Goalie Smith Fans flames of Alberta rivalry
Goaltender bolts Calgary to rejoin his old coach and give Oilers solid one-two punch
Trades are almost a dirty word where foul language is the norm in the Battle of Alberta. But we had a deal Monday, sort of a “have mask, will travel” arrangement.
Mike Smith is leaving Calgary to play here while Cam Talbot, who was the Edmonton Oilers starter for three years and shared the net with Mikko Koskinen last year until he was traded to Philly, is now with David Rittich and the Flames.
The Oilers, who also re-signed winger Alex Chiasson Monday after chasing top-six winger Gustav Nyquist (now with Columbus at $5.5 million a year), are getting a fiery 37-year-old netminder in Smith on a one-year deal. He can move the puck and also stop lots of them.
“My puck-handling is a big attribute to the defence,” said Smith, who probably knows the Oilers spend far too much time in their own end.
The former Flames goalie was signed to a one-year, $2-million deal with heavy games-played bonuses to push Koskinen as much as push the puck up ice.
He’s not coming in as a backup, but as a No. 1 or No. 1A like the New York Islanders’ Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss last year.
Coach Dave Tippett had Smith in Dallas, then Arizona and has way more history with him than Koskinen. The Finn was fine in a dual situation with Talbot, but when Talbot was moved in mid-February, Koskinen couldn’t handle the workload.
“We want a one-two punch in goal. Not many teams have a goalie who can play 60 games,” said Oilers GM Ken Holland.
Holland feels that Smith’s salary and games-played bonus, which can get him another $1 million in regular season play, are just fine because the potential $7.5-million salary for both goalies is about average around the league. Koskinen ($4.5 million per season) is overpaid for his NHL body of work, but Smith is about right.
“If you play well, you’re going to play … that’s all you can ask for. You want to make them not take you out,” said Smith, who got into 42 games last year. He got his game back in the second half with a 2.28 goals-against average and excellent play in the playoffs against Colorado.
“There are a few things that happened … the start, I don’t want to really get into that.
“There are some mental things where I didn’t have the start I wanted and got behind the eightball numbers-wise. I decided after the break that I was going to give it everything I had in the second half and just compete. I got my mojo back.”
He’s a battler in net, even engaging Milan Lucic, who texted the goalie to welcome him to the club, so no hard feelings.
“I’m a competitive guy. The Battle of Alberta is real life and a lot of fun to be a part of. I’m switching teams now, but it’s not going to stop me from being a competitive player. That’s how I play,” said Smith.
Smith has been down a long and winding road with Tippett.
“Tip was a big reason why my career turned around in Arizona, bringing me there and giving me a chance to be a No. 1 guy. I have a lot of respect for the way he coaches, the way he treats people. His transparency is unlike a lot of coaches. He’s got a very structured system that I really believe in. And I really think he gets the most out of his players,” said Smith.
Why Edmonton? “Connor McDavid,” he said with a laugh.
“But Edmonton was competitive every time we played against them last year. They probably underachieved … but I think Tip will be a real good solution to getting this team back on track.”
Talbot saw a lot of the Flames, too.
“It’s definitely a relief to get this done, signed and sealed and delivered,” said Talbot to the Calgary media. “We’re excited to join a heck of a group that won the West last year. I’ll try not to disrupt anything. Just blend in and be part of that group.”
Chiasson, who signed a twoyear deal for a cap hit of $2.15 million, was an integral part of the roster last season.
“He had 22 goals, he’s popular in the dressing room, he’s a rightshot,” said Holland, checking off the boxes. “In a cap world, you try to get the best bang for your buck.”