By the sounds of his interview yesterday with the Fan, this guy wants to be a starter and is going to be pushing Elliott I think.
Honestly, I think it's why BT have him the one year deal. Go out and show me you can be better and be an elite starter; I'll have no issues extending you with pay.
Absolutely wants to be a starter, and a good number of Buffalo fans felt he was better than Robin Lehner last season. Which when the schedule became grueling, he was the better of the two, and he ended up as the only guy with a winning percentage on the team, while everyone else was sub .500. That tells you a lot right there. He has the size, athletism, and calmness of a starter. He is as humble as humble pie. He doesn't think he's above anyone (that's the personality he gives off), but he has the confidence and desire to be a starter. He rocked his last year in College as the top goalie in the Nation on a meh team, he has had a very good NHL resume so far. I can't see why he won't push/challenge Elliott for the job. I think Calgary is in a good position to have them both locked down to 1-year contracts. With Gillies as the future, I guess it comes down to how well he develops in the A, and how they both do... because it could be one or both who get extended as a result. But as a guy who has followed him closely. Laugh, I had him in a keeper league, so I stayed to the guy like glue following his games ... and he was trending very nicely. Outside of a rocky October (again, hate to beat a dead horse), but that team had two-thirds of its new top-six forward core not play beyond the season and a new coaching staff, well adjustments will be made. Once there was he posted some of the best numbers by a goalie at .928, post-October.
And when given the reigns of a starter, he took to it well. And Elliott has never been more than a 40-45 game guy. He won't be as protected as he was in St. Louis. I wouldn't be surprised if both guys are close in games and bring up their compete level. It should be a very nice competition. A 1a and 1b showing. Who the 1a and 1b could be is anyone's guess. Obviously, Elliott is going to get the first stab at the reigns, but don't count Johnson out. Either way, I like both guys and you're a much better team by adding them.
I am actually surprised by GMTM that he didn't resign Chad. He let him go. He doesn't have a good gage on certain players. Robin Lehner plays too heavy and thus gets injured a lot as a result. He also was badly concussed before he went to Buffalo and has had reoccurring problems. He also has a bad temper. Like epic bad. He's done nothing to show he's the guy. But this is the same GM that over paid for Evander Kane and Zach Bogosian and after a year and a half later, he wants to move them. lol
Welcome aboard to the Flames board!
