Todd Cordell: Examining potential backup options for the Calgary Flames

....leave Big Mac alone....no touchy...

Whats Bobrovsky get on the open market?
I know there's zero no chance we could afford him but what is he worth?

....leave Big Mac alone....no touchy...
- FinnGod

You're still in the playoffs, you have no right to be here... be gone with you!

We just signed Carl-Johan Lerby, a Swedish defender.

https://www.eprinkside.co...019/2/1/...t-to-nhl-teams

Doubtful the Flames will go this route, but there is the (remote) possibility with their cap crunch that they elect to go Ritter and either Gillies or Parsons. My bet is it's Smith and Rittich back between the pipes next year, or they make a deal for a (cheap) vet that costs in the neighborhood of a 3rd round pick and run Rittich and tradee

You can't bring back Smith as a back-up on a cheap deal unless you treat him like a back-up and only start him 15 times a year.
If Rittich is going to be given first string money and playing time, then don't have Smith there-- at any cost-- to remind him that he's one bad goal away from being pulled and sat on the bench for the next 15 games.
Get a new back-up and trust Rittich to work through some bad stretches. He never recovered from being pulled in that game where he made a classic Mike Smith stupid puck-playing error but he was punished for it instead of forgiven.

A double standard from the coaching staff is not the answer.

....leave Big Mac alone....no touchy...
- FinnGod

They can have McElhinney. It's fine. We can't keep Ned in the AHL any longer.

Whats Bobrovsky get on the open market?
I know there's zero no chance we could afford him but what is he worth?
- geta02it

$7.5 per year.

I don’t know who has the cap space to allot to a goalie of his caliber but I’m pretty sure it’s going to be north of $7.5 consididering a washed up Miller got 6 per after leaving St. Louis on a poor note (pun intended)🙃

$7.5 per year.
- BINGO!

I'm betting Columbus already offered him more, and that he turned it down in favour of FA. Also betting that you aren't wrong on the cap hit he ends up with - just might be more years than teams might like in the end.

Didn't we sign a goalie from Russia?

Doubtful the Flames will go this route, but there is the (remote) possibility with their cap crunch that they elect to go Ritter and either Gillies or Parsons. My bet is it's Smith and Rittich back between the pipes next year, or they make a deal for a (cheap) vet that costs in the neighborhood of a 3rd round pick and run Rittich and tradee
- rmull905

There's zero chance that Gilles and Parsons are the plan. Rittich hasn't established himself as a starting goalie yet. His stats were inflated by one incredible month and are pretty average if you take that month out. He's also been given two chances in the last two years to be the undisputed guy and he did not handle either opportunity well.

Not saying he can't be their goalie of the future, but the Flames can't go into next year gifting him the job with two guys who were awful in the AHL last year as the backup plan if things don't work out.

I'm betting Columbus already offered him more, and that he turned it down in favour of FA. Also betting that you aren't wrong on the cap hit he ends up with - just might be more years than teams might like in the end.
- rmull905

That's what I'm thinking.

It'll be a problem for somebody 4 or 5 years from now, probably.

you need this guy

you need this guy


- jimbro83

For James Neal straight across

There's zero chance that Gilles and Parsons are the plan. Rittich hasn't established himself as a starting goalie yet. His stats were inflated by one incredible month and are pretty average if you take that month out. He's also been given two chances in the last two years to be the undisputed guy and he did not handle either opportunity well.

Not saying he can't be their goalie of the future, but the Flames can't go into next year gifting him the job with two guys who were awful in the AHL last year as the backup plan if things don't work out.
- Hunkulese

Agreed, and fully agree on the stat inflation - his October absolutely inflated his stats and he was largely a mid-level goalie the rest of the way.

Just saying the Flames might work themselves into a cap situation where they have few alternatives - I think Tre can work around that, but if he can't find suitors for Frolik/Brodie/Stone/Neal, the Chucky contract will put them in a tough position

you need this guy


- jimbro83

Sooooo how about Georgio, Lemiux & Shattenkirk for Brodie & Neal?

On a totally different note - $5M a year for Holland to be GM in Edmonton... dear lord.

Agreed, and fully agree on the stat inflation - his October absolutely inflated his stats and he was largely a mid-level goalie the rest of the way.

Just saying the Flames might work themselves into a cap situation where they have few alternatives - I think Tre can work around that, but if he can't find suitors for Frolik/Brodie/Stone/Neal, the Chucky contract will put them in a tough position
- rmull905

Rittich played pretty well this year but his numbers did fall as the season progressed and he does not warrant big money or term.
His puck handling is flat out scary and he should not be allowed to leave the crease.
3 x 2mm MAX.
I do like either Ranger backups (Georgiev or Shesterkin) as trade targets to compete for playing time in our crease.

For James Neal straight across
- Redmile247

oh no thank you

what the hell were the Flames thinking with that contract

oh no thank you

what the hell were the Flames thinking with that contract
- jimbro83

A perennial 20+ goal scorer was the assumption. One shouldnt assume in the NHL, it costs big money.

On a totally different note - $5M a year for Holland to be GM in Edmonton... dear lord.
- rmull905

Thats the going price to get someone to go drink the water up in Edmonton.

This Neal contract is really beginning to bend us over, and I agree, there is no way either Gillies or Parsons backs up Rittich. They both blew goats in the A.

Maybe a goalie could be the target the Flames go after in a Brodie trade .... Korpisalo in Columbus (If they Sign Bob anyway) or maybe a trade with Nashville for Saros or Rinne both are signed to nice deals for the next couple years.