Just like Detroit, it seems like the Calgary Flames soon will have three goalies vying for two spots. At first, the Flames had Roman Turek as the undisputed #1 goalie, with young Dany Sabourin & veteran Jamie McLennan duking it out during training camp for the backup spot. McLennan won despite lacklustre play, and Sabourin was sent to the AHL. Then, three games in...Turek mangled his knee, and was declared out for most of the season. Jamie McLennan was declared the temporary #1 goalie, with Flames fans muttering "Dear God, we're screwed" under their breaths. But lo and behold, he didn't suck. Instead, McLennan was one of the better goalies in the league. Sure, Sabourin was called up and was rusty in a few games, so they traded a second round pick in the 2005 draft for San Jose's Mikka Kiprusoff...and what do you know, he's awesome too! But with Roman Turek coming back in about two weeks (and Kiprusoff on his way back from a similar knee injury), what'll the Flames do? Turek makes a boatload of cash, and neither McLennan or Kiprusoff will clear waivers and be sent to the minors (although the rookie Sabourin doesn't have to clear waivers, so he'll almost certainly be sent down).
COMPARISON: Kiprusoff: $880,000; 11-3-2 with league leading 1.48 GAA & .941 save percentage; 1 shutout [Defensive Player of the Week for Dec 8; Defensive Player of the Month for December] McLennan: $650,000; 9-7-1 with 1.89 GAA & .921 save percentage; 4 shutouts Turek: $4,250,000; 0-3-0, but might've been injured. Plus, Calgary gets some money for each of the last few games Turek's missed (all after the 30th) under the current CBA.
FLAMES: 19-10-3-3 TOP 10 FILMS OF 2003: [10] Finding Nemo, [9] Seabiscuit, [8] Matchstick Men, [7] Open Range, [6] Cold Mountain, [5] House of Sand & Fog, [4] Mystic River, [3] The Last Samurai, [2] Lost In Translation, [1] Return of the King
If I'm Darryl Sutter, who apparently hates Turek anyway, I'm playing him to get him back in shape and then shipping him out as fast as I can find a taker. Trouble is, there may not be too many suitors. There are other, better goalies available who don't come with such a large price tag. The Flames, though, would really benefit from another roster player who may come in return for Turek. Even if they don't get much back, the return from injury of Reinprecht, Conroy, Kobasew et al should keep the team on an even keel.
The other goalies have looked quite good thus far. Kiprusoff has been fantastic every time I've seen him and McLennan, though I'm still not sold on him, has good stats and looked really solid against the hapless Rangers last night. The Flames have really benefitted from Darryl Sutter's hard work and defence-style coaching (he's my personal frontrunner for the Jack Adams trophy, BTW). I believe they are second in the league in shots against and collapse in front of their net as well as any team in the league. That sort of play, combined with the decent goaltending they've received this year, should garner them a playoff spot this year and end the drought.
"...Don't the sun look angry through the trees? Don't the trees look like crucified thieves?" --Warren Zevon, Desperadoes Under the Eaves
Turek had a good start a few years back, so Craig Button offered him a BIG raise. So, Turek took it...and subsequently started sucking. Jarome Iginla had a great year a few years back, so Craig Button gave him a big raise. Even injured, Iginla managed to put together a pretty good season last year...and already seems to be on the way to another one this year.
The difference? Jarome Iginla's a good hockey player.
FLAMES: 19-10-3-3 TOP 10 FILMS OF 2003: [10] Finding Nemo, [9] Seabiscuit, [8] Matchstick Men, [7] Open Range, [6] Cold Mountain, [5] House of Sand & Fog, [4] Mystic River, [3] The Last Samurai, [2] Lost In Translation, [1] Return of the King
And Roman Turek is a very good regular season goaltender. He's proven that over the years. I don't think Turek started sucking after he had that good start in 2001. There's only so long a goaltender can take a horrible team on his back.
The point is that Calgary just needs to worry about making the Playoffs and hopefully getting the revenue from some extra home games. Turek is as good as anyone they're going to get to take them there. Kiprusoff was hot before his injury but he's still unproven. Same with McLennan. Neither have had the seasons of top notch play that Turek has had.
Originally posted by Planavoyya i think Turek will go for cheap maybe even to Philly.
No thank you.
I'm not all that pleased with the Hackett/Esche combo right now, but I don't want any part of Roman Turek. If were worth anything in a big spot Dallas and St. Louis wouldn't have been so quick to give him away.