Calgary Flames Monday Roundtable: Goaltending Edition

Welcome to our first edition of Monday Roundtable! Our new segment every Monday where we here at Flame for Thought discuss different Calgary Flames topics. Today, it’ll be all about the goaltending.

During the off-season, every Monday we’ll have something called the Monday Roundtable. It’s where I ask the other writers here at Flame for Thought different questions concerning the Calgary Flames and surrounding a different topic every week.

Today, it’ll be all about the goaltending. Every season, the Flames goaltending is always a hot topic of discussion. And this season is no different. I asked the other writers some questions pertaining the goaltending and what moves would best suit the Flames for next season. Here is how it unfolded:

Question 1: Brian Elliott – Should he stay or should he go?

Jonathan Boulanger

I think that the Elliott we saw in Round 1 isn’t what he really is as a goaltender, but that being said I doubt the Flames would be able to get him for cheap so I don’t think he is worth keeping. I believe they can upgrade.

Alex Hoegler

Go. Elliott’s first half with the Flames was a disaster, and then he completely no-showed in the playoffs. Obviously, the entire Flames team was porous in the first round against the Anaheim Ducks. But Elliott didn’t do his part in giving Calgary a winning chance. There are plenty of goalies available this offseason, and they can easily find an upgrade.

Dan Raicevich

Brian Elliott should be allowed to test the free agent market. Guy is of great character, which is key but his inconsistencies are hindering him from getting that next contract with the Flames. This was the guy who has supposed to solidify the #1 job in Calgary, right? Especially with the saturated goalie market, let Elliott walk.

Ramina Shlah

It seems that the general consensus here is to let him go. As much as I’d like to agree with them, I think I might still like to see him stay. Now, does this mean he’s staying? Probably not. However, we know it took him time to get situation in Calgary. But now he’s found his groove with the Calgary Flames. And I think he can be the Elliott we saw in the second half of the season right off the bat this time. I mean, before this season, he didn’t have the second best save-percentage of all goaltenders in the league over the last six seasons for nothing (min. 50 games/season).

But at the same time, I think there are definitely other options for the Flames to look into that may be a better fit with the team than Elliott.

Question 2: Should the Calgary Flames keep Chad Johnson as a backup or just let him go?

Jonathan Boulanger

I think Chad Johnson is a fantastic choice as a backup because he is stable (apart from a few minor hiccups) and even carried the ball as the #1 for a solid period of time. He’s a homegrown guy and shouldn’t be too expensive unless someone else wants to snatch him as a starter which is unlikely.

Alex Hoegler

Assuming another team doesn’t overpay for Johnson’s services (and I doubt anyone will), the Calgary Flames should look to keep Johnson. In my opinion, he was the best Flames goalie all season long.

With an 18-15-1 record, Johnson played better than most backups this season. If Calgary can ink him on a two-year deal worth around $5 million, they should keep him.

Related Story: Chad Johnson wins Elliott/Bishop/Fleury debate

Dan Raicevich

This is a tough call, but I also feel that Johnson should walk as well. His ceiling as a goaltender is already reached, and that is a backup goaltender. He will not push a quality starting goaltender to that brink, and I feel like the Flames could look to other options for a backup. Whether it is another veteran or from within the organization. Long term does not seem viable for the Calgary native.

Ramina Shlah

I agree with Jonathan and Alex in this case (sorry Dan). Keeping Johnson as a backup and like Alex said, the Flames can definitely keep him at a good price. He was a valuable player and was a big reason the Calgary Flames even made the playoffs.

When Elliott needed time to find his game again, Johnson was the unsuspecting hometown hero the team needed in November and December. Keeping him as a backup would be a good move for the team and they can maybe finally get that consistent goaltending they need.

Question 3: Between Elliott and Johnson, who should the Flames keep?

Jonathan Boulanger

Johnson absolutely. Cheaper, younger, homegrown and a really underrated goalie.

Alex Hoegler

Johnson, of course. He’s going to be cheaper and is best suited to be a backup. Elliott isn’t even the best goalie on the market, and the Flames need an upgrade between the pipes.

Related Story: Brian Elliott vs Chad Johnson Debate

Dan Raicevich

Neither. Send them both packing.

