There are no secrets that the Calgary Flames are looking to improve their goaltending for the upcoming season. Brian Elliott failed to lock down the number one gig, and Chad Johnson was nothing more than a solid backup. Again, the question arises that has plagued the organization since Miikka Kiprusoff retired, who will be the next starting goaltender in Calgary? The carousel brings us to this point.
Teams try to find that “next one” in terms of diamonds in the rough. In terms of goaltending, teams are trying to find that “next Cam Talbot”. What I mean by that phrase is when the Edmonton Oilers acquired Cam Talbot at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, he was an unproven starter as he sat behind Henrik Lundquivst in New York. Talbot came to Edmonton to become the team’s starter despite no track record as a proven starter. Now, he is the backbone of the Oilers crease. Now, there are teams trying to find that “next Cam Talbot”. The Calgary Flames are one of them.
A potential candidate for that role would be another backup to Lundquivst on the depth chart in New York. This player would be Antti Raanta. The 28 year old Finnish netminder posted a 0.922 save percentage in 29 appearances last season. This was the most games in a single season that Raanta has played in his four year NHL career. The undrafted goaltender also has a cap hit of $1 million next season, an attractive figure to a team that is looking to spend money to fill the void at other positions as well
The Flames have been rumored to be looking at the Rangers backup, via the New York Post.
"The Flames and the Jets are believed to be among the clubs who have contacted the Rangers regarding a pre-expansion draft trade for Raanta, but management has not yet committed to dealing him or has not yet received an offer pushing them to that conclusion."
Calgary Flames
Kiprusoff was once an “unproven starter”…lets not forget
The reason why the Calgary Flames would make this trade is the fact that they need to improve their goaltending, and they feel that Antti Raanta can fill that void. They also feel that by giving him the keys to the team, he could be the starting goaltender for years to come. His cost would not be very high to acquire his services as well. Miikka Kiprusoff was an unproven starter and he is one of the greatest goaltenders in the history of the Calgary Flames. So trading for an unproven guy can pay off, but there is definitely risk involved.
Trading for an unproven goaltender, especially with a team who is close to being a Stanley Cup contender, is extremely risky. It is like sitting at the Blackjack table, hoping to be dealt a 21. Its a gamble, especially with a team who needs goaltending stability. The question is, can Raanta do it over the course of not 29 games but 59-65 games? We do not know. That is why the risk is so high because if he struggles out of the gate, he could sink the Flames chances of making back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in nearly a decade.
Final Thought
I firmly believe that acquiring a guy like Marc-Andre Fleury, Jimmy Howard or even Mike Smith would suit the Calgary Flames better than Raanta. While those goaltenders would have nearly five times the salary cap hit of Raanta’s, they would be able to provide the needed stability that the Calgary Flames need in the blue paint. The Flames are not rebuilding anymore, they are looking to contend. Taking a risk on an unproven starter could either pay off in spades or draw more uncertainty to the never ending question in net.
Next: Marc-Andre Fleury The Next Flames Starter?
Lets not start becoming the Cleveland Browns with their starting quarterback position. The Flames need that reliable rock in net, and they need it now. They didn’t solve the goaltending issue last summer. They can solve it now. I do not think Antti Raanta is the answer. But, there was uncertainty with Miikka Kiprusoff when he came to Calgary. Having said that, unproven guys can have success, it is just not as often.