Kulstad

The bolded is where I think you might be losing a lot of people, JJ. Either the WJC has talent equal-to or better-than North America ("talent that was otherwise off the radar or not apparent"), or there's not much talent elsewhere to go on ("the WJC, which is generally a lower competition level?") ...and the last bolded point ("lower competition level") is where I personally disagree, rightly or wrongly. Canada *was* THE dominant hockey superpower for a long time, but the balance of power has been slowly draining away from Canada...and we, as a hockey-worshipping nation, are very reluctant to acknowledge this. We're still among the elite, but we no longer stand alone in crowd.

Please bring the conversation back around to Goaltending, before it gets too far off the path. Conversations about Sven belong over this way --> http://fans.flames.nhl.com/community/topic/19599-sven-baertschi-this-season-and-future/

Berra's going to the Olympics (http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=699192) Berra named to Swiss Olympic team Reto Berra is on the Swiss 25-man roster for the 2014 Winter Olympics Monday, 06.01.2014 / 10:47 AM / News By Torie Peterson - CalgaryFlames.com (@toriepeterson) CALGARY, AB -- As per Swiss Hockey News, Calgary Flames netminder Reto Berra has been named to the Swiss 25-man roster for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Berra was instrumental in Switzerland's success at the 2013 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships, helping his country capture silver. In 18 games this season, Berra has a 2.92 GAA and a .903 save percentage. Flames prospect Sven Baertschi has been placed on the Swiss side list. SWISS OLYMPIC ROSTER Netminders: Reto Berra (Calgary Flames), Jonas Hiller (Anaheim Ducks), Tobias Stephan (Genève-Servette HC) Defencemen: Severin Blindenbacher (ZSC Lions), Rafael Diaz (Montréal Canadiens), Philippe Furrer (SC Bern), Roman Josi (Nashville Predators), Mathias Seger (Captain, ZSC Lions), Mark Streit (Philadelphia Flyers), Julien Vauclair (HC Lugano), Yannick Weber (Vancouver Canucks) Forwards: Andres Ambühl (HC Davos), Matthias Bieber (Kloten Flyers), Simon Bodenmann (Kloten Flyers), Damien Brunner (New Jersey Devils), Luca spearingi (ZSC Lions), Ryan Gardner (SC Bern), Denis Hollenstein (Genève-Servette HC), Simon Moser (Milwaukee Admirals), Nino Niederreiter (Minnesota Wild), Martin Plüss (SC Bern), Kevin Romy (Genève-Servette HC), Reto Suri (EV Zug), Morris Trachsler (ZSC Lions), Roman Wick (ZSC Lions) SWISS SIDE LIST Netminders: Benjamin Conz (HC Fribourg-Gottéron), Lukas Flüeler (ZSC Lions), Leonardo Genoni (HC Davos), Martin Gerber (Kloten Flyers), Robert Mayer (Hamilton Bulldogs) Defencemen: Goran Bezina (Genève-Servette HC), Eric Blum (Kloten Flyers), Felicien Du Bois (Kloten Flyers), Patrick Geering (ZSC Lions), Robin Grossmann (HC Davos), Tim Ramholt (EV Zug), Luca Sbisa (Anaheim Ducks), Patrick von Gunten (Kloten Flyers). Forwards: Patrik Bärtschi (ZSC Lions), Sven Bärtschi (Calgary Flames), Dario Bürgler (HC Davos), Andrei Bykov (HC Fribourg-Gottéron), Peter Guggisberg (HC Davos), Michael Liniger (Kloten Flyers), Thibaut Monnet (HC Fribourg-Gottéron), Inti Pestoni (HC Ambrì-Piotta), Benjamin Plüss (HC Fribourg-Gottéron), Thomas Rüfenacht (HC Lugano), Juraj Simek (Genève-Servette HC), Julien Sprunger (HC Fribourg-Gottéron), Victor Stancescu (Kloten Flyers), Julian Walker (HC Lugano).

I agree. Kerr also mentioned on the broadcast last night that Malarkie Malarchuk has been working with both Ramo and Berra on being over-aggressive. Although they both look like they're learning this lesson, Ramo appears to be learning it better (and more quickly) than Berra.

I agree with this statement, and I also think this is an excellent summary/retort to Kehatch's long-winded statement above

I'm a pretty patient and tolerant guy, but given the amount of practice/scrimmage time he's definitely had, he should be adjusted to the size by now. Granted, practices/scrimmages are rarely played at game-speed, but he's bound to have learned by now. Don't get me wrong, I love what Ramo's shown in the past 2 games. I'm more concerned about the goaltender coaching than the goalies themselves.

Watching the game last night, Ramo appeared guilty of a few Berra-esque overplaying of the puck (sliding too far across the crease, coming out slightly too far to cut the angles, etc). Is this a contagious thing, or is Malarchuk teaching this style?

Lets' see... an organization in the beginning stages of a rebuild a team full of fresh starts, rookies, and something-to-proves projected to finish bottom 2 in the league but are flipping the bird to everyone on that count (in terms of team work ethic, in the very least) and are exceeding expectations (especially from the fan base) and you're angry about potentially missing the playoffs because of the goalie? When virtually EVERYONE was screaming at management to "give the kids a shot" and to ABSOLUTELY NOT bring in any "post apex" players, you would have liked for us to trade away kids (or draft picks, I'll leave that up to you) to acquire a VETERAN goalie...when we had a glut of them to begin with. Just how many kids (of what calibre), or draft picks (minimum 2nd rounders) do you believe it would have taken to land a veteran goalie? I challenge you to list any goalie that you would like to see on this team, and post legitimate, realistic, and beneficial trades for the team giving up the goalie, and then tell me the Flames would be performing as they are now? I am not saying that Ramo is a star goaltender by any stretch (from the crop of goalies we had before training camp, I saw it as JMac first, and a toss-up between Berra and Ramo second), but I just don't understand how anyone can be so negative towards this team right now. Are there holes on this team? You betcha, and goaltending is the biggest (because it is a solitary position. You don't have a winger/center/other D-man to cover your mistakes). But to be outraged to the extent that comes through in posts like that makes no sense to me. This team is growing, and faster than most people thought. Expect mistakes and growing pains, hope that they will be fixed, but don't get so pissed off that you hang the entire success or failure of the franchise on one player. Not right now, anyway.

Feaster and Co. did exactly what we wanted...signed a capable, decent backup goalie for next season. Can't complain with the $$$ or the term, either.