrom.
- Hunkulese

Exactly!
''Elliott, Smith, and Talbot all gave them good enough goaltending to win if the rest of the team had showed up''.
Why have you been defending this underachieving team all summer?

Exactly!
''Elliott, Smith, and Talbot all gave them good enough goaltending to win if the rest of the team had showed up''.
Why have you been defending this underachieving team all summer?
- DEDDIE

Because they're good enough to win if they stop underachieving, and it doesn't make much sense not to give them another year to do so.

Well Josh Anderson is off the board... and Max Domi for that matter.
- Clyde334

Bergevin paying some weird prices!!

Because they're good enough to win if they stop underachieving, and it doesn't make much sense not to give them another year to do so.
- Hunkulese

I honestly give up trying to figure you out.

Bergevin paying some weird prices!!
- rmull905

Yes that's a steep price considering the risk on Anderson.
Must speak volumes about Domi's value to the rest of the GM'S

Elliot was garbage in the playoffs. Last year when Talbot was signed, Hunker was very pissed the Flames signed him. If management was happy with goaltending, Talbot would be signed already.
I agree Deddie, stop trying to figure him out.

trade down was interesting - one of Lapierre/Wallinder or Zary?

trade down was interesting - one of Lapierre/Wallinder or Zary?
- rmull905

Bahaha - trading down again?!?

I am disappointed in you all btw

Damn. Was hoping for Schneider

Wtf is going on

That's unfortunate. Lapierre is going to be the steal of the draft and Schneider would've been a great fit.

It'll be fun if Treliving just keeps trading down and finally flips the pick for Murray.

That's unfortunate. Lapierre is going to be the steal of the draft and Schneider would've been a great fit.
- Hunkulese

Agreed.