Calgary Flames Need To Give Joni Ortio A Run
With the chance of the Calgary Flames making the play-offs being firmly in the ‘unlikely’ category, is it time to give Joni Ortio an extended run in net in the hope he finds some form?
This year has been one of many goaltenders for the Calgary Flames. After his play-off heroics last year, it seemed a forgone conclusion that Jonas Hiller was the bonafide number one. Not quite.
An injury to him saw the rise of Karri Ramo, who had actually been demoted to the minor-league team at that point. What followed was a run of form from the Finn in the Calgary Flames home-game winning streak that saw him lay claim to a definite backup spot anywhere in the NHL. He then goes down with a season-ending injury and the goaltending spot is thrown wide open once more.
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Outside of that, Jon Gillies; the goaltender many believe is the future of the Calgary Flames organisation, started brightly in the American Hockey League but decided to interrupt his own season to fix a nagging injury. Great for the long-term, short-term development, not so good.
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That’s three goaltenders, all having their issues or injury problems for the Calgary Flames. Enter Joni Ortio, the only one to have stayed fit this season and the one that has lacked an extended run with the Calgary Flames roster to establish any sort of form or momentum.
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In the short-term, the answer isn’t to give Ortio more than a couple of games, as we all know that goaltenders can take longer than that to warm up and catch fire. For the Calgary Flames, putting him in net for more than two or three starts would be all but an admission that they don’t believe they can make the play-offs this year.
On the flip of that, an extended run for the side could be what Ortio needs to turn his game around; either that or make himself a somewhat trade-able asset to the Calgary Flames.
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Right now, as it is Joni has a miserable .862 save percentage with the Calgary Flames for the year and an equally miserable 4.13 goals against average. Not exactly National Hockey League standard or worthy of a shot in the line-up.
Unfortunately, these numbers aren’t exactly backed up by any sort of amazing form with the Calgary Flames AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat.
In the American Hockey League, Ortio sits on a slightly better .893 save percentage and a 3.36 goals against average. Again, not exactly setting the world on fire with his numbers.
However, what is the worst thing that can happen – they can give him a run in the Calgary Flames line-up, it fail miserably and that’s it for his shot in the NHL. Back to the AHL for more conditioning to high-level professional hockey?
Or you don’t give him a shot, put all your focus on making Jonas Hiller a trade-able asset before the trade deadline and risk Ortio never developing beyond the standard of a backup American Hockey League goalie?
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Development is key here, but it’s really dependent on the direction the Calgary Flames coaching staff decide the team is taking this season.
What do you think is best for Joni Ortio? A run in the Calgary Flames line-up or left to languish on the bench whilst Hiller tries to sell himself for the Flames? Let us know in the comments section below.