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Crowded Crease in Calgary


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Crowded Crease in Calgary

 

The Calgary Flames entered the preseason in very odd circumstances as far as goalies go. They currently have three goalies signed to one-way contracts. What looks to be a problem is truly what teams dream of. Quality goalies pushing each other every step of the way.

 

Veteran goalie Jonas Hiller is currently entering the final year of his contract. The $4.5 million dollar per year, two year contract was a steal for the Flames, but many complained of inconsistency last year, although he won 26 games. Hiller went 26-19 in the regular season with a .918 save%, and a 2.36 gaa. In the post season he went 3-3, .919 save % and a 2.61 gaa. His career numbers are excellent he is 188-129 with a .917 save% and a 2.49 gaa. His career playoff numbers are an incredible .930 s% and a 2.35 gaa.

 

Karri Ramo was resigned over the summer to a one year $3.8 million dollar deal. Ramo played very well last season also, and was given the nod down the playoff stretch. Last season Ramo went 15-9 with a 9.11 save% and a 2.65 gaa. His post season numbers where 2-3 with a .906 save% and a 2.86 gaa. His career regular season numbers are

43-45 with a .905 save% and a 2.86 gaa, with last year being his only playoffs.

 

As for the youngster, Joni Ortio he is currently in the final year of a $600K salary. The catch is, this year the deal is a one-way contract. This means that if the Flames want to send him to the minors he must first pass waivers (which is very unlikely). Given his potential there is no way the Flames would ever take a chance on losing him.

 

It looks as though the Flames management like Ramo over Hiller, and Ortio is one of the main guys for the future. All three goalies are in the final year of their contract so some important decisions must be made. “If you look at it, they’re all in different stages,” Flames GM Brad Treliving told SportsNet. “You have hiller who has been a number one in this league a long time. Rams had kind of made a name, he’s got some experience. And you’ve got the younger guy coming up. In a perfect world you want the big guy you can ride, but ultimately you want to have good goaltending on as many nights as you can get it. If it means it’s two guys, three guys… Whatever it is.” Treliving is happy with the scenario but would like to have it down to two before the start of the season.

 

It looks as though Hiller will be the odd man out. The question now is who would be interested in his services? And what would the Flames get in return? It looks as though there would be some teams interested, but early indications are that the Flames would not get much in return, and may end up eating some of his contract. Time will tell on this one but the crease is crowded and someone will have to find a new home elsewhere.

 

 

* Photo by Getty Images

4 Comments


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teenagemutantninjahertl

Posted

It is interesting to see what happens with Hiller. I agree with you that it seems like the Flames are higher on Ramo. I don't really see a team that would trade for Hiller. Perhaps they make a goalie swap with Dallas? The Jets could use an upgrade for this season.

yave1964

Posted

Hiller is a body, a middling starter, nothing more. You can win with him in net with a strong supporting cast, kind of Chris Osgood lite.

IMHO Ramo is not even that, sooner or later he is gonna slip back into the KHL never to be heard of again. He can look brilliant at times but is not sound at positioning, he guesses and guesses wrong way too often.

As for Ortio he is an okay prospect but not much to be seen there either, IMHO. Truthfully, I would keep all three and ride the hot hand, none really do much for me for the long term but anyone of them could be the hot hand for a decently long stretch.

Long term I really do love Jon Gillies and I see these other three as stop gap until Gillies with his skill and cockiness arrive likely next season.

InsideEdge

Posted

Hiller is excellant - has been under appreciated his entire career.  He would be my choice if I was the Flames GM.  As for Ramo.  I think he is a good serviceable goalie that will be good but never take the team to the next level.  As for Ortio I have good opinions on what I have seen so far.  I am very hesitant to be too high on young goalies.  It is a weird position that takes time and maturing.  I question at this point if anyone could say that Gillies or Ortio are guarantee starters.  I think the Flames would be pumped if one of the two turn out.  This is a great problem for the Flames.  They are not like some teams battling to find one good goalie.  It is a no brainer that Ortio is the backup.  I would keep Hiller, but my gut and insights are telling me Ramo will be the starter and Hiller will be on the move.  Fun, Fun, Fun!

  • Like 1
yave1964

Posted

Hiller is excellant - has been under appreciated his entire career.  He would be my choice if I was the Flames GM.  As for Ramo.  I think he is a good serviceable goalie that will be good but never take the team to the next level.  As for Ortio I have good opinions on what I have seen so far.  I am very hesitant to be too high on young goalies.  It is a weird position that takes time and maturing.  I question at this point if anyone could say that Gillies or Ortio are guarantee starters.  I think the Flames would be pumped if one of the two turn out.  This is a great problem for the Flames.  They are not like some teams battling to find one good goalie.  It is a no brainer that Ortio is the backup.  I would keep Hiller, but my gut and insights are telling me Ramo will be the starter and Hiller will be on the move.  Fun, Fun, Fun!

I agree that Hiller is a good goalie who has gotten a bad rep over the years, and of the three Hiller would be my no brainer in net. I am a little less enthused than you are, my word for him is serviceable. As for Ramo, not so much, I see him in the same ilk as Khubodin, just a body nothing more. Ramo in the AHL has been okay but not spectacular. I am high on Gillies but I do agree that at that level he still has multiple hurdles before you can consider him an NHL starting goalie and has a lot to prove, I have watched him a good half a dozen times and never seen him have anything less than a good game, at times brilliant during that stretch. I love the Flames, they are my favorite Western conference team, built strange with most of the talent on the back end and Hartley being the best kid coach in the NHL, the way he has worked with Monahan is outstanding, same with Gaudreau to a lesser extent. Anyway, I would go with Hiller/Ortio and send Ramo back to Europe but I doubt that is what will happen.
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