Calgary Flames Need To Drop Jonas Hiller

Jonas Hiller hasn’t seem destined to repeat his Calgary Flames play-off heroics of last year at any point this year.

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Furthermore, when the team was unable to trade the Swiss goaltender at the trade deadline, he suddenly became a bit of a dead weight and needs to be dropped.

People may argue that you can’t drop him because he’s on $4.5 million a year per GeneralFanager.com, but fact is he’s headed to unrestricted free agency and I don’t necessarily think it’d be wise of the Calgary Flames to renew him.

The team has, with the injury to Karri Ramo, a decent young goaltender available to them in Joni Ortio. Granted, his performances for the Calgary Flames thus far don’t fill you with 100% confidence, but give him some time. The team isn’t exactly play-off bound this season.

Hiller also could ride on the fact that he was an older head in the locker-room and could provide a bit of guidance to the young tender in Ortio. Now with their newest goaltender Niklas Backstrom, acquired at trade deadline, he’s not even the old hand in the room anymore!

Any time you drop a player that is well-tenured with the team and has a decent salary cap hit, it’s going to be a little controversial, but I think the Calgary Flames should risk it.

In his last game, he didn’t exactly put on a show-stopping display. Hiller was in net for five of the six Buffalo goals; not exactly inspiring great confidence between the Calgary Flames pipes.

Sure, he may still have a few more games left in Calgary Flames red, but frankly it’s time for Ortio. He, and the team, need to know whether he has a future with the team, even as a backup, or whether it’s time to move onto the next youngster come next season.

Jon Gillies, injury notwithstanding and Mason McDonald are waiting patiently in the wings.

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What are your thoughts on the situation in the crease?

Has Jonas Hiller done enough to be benched for the year?

Or is it just as risky prospect to play Joni Ortio for the remainder of the schedule?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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