Ramo draws start in Flames’ opener
Hartley says goalies need to win if they want to stay between pipes
Day by day, the Calgary Flames game day roster for the season opener becomes clearer.
And when it comes to the goaltending situation, based on Bob Hartley’s words on Monday, that appears to include Karri Ramo and Jonas Hiller. For now, at least.
While Hartley declared Ramo the starter for Wednesday’s home opener, Hiller will be on the bench as the backup and Joni Ortio will be in the press box.
It’s not ideal — three goalies on one- way contracts, two jobs and one net. But that’s what the Flames are dealing with, just days before their NHL lid- lifter.
“It’s our situation right now. And that’s fine,” Hartley said. “The guys are working hard and Jordan ( goaltending coach Sigalet) is handling them very well. It’s our situation ... we’re going to work with it and see what’s going to happen.”
Ramo, who started Saturday’s final pre- season clash, played 34 games with the Flames in 2014- 15 and eventually won the starting job in the playoffs from Hiller.
However, it’s not the 29- year- old Finn’s first time making a start on Day 1. During the 2013- 14 season, he opened the regular season with a 5- 4 shootout loss in Washington and didn’t play again until Oct. 19.
“It’s one of the 82 regular season games,” Ramo said.
“Obviously it’s a big game and you want to have a good start. But you don’t win anything or lose anything in the first game. It’s just one game. Just because you play in one, doesn’t mean you’ll play in the rest of the games.”
So, what will Ramo — or any of the three goalies, for that matter — need to do to stay in the crease?
“Win,” Hartley said. “It’s as simple as that. We have the same ingredients in net, so we might as well keep the same recipe book. If they win, they play. If they don’t win, we have to keep the musical chairs going.
“I think it keeps them fresh. It keeps Ortio on his toes also. We have plenty of options.
“But we have confidence in all three guys.”
But chances are, not all three will stick around the team for very much longer. The Flames will either have to strike a deal or make a decision on one of them.
Ortio, 24, is the youngest of the three and has only 15 games of NHL experience. However, the team faces a problem if they were to place him on waivers for the purposes of being sent to Stockton. They could risk losing him.
Flames general manager Brad Treliving was asked to evaluate the pulse of current market for goalies in the NHL.
“With goalies, you never know,” he said.
“There’s only two goalies on a team, so there’s not a lot of jobs. Right now, there’s not an outcry from anyone that needs one. There’s all kinds of factors ... but there’s not a shortage of goaltenders, that’s for sure.
ROSTER TRIMMINGS
Over the weekend, the Flames released Ryan Wilson from his professional tryout and Monday, the Flames cut their roster to 26 players after placing forwards Mason Raymond and Paul Byron on waivers and assigning centre Markus Granlund to Calgary’s American Hockey League affiliate in Stockton.
Including Joe Colborne who is sidelined with a broken thumb, that leaves them with 13 forwards to start the season.
And, as always at this time of the year, it comes down to a numbers game.
“It seems like a few days before the season, there’s always guys on waivers,” Hartley said.
“That’s basically about it. Right now, it’s not about seeing more ( from players). Those are business decisions. That’s what it is. We’ll just have to wait and see ( Tuesday) at 10 a. m. if they’ve been claimed. And, if not, we’ll move to Step 2.”
Raymond, 30, played 57 regular season games with the team last year, scoring 12 goals and 11 assists. He played another eight games in the post- season.
Meanwhile, Byron has been recovering from off- season wrist surgery.
As for Granlund, the Flames are very deep at the centre position ( Sean Monahan, Mikael Backlund, Sam Bennett, and Matt Stajan) and the 22- year old was the odd man out.
“He gotten better,” Hartley said. “Granny has done well, lots of great games, he had a great camp. That’s the reason why he’s been there this long. But we have to trim down the roster.
“He’s still a very young player and he needs to play.”
SMID PRESSED INTO ACTION
Jiri Hudler was sick and missed Monday’s practice, but according to Hartley, his absence was unrelated to the lower body injured he suffered in Saturday’s final preseason game, a 3- 2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
His absence did mean that Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan needed a right winger.
And, on this day, Ladislav Smid was up for the job.
“They just needed a body,” said the Flames defenceman, chuckling. “Someone to just skate in circles, back and forth. I filled that role.”
In all seriousness, the fact Smid is skating again is good news.
The 29- year- old has been waiting for the green light from his surgeon to return to full contact following a serious neck injury and surgery that limited him to 31 games in 2014- 15.
“I’m pretty close,” Smid said. “I’m going to say I’m a week away.”
And, following that, time will tell when he’ll return to game action.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to be much longer.
“I’ve been practicing for two weeks. Obviously, I want to get into game situations as soon as possible ... we’ll see. I don’t think I’m that far off. I think I’m a little ahead of plan and I feel strong.”