DirtyDeeds

I think Gillies is our best prospect anyway.

Feaster mentioned yesterday that Ortio and Brossoit were told to go to the Heat and compete for a spot. Apparently they have some games this weekend to play. Healso said the Flames do not intend to carry 3 goalies into the season. That should mean 1 of the 3 remaining up here will be sent down to the Heat but he did not come right out and say that. (1+1 usually equals 2)

Up until last nights games Ortio and Berra seemed to be showing the most promise. Seems last nights results just muddied the question about who will start and who will backup. I expect lots of rotation and maybe even keeping 3 goalies kicking around and into the season until one takes a step ahead of the rest.

Personally I don't think you will get an official announcement of any sort other than what we have already seen. Remember he told the Finns Olympic program something like "he was going to retire and if the Calgary Flames haven't already announced it..." This indicates he has; 1. Made up his mind. 2. It is only on Calgarys end that they don't want to announce it. There are a few things at play here. 1. His contract. 2. Flames ability to eat the contract and the cap hit(cap hit 5.833m; contract hit $1.5m) 3. Either way in this contact with throw away years, Calgary is going to have to pay and eat the remainder of the contract. 4. There is little benefit to Calgary wanting a "formal retirement or statement" as they still have to pay. 5. Kipper seems to have made his decision and is unlikely to change it. Pretty much the same deal as trying to trade him at the trade deadline last year. Calgary wanted it, Kipper pretty much rejected it in advance, and Kipper gave the talks to TO minor lip service to passify Feaster and the Flames with the outcome exactly what Kipper said before as to what he was going to do.

It is important to distinguish that no player will replace what Kipper or Iggy brought to the table. It is going to more difficult to do in net because the goaltender spends the whole game on the ice. Kipper in the last few years wasn't at his best anyway. It won't be hard to replace that work but it will be difficult to get a performace from <insert our goalie flavor of the season here>, comparable to his early performances. Kipper won games and usually at the expense of his GAA or his SV%. When looking at it from a "goalie tandem" view, we know we have a fairly solid backup that can well.. Backup a short stretch. +advantage New Flames. If the defense can block a few shots, play reasonably solid in our own end then I see no reason why Ramo can't adjust quickly. I don't see us with allowing huge amounts of goals unless the goaltenders struggle.

Well they gave Ramo a 2 year roster contract so unlikely he would head back next year. Berra was only given an EL contract and 1 year.

Keep in mind the Flames traded for him before Ramo was signed and about the time Kipper was making all the "I won't report to another team if you trade me" type statements. This signing is more of a covering all my bases type thing, I think. What if Ramo had decided to stay in KHL? Without Berra here too, that would put a totally different light on our goaltending. At least this way we get some stiff competition for the starting job.

Trouble is if Berra is not quite ready for the NHL sending him back overseas isn't going to do anything to prepare him for the NHL, the ice size or the type of play the NHL offers. AHL is totally the best place for him to gain that experience and get him prepared. AHL isn't for prospects only. It is a filter down league designed for any age Entry Level players too.

Thanks for the clarification. I suspect that Feaster really knows this but couldn't say anything else but "we are hoping he returns". It could turn out badly if a team in a similar situation didn't say they expect or hope their players to fulfill their contracts for the full duration. You look at the Tim Thomas situation where Boston ended up suspending him and then trading away his rights which shows there are various ways these things can be handled.

