New goalies should elevate Flames
Rangers, Panthers among others making big-time upgrades
Just as general manager Brad Treliving didn’t blame goaltending for all the Calgary Flames’ problems last season, he won’t anoint new goalies Brian Elliott and Chad Johnson as saviors this season.
“We have to clean up things as a group,” Treliving said. “Our inability to keep the puck out of our net was obviously our downfall. ... So what we do in front of our goaltenders is as important as our goaltenders this season.”
Treliving changed up his goaltending, signed rugged forward Troy Brouwer and drafted Keith Tkachuk’s son, Matthew.
These additions have made the Flames one of the most improved teams.
The Flames, 35-40-7 last season, not only were last in team save percentage at .898 but also the only team below .900. Elliott owned a .930 save percentage with the St. Louis Blues, and Johnson was at .920 with the Buffalo Sabres. Elliott projects as the No. 1. “When you take in the entire picture about Brian Elliott, it started to make sense that he (was our choice),” Treliving said. “When you start digging into the person — it wasn’t just that no one had a bad thing to say about him, it was that everyone raved about him.
“And we need that, because we have a young group. So not only are we adding a good goaltender, but we are adding a good person who can be a leader. What kept coming up is: Brian will drive your practice.”
But Treliving points out that because the World Cup is being played in September and the fiveday bye week is being implemented this season, the schedule will be condensed tighter than in an Olympic year. That means more games for the backup.
Treliving and Johnson know each other from their time with the Arizona Coyotes, where Treliving was an assistant GM.
Brouwer gives the Flames more goals, grit and guile. “He has won,” Treliving said. “And he can play a bunch of different roles.”
Tkachuk is eventually going to be a power forward in the mold of his father.
The expectation would be for Tkachuk to return to the Ontario Hockey League for more seasoning, but Tkachuk has grown up in the sport. He is 205 pounds, solidly built and mature in his approach. He carries himself like a pro’s pro.
“We’ll be open-minded,” Treliving said. “I don’t want to put up any impediments.” Other teams that improved themselves significantly:
2. New York Rangers: GM Jeff Gorton traded Derick Brassard for younger Mika Zibanejad and landed prized college free agent Jimmy Vesey, the Harvard graduate with a top-six scoring touch. Gorton bolstered the secondary scoring by signing draft pick Pavel Buchnevich out of the Kontinental Hockey League. He has a strong shot and gifted offen- sive instincts that could produce 15-20 goals and 40-50 points. Newcomer Brandon Pirri is another offensive weapon, and Michael Grabner improves the speed. Nathan Gerbe also brings quickness. Nick Holden won’t replace Keith Yandle on defense, but he will be dependable.
3. Florida Panthers: They traded defensemen Dmitry Kulikov and Erik Gudbranson and lost Brian Campbell to free agen- cy. Adding Yandle to the blue line will put a charge into the Panthers’ transition game and power play. Jason Demers is a veteran defender who adds stability to the roster. Skillful Michael Matheson, 22, is penciled in on defense. Also don’t underestimate the value of goalie James Reimer as an insurance policy against Roberto Luongo’s offseason surgery and his age (he is 37). New general manager Tom Rowe also locked up several key players this summer, including Aaron Ekblad, to long-term deals.
4. Montreal Canadiens: In the long run, the Canadiens will regret the P.K. Subban-for-Shea Weber trade, but in the short run Weber will help Montreal. When you have Carey Price, you want an intimidating force protecting the front of the net. The Canadiens wanted to be harder to play against, and the acquisition of Weber and Andrew Shaw will help in that regard. Who wants to play against a team that owns Weber, Shaw and Brendan Gallagher? Alexander Radulov will spark the offense. This is not an Alexander Semin situation.
5. Arizona Coyotes: GM John Chayka, 27, has made a mark by adding veterans Alex Goligoski, Jamie McGinn, Radim Vrbata and Ryan White. Through trades, he also added prospects Jakob Chychrun, Lawson Crouse and Anthony DeAngelo. Could one or two of those players make the opening-day roster?