Ramina Shlah

Again, I agree with Jonathan and Alex in this case (sorry again, Dan). As much as I like Elliott, between the two, Johnson is a better fit with the team right now. He was the more consistent goaltender to start the season off for the Flames and they needed that consistency off the bat – something Elliott couldn’t quite give the team until halfway through the season. And I think Johnson can be a legitimate backup to any goaltender in the league.

Question 4: Ben Bishop or Marc-Andre Fleury – who would you prefer?

Jonathan Boulanger

Bishop. I just find him to be more stable than Fleury (also it doesn’t hurt that he is 6 foot 7, I mean the dude is huge!). He was a solid backstop for the Tampa Bay Lightning and rarely has bad games. I think he could be the stabilizer that the Flames have been looking for since Kipper left. Oh yeah, he’s also the best puck handling goalie in the league.

Alex Hoegler

Bishop. A lot of Fleury’s success has to be attributed to the fact he’s on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Bishop guided the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Eastern Conference Final last year without Steven Stamkos. He just has that ability to take his team further, and the numbers don’t lie.

Bishop has a 2.09 goals against average and .927 save percentage with five shutouts in his playoff career. Fleury’s goals against average is an alarming 2.63 with a leaky .909 save percentage.

I want a goalie who I know will perform well in the playoffs. Bishop is money in the postseason, but you can’t say the same about Fleury.

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Dan Raicevich

This is another tough call, because both goaltenders boast extremely great qualities. Fleury is currently playing great in the playoffs for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he has been a great mentor to a young goaltender like Matt Murray. Fleury also has a Stanley Cup to his resume as a starting goaltender. Calgary is in need of a winner and a veteran who has proven to win in order for this team to take that next step.

Bishop, on the other hand, has that ability to elevate a franchise like he did once he arrived in Tampa Bay. The Lightning were in the same boat a few years back as the Flames were, a goaltender away from being a legitimate contender. Ben Bishop brought to the Lightning what the Flames need, that rock solid starting goaltender. Bishop achieved consistent success during his time in Tampa, and he can provide that for the Flames.

Both guys bring extremely great qualities, but you cannot have both. I would have to go with Bishop, because I feel like his body of work is slightly stronger than Fleury’s. Fleury had multiple road bumps during his career in the playoffs. Even though that has been in his past, I personally feel like the bigger the game, the better Ben Bishop plays.

Ramina Shlah

I agree with all three in this one. And I agree with Jonathan in the height area! He’s the tallest goaltender in the NHL which is an important factor to keep in mind. And like the guys said, Ben Bishop hasn’t had the team in front of him and the support like Fleury has had and I think with a young Calgary Flames team, Bishop will be able to hold his own better than Fleury and will be able to bail the Flames out when they need him to.

Question 5: Should the Calgary Flames keep one starter and have someone from the minors come up as backup like Jon Gillies, David Rittich, or maybe even Tyler Parsons, or should they have two NHL goaltenders right away?

Jonathan Boulanger

Personally, I think the Flames should have two legitimate NHLers next year considering they are now moving into playoff performer/ cup contender territory. Also, this would give more time for the kids to develop which is especially important for goaltenders. My only worry is that the crease might get too crowded in Stockton.

Alex Hoegler

Stick to a tandem of NHL veterans. The Flames have to be ready to go all in, and now’s not the time to bring up guys from the minors. Keep Johnson as a backup then find a new starter

Related Story: Flames Future Goaltending Looks Promising

Dan Raicevich

Promote a young guy to the roster to serve as the backup to the new starter (preferably Ben Bishop). The Flames will have a logjam in their pipeline with four prospective goaltenders between the AHL and ECHL starting next year with Gillies, Rittich, MacDonald and Parsons. Promoting a young guy to correlate with Brad Treliving’s message about growth from players in the organization.

Ramina Shlah

Sorry Dan, I have to agree with Jonathan and Alex again in this one. The Flames, like I mentioned earlier, should keep Johnson as a backup and have a primary starter. Having an inexperience goalie jump right into the league doesn’t always go as planned.

That being said, if a goaltender were to get injured at some point in the season, the Flames have a great variety to choose from. We saw how well Parsons played in the playoffs for the London Knights and Gillies’ NHL debut against the Los Angeles Kings was definitely a game to remember for the young goalie.