3 months since this thread was started and we should probably open discussion again on our Goaltending Status: Goaltenders Cap Geek Listed as Roster Players: Kiprusoff, Miikka Ramo, Karri - 2.75m 2yrs UFA MacDonald, Joey - .925m - UFA after next season. Elementary Level Contracts: Berra, Reto - 1.3m - RFA after next season. Brossoit, Laurent - .925m - 3years RFA Ortio, Joni - .812 - RFA after next season. College - Non-Contract Players Gilles, John - NCAA - Sophomore NCAA. HF Boards Ratings of our prospects: I think from the contracts and terms of these signings we can deduct quite a bit about the Flames thinking and how the goaltender fits into their plans. Length of the contracts in particular say quite a bit on where each prospect fits. If all you do is take a quick look at the whole group, you think there is a big pool of Goaltenders along with a large mix of prospects in various stages of development. You would be right in thinking this but it doesn't tell us much. So lets break it down in a bit more detail. Who is going to be our goaltenders this coming season? **Kiprusoff, Miikka Ramo, Karri - 2.75m 2yrs UFA MacDonald, Joey - .925m - UFA after next season. **I would prefer to see Kipper return for 1 season if only to mentor our goaltenders who we decide to run with. I don't see it really happening however as anything Feaster has mentioned is always in the "It is Kippers decision to retire" line of thinking. Karri Ramo - This signing indicates to me he was our "go to guy" all along. Past experience with Feaster, Including Ramo in a trade with Montreal for a reason and unless he falters badly is pencilled in as our #1 next year. 2 year term doesn't sell the farm and gives us time to properly find out if he is "the One". Joey MacDonald - signed to only a 1 year contract indicates to me he is our insurance policy for next year. On a side note he is the only backup to actually gain the trust of the team. Good signing for the Flames in our present stage of development. Are there any other considerations for this coming season? Yes but not really. Reto Berra is a long shot. He has indicated he wants to compete for this spot, and has had a really good prospect camp. Meritocracy won't be in play very much here. I just don't see him actually taking the #1 slot or backup position unless one or both Ramo and MacDonald stink it up in the preseason. The rest of the bunch and the Heat: Berra, Reto - 1.3m - RFA after next season. Brossoit, Laurent - .925m - 3years RFA Ortio, Joni - .812 - RFA after next season. **Gilles, John - NCAA - Sophomore NCAA. **John Gilles still has a couple more years in the NCAA. In my mind he projects to be our best goaltender and starter a few years down the road. He is already setting freshman records and progressing nicely with the US national programs. This is where things get complicated. I'll rate(my opinion only) the remaining goaltenders to start: Reto Berra Laurent Brossoit Joni Ortio Reto Berra - I expect him to be our #1 Goaltender on the Heat next season. (see above note on Flames) Laurent Brossoit - He has nothing left to prove in the WHL. He had a good-great year last year especially in the last half. The snub by the Canadian National team motivated him. I see him as the Heats backup next season with a lot of starts if Berra takes longer to adjust to the NA ice and game. Joni Ortio - Interesting point Ortio phoned Feaster and was slightly pissed over the signings of Berra and Ramo. I am still not sure what to make of that since I heard it(broadcast of the prospects game). I guess we can take it he expects to be in the mix and wants the opportunity to compete. I am not sure where to put Joni Ortio this coming season. It doesn't sound like he wants to play another year overseas and I suspect there is some lingering hesitation with the Flames after his 1st stop over here. If he plays well maybe they carry 3 goaltenders on the Heat to start the season, but I don't see that as an ideal situation for those 3. Random thoughts If Kipper decides to return and play another year, it would certainly put a wrench into the whole group of goaltenders, we have assembled for moving forward. At least that is how it looks to me if this post and projection hold true. Kipper could fit nicely as a mentor though in a greatly reduced role, while we struggle to find our next #1 "Kipper replacement".

Hypothetical: So Kipper decides to do a Selanne and come back for another year..... or another one after that one... or another one again...

Kipper fact:(Fan 960) Since Kipper came to Calgary he has played over 33,000 minutes in the net. No other goltender in NHL has played that many minutes in that time. Closest is Martin Brodeur and he is 1,000 minutes behind.

I would think(and could be thinking wrong) that Hartley had the opportunity to see both these goaltenders play. I would assume with the Swiss League connection(ZSC Lions), that someone might have asked him his thoughts on at least Berra. Apparently Feaster and Hartley talk daily.

Joey Mac is now 1 game over .500 for this year.

It's not DeeDee. He can't be offered a contract until the end of April at which time his present contract expires. It has nothing to do with his season now being over. That in turn has nothing to do with Feaster and his wants, it has everything to do with understandings between the two leagues.

I don't see it for a number of reasons: We don't have much in assets to fit their requirements. We aren't trading draft picks. They have sat on an asking price and seemingly won't drop that price for anyone let alone the Flames. Think all the goalies moving this trade deadline and the Nucks standing firm on Luongo. Why would we be aquiring this long list of candidates to only turn around and now trade for Lou. We already have a suitable backup in Mac. There is little doubt in my mind that we will parade all the goalies next training camp and let them all compete for the startter job.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=395478 So please post your links to credible sources that say Ramo: choose to stay in the KHL and probably make more money while NOT paying taxes? Fact: Karri Ramo likes playing in the KHL Fact: Karri Ramo has a bad taste in his mouth from his previous NHL experience.

Maybe you should do some research before you start spewing all these "facts" and starting threads based on them.

Bishop to TB... we are out of that race.

I am thinking Kipper won't be here next season. We don't know enough about any of them except Mac is a suitable backup. I would be really hardpressed to go out on a limb to say any of the others are ready for a starting goltender position next season with the Flames.I would rather not mistake "potential" meaning the same thing as NHL ready Starter.