Calgary Flames Could Land A Goalie Thanks To Looming Expansion
By Devon Burke
The Calgary Flames are going to be impacted by the expansion draft – but could it be a positive impact?
Despite a plethora of NHL teams failing to fill-up even half of its full attendance capacities, and even with several NHL franchises bleeding money, all signs point to the league expanding into Las Vegas and Quebec.
While nothing is written in stone, it looks like the NHL will expand in the 2017 or 2018 season.
So what does this mean for the Calgary Flames?
In a preliminary expansion draft outline, teams can protect either:
- Seven forwards, three defence-man and one goalie or
- Eight skaters and one goalie
So any way you chalk it up, any team with two great goalies is only going to be able to protect one.
A little while ago I wrote a piece on Ortio, and his progression at the NHL level.
Related Story: Joni Ortio Is Proving Himself In The NHL
In it I stated that the cost of acquiring a number one goalie via trade of free agency would be too high, but thanks to the looming expansion draft, the price has certainly dropped for acquiring a goalie.
After all most teams would rather get ahead of the expansion draft and trade assets while they can, rather than risk losing them for nothing if the NHL decides to expand.
Teams that will feel the pressure to trade a goalie would include Tampa Bay, Anaheim, and St. Louis.
Tampa Bay has Ben Bishop entrenched as their number one for now, but if forced to protect one goalie, the Lightning would probably go with young Russian net-minder Andrei Vasilevskiy instead.
Bishop is known for being a bit of a flop in the blue-paint, and frequently stares down his defence-man if they make a mistake that end up in the back of the net.
Nonetheless, Bishop is a giant at 6 foot 7, and would give the Flames a legitimate number one goalie.
He is 29 years old, but still could fit in with the Flames young squad, although a younger goalie would be preferable.
Anaheim has both Gibson and Andersen. With Gibson being the younger, as well as the better goalie, it’s likely the Ducks will try and deal Frederik Andersen.
Andersen is still youngish at 26 years old, and would also give the Flames a legitimate number one goalie who could fit in with their long-term plans.
St. Louis has both Jake Allen and Brian Elliott. No questions here, the Blues will go with the younger Allen and likely put the veteran Elliott on the trade block.
Elliott is a veteran goalie at 30 years old, and is often injured.
Despite this he has been lights out in the net for the last three or four years, and would likely be the cheapest of the three goalies available.
Even with the threat of potentially losing a great goalie for nothing at the expansion draft, all three goalies will be priced very highly.
The Flames would likely need to offer picks, young players, and a NHLer to get a number one goalie.
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Even if expansion isn’t official, teams are going to be a lot more willing to deal a goaltender.
But don’t expect to see Brad Treliving and the Calgary Flames complaining.