I get that, but 4 years isn't really a stopgap. Giving up a second for 1 year of Elliott or a first for 2 years of fluery is a stop gap. As much as I'd like to believe one of our goalie prospects can be a quality NHL starter odds are we're looking at continuing the goalie carousel if we only get a goalie for 2 years.
I voted other. Buffalos defense is borderline tire fire and lehner put up great numbers and 50+ starts with them. Give them out first and sign him to 4x4 giving our g prospects time to get ready. I think he asks for a trade out of buffalo or has ridiculous demands to stay there ala Hamilton and Boston. Failing that Grubauer is probably our best option because I don't see any reason Arizona would trade Smith
To play Devil's advocate. Let's say they bring Flower in for two seasons and he helps us win a lot and is absolutely elite for Calgary. Don't you think there'd be some mutual interest in extending him for another 2-3 years afterwards?
It's kind of why I see Fleury as one of the top three options for Calgary; if he's solid, then it's two years and you can bring him back if you want. If he's dominant you can resign him, if he's bad, you only have two years of that contract and you're not handcuffed at all. You really spin the wheel going with the unproven starter (Grubauer, Raanta, etc) because if they can't cut it as a starter, you're really hooped. But if they catch fire you look like a genius.
That all being said, I think the 'unproven' guys all look like they could be NHL starters.
Buffalo's defense allows a lot of shots and occasionally gives up the WTF type of shots, but Lehner's save percentage is inflated by the fact that Buffalo plays a system that makes them trapped in their zone, but they actually do very well at limiting high danger chances.
I don't watch them all that much, but they don't seem to play the trap nearly as bad with Bylsma as they did with Nolan. But that could just be me, like I said I don't watch them a ton
I don't mind Raanta, but I see him as being more of a Chad Johnson than a Martin Jones, the guy is 28 and hasn't ever grabbed a starting role. Grubauer is more interesting to me. And I get your point about Fluery, but if he plays 2 elite seasons he probably asks for a raise and some term at which point he's already 34 years old, and this year aside he pulls a disappearing act in the playoffs almost every year. If the cost of fluery was low, I'd agree he's the guy to bring in but there's no way that the penguins take less than the value of Maata for him, because that's who they're gonna lose to expansion if he's gone, so it'll be a first at least
I don't mind Raanta, but I see him as being more of a Chad Johnson than a Martin Jones, the guy is 28 and hasn't ever grabbed a starting role. Grubauer is more interesting to me. And I get your point about Fluery, but if he plays 2 elite seasons he probably asks for a raise and some term at which point he's already 34 years old, and this year aside he pulls a disappearing act in the playoffs almost every year. If the cost of fluery was low, I'd agree he's the guy to bring in but there's no way that the penguins take less than the value of Maata for him, because that's who they're gonna lose to expansion if he's gone, so it'll be a first at least
Even if Fleury waives for Vegas, they'd be stupid not to draft Maatta IMO. I think it would be hilarious if the Pens lose Maatta and are stuck with Fleury and $9.5 million in goaltending next year, Which would leave things tight as they try to replace Maatta, sign RFAs Schultz, Dumoulin and Sheary and then they still have 6-8 UFAs to sign on top of that. Frankly they need to find a way to dump Fleury even if it means losing Maatta, they are over a barrell one way or the other.And if he's still there they lose Murray. The only way they can get out of losing Maata or Murray is for Fleury to waive his NMC for the expansion draft, which I think is unrealistic. I think he'll waive, but I don't think he'd do it for Vegas. If/when Fleury is traded it will be for much less than he's actually worth.
Elliott is a better goaltender than Raanta/Grubauer/Fleury/Korpisalo/Pickard
He's my pick
The question with Elliott is who do you want backing him up though. Johnson is good but there's no upside. Maybe do like 15 games of Rittich, 15 games of Gillies. If they don't work, I'm sure there will be someone available in November.
Elliott is a better goaltender than Raanta/Grubauer/Fleury/Korpisalo/Pickard
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What about his playoff choke?
If Elliott comes back, it's because he is a cheap option