Rumor: Calgary looking at getting a goalie

[Rubi]

Three Potential UFA Goalie Options for the Flames in 2019

Published today. Discusses Varlamov (Colorado), Bobrovsky (Columbus), and Pickard (Toronto).

 

[super6646]

We cant afford Bobrovsky, and Pickard is pretty bad. I'll go with Varlamov from these 3, but none are that great.

 

[Rubi]

We cant afford Bobrovsky, and Pickard is pretty bad. I'll go with Varlamov from these 3, but none are that great.

I agree

 

[Flamesfan62]

Pickard played a full season with a terrible team and posted an above 900 save percentage. He was thrown to the wolves after two very successful backup seasons.

He has more potential than Rittich and is a safer bet to perform at a higher level.

How does he have more potential than Rittich?

 

[CaptainCrunch67]

Pickard played a full season with a terrible team and posted an above 900 save percentage. He was thrown to the wolves after two very successful backup seasons.

He has more potential than Rittich and is a safer bet to perform at a higher level.

No he doesn't

 

[member 147413]

How does he have more potential than Rittich?

No he doesn't

Pickard is more athletic and plays a smart positionally sound game. He’s also a lot more projectable given his body of work and has performed better at the highest level.

 

[Rubi]

Right now, before the season starts, I'd rather the Flames stick with the status quo. Unless Treliving can make a trade for a blue chip starting goalie (and right now I don't believe there are any available that would fit within our cap structure and wouldn't destroy our future because of who we'd have to give up in a trade) or a blue chip prospect that's currently playing backup but has strong potential to be a #1. I'd rather start the season with Smith as the #1 and Rittich as the backup with Gillies in the wings ready to step in if needed. To do otherwise is to put your faith in magic beans.

 

[FirstRowUpperDeck]

What, no Kari Lehtonen?

 

[Flamesfan62]

Pickard is more athletic and plays a smart positionally sound game. He’s also a lot more projectable given his body of work and has performed better at the highest level.

And Pickard is also currently an AHL backup.

 

[member 147413]

And Pickard is also currently an AHL backup.

And Kadri is currently a 3rd line center.

Rittich had bad AHL and NHL numbers last season. He hasn’t shown any consistent play game by game and no signs of being nothing more than an emergency backup.

 

[Rubi]

Rittich had bad AHL and NHL numbers last season. He hasn’t shown any consistent play game by game and no signs of being nothing more than an emergency backup.

Oh quit the hyperbole, exaggeration, and misleading statements.

 

[member 147413]

Oh quit the hyperbole, exaggeration, and misleading statements.

I don’t think Pickard will ever be anything more than a back-up, but in what world has Rittich shown he’s better or has more potential than Pickard?

 

[Volica]

I don’t think Pickard will ever be anything more than a back-up, but in what world has Rittich shown he’s better or has more potential than Pickard?

He was lights out as a backup last season before Smith went down.
Not saying you'd know a thing about that though, hockeydb doesn't really explain that stuff.

 

[Rubi]

I don’t think Pickard will ever be anything more than a back-up, but in what world has Rittich shown he’s better or has more potential than Pickard?

As Volica said, "He was lights out last season before Smith went down".
As a backup last year to Smith (before Smith got hurt), which was his rookie year too, he had a GAA of 2.20 with a Save % of 0.927 and a record of 5-1-2.
In the 2016-17 season (31 GP) in the AHL he had a 2.27 GAA and a 0.924 Save %, but you probably ignored that on Hockeydb and conveniently cherry picked his 2017-2018 12 game record in the AHL to support your argument.

 

[Edenjung]

Reserve: Niklas Treutle, Timo Pielmeier
Give them another chance, they are the best what the DEL has to offer.
Both did great in the World cup and at the olympics.

 

[One Winged Angel]

You can take Lundqvist for free. Just convince him that he can do his fashion thing in Calgary.

 

[Rubi]

You can take Lundqvist for free. Just convince him that he can do his fashion thing in Calgary.

If you were the NYR GM and I was the Flames GM, I'd DEFINITELY take you up on the offer!!

 

[One Winged Angel]

If you were the NYR GM and I was the Flames GM, I'd DEFINITELY take you up on the offer!!

I'd even drive Lundqvist there. It's not an issue with Hank himself. This team needs to strip it down to the core and get Jack Hughes and Hank might be the only thing that stops them because he's still actually a good goaltender.

 

[Volica]

You can take Lundqvist for free. Just convince him that he can do his fashion thing in Calgary.

Hank, how do you feel about 'urban cowboy' as a look?

 

[One Winged Angel]

Hank, how do you feel about 'urban cowboy' as a look?

Great sales pitch, I like it.

 

[madmike77]

I think Pickard might be a small upgrade on Rittich, but it's definitely not worth giving up anything for. I'm not even sure it's worth making a waiver claim for. The Flames would need to make a bigger move if they really want to upgrade the position.

 

[member 147413]

He was lights out as a backup last season before Smith went down.
Not saying you'd know a thing about that though, hockeydb doesn't really explain that stuff.

Pickard was lights out as a backup too.

 

[member 147413]

As Volica said, "He was lights out last season before Smith went down".
As a backup last year to Smith (before Smith got hurt), which was his rookie year too, he had a GAA of 2.20 with a Save % of 0.927 and a record of 5-1-2.
In the 2016-17 season (31 GP) in the AHL he had a 2.27 GAA and a 0.924 Save %, but you probably ignored that on Hockeydb and conveniently cherry picked his 2017-2018 12 game record in the AHL to support your argument.

8 game sample sizes are so much more convincing than 12, you’re right.

 

[Flyerfan52]

You're probably right about that proposal not being an ideal return for Stone. But I should have clarified that the pick would be in the 2nd-3rd round range with Pickard being in the deal to give the Flames more options for next season. But hey, I'm not that great when it comes to proposals.

Would you offer the same for Kulikov? Pritchard & a 2nd?
More a cap thing than Pickard being that desirable.

 

[Rubi]

8 game sample sizes are so much more convincing than 12, you’re right.

I assume the 12 games you are referring to are the 12 games Rittich played in the AHL in 2017-2018. The problem with your argument is that Rittich's AHL sample is actually 43 games (31 + 12) and the 8 game sample is a NHL sample as a backup goalie, before being thrown to the wolves after Smith got hurt and being forced into the #1 role which he obviously wasn't ready to assume. Rittich faltered when forced into the #1 role after Smith went down but that's not completely unexpected as a NHL rookie playing for a team that was fighting for a playoff spot, was battling key injuries at the same time, and had a coach that had implemented a system that was difficult to play at the best of times. The pressure that Rittich was experiencing, after Feb 12, must have been overwhelming.
Carry on. Keep trying to convince me that Pickard is an upgrade over Rittich.