darth_henning

There's really no good answer here. Does Ramo deserve to lose his job because he got injured and the call up is way better than either current goalie? No. Does Ortio deserve to be sent down after playing some AMAZING games in goal? No. Does it send a good message to the farm that you can come up, outplay the starter, and still get sent down? No. Does it make sense to leave the farm with basically no goalie to help the team advance as far as they should in the playoffs? No. So keep him up or send him down, its unfair to a player and not ideal for the farm. Saddy neither Ramo nor Hiller have a lot of trade value at this point to be able to swap them for an ortio replacement for the farm AND something that the Flames need (ideally 4-6 defence). Tough decision either way. That said, packaging Ramo and either Raymond or Glencross or Jones might get us something that would. Who knows where management goes.

Garunteed he has to get the start in Anaheim. If any goalie can win there, he's it. He's over a 0.95 through 4 games against tough opposition on the road. Maybe its just a hot streak, but I'm hoping he can actually play this way consistently.

Its the +/- that's just terrible though. No, definitely not bro-dano levels are expected, but at least try and keep it out of the double digit negatives. Engelland is a toughness we need, but we also need toughness that can at least not screw things up enough to lead to goals against. And sadly he's caused at least a half dozen by mistakes that I remember. We need size and toughness, but his toughness isn't scaring the other team away from scoring goals, so its really not all that helpful. Gratz was sent down because he brought toughness but little else. Engelland brings toughness AND costs us. It's not terrible, I agree with you there. But its cost us a game or two, and with the playoff picture as it is that's not something we can afford to have keep happening. I don't watch the prospects, but how is Kanzig for physicality/toughness? At his size it might be worth bringing him up at some point.

Could be for sure, unless he wins about 5 more games first. Its the simplest option. Let him ride out the year in the AHL, and then come up next year with Hiller as backup probably. Still, its worth debating if his quality of play remains consistent. There's no hurry to move someone before the end of this year I agree, but there should be some interest in upgrading our bottom pairing. Diaz is servicable, but the others need to go out the door, but there's no way they're worth anything in trade, and I'm reluctant to give up any forward on the team right now other than Raymond or Bollig who also have little value. I would be open to moving a prospect forward (other than Poirier) with Hiller/Ramo and a pick for a better D though. Wotherspoon and Kanzig are probably serviciable in a year or two though. so the question is whether its worth it.

The question becomes (if that was to happen), do we want to carry 3? or use it as an opportunity to upgrade 5/6 d in a trade? We theoretically have enough cap space we could eat half of Hiller's salary if need be. Unfortunately, all the other pieces we need to offload have little to no trade value.

Its official he's getting the start in LA. If he can get a win there then I say he at least gets a shot in Anaheim. If he wins that....things get VERY interesting.