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With the 2015 NHL Draft just a few weeks away rumors are starting to pick up.
One somewhat surprising possibility that has been thrown out there is the Calgary Flames making a change in goal.
Easy money was on Jonas Hiller teaming up with either Karri Ramo (if re-signed) or Joni Ortio (he has a one-way contract in 2015-16) to form the Flames' goaltending tandem but that may not be the case.
Friedman on Sportsnet 960 (transcription via TodaysSlapshot): “In your city, I’m not convinced that either Ramo or Hiller is 100 percent coming back next year – that maybe Calgary has a new goalie in net. Does Hiller have any trade value after he had a decent run in the playoffs before the end?"
I'd still say it's likely Hiller returns next season but if the Flames are considering going in a different direction now would be the time to make a change.
Antti Niemi seems likely to hit the open market and all of Craig Anderson, Robin Lehner, Eddie Lack, Martin Jones, Cam Talbot and, to a lesser extent, Frederik Andersen as well as John Gibson have been brought up as potential trade candidates. There have been others mentioned, too.
With so many names available it's certainly a buyers market.
Still, I'd stick with Hiller unless a) the Flames can get a good return for him and; b) they can get one of the names mentioned above at a reasonable price.
Hiller had a solid season posting a .926SV% at 5 vs 5 - good for 19th of 47 eligible goaltenders - and a .918SV% as a whole.
He's a good goaltender at a good price ($4.5 million) and I think Brad Treliving and co. would probably be best off standing pat and re-evaluating their goaltending situation next year when Hiller becomes an unrestricted free agent.
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The Flames made a minor move today in signing forward Louick Marcotte, according to TVA's Mikaël Lalancette.
The 6'1', 195 pound winger is coming off a solid season where he scored 36 times and tallied 76 points in 63 games with the Gatineau Olympiques.
Those are good but not great numbers for an overage player but what is encouraging is that he scored 42 goals and put up 100 points a year ago with Val d'Or.
They were a very good team and made it to the Memorial Cup so he had plenty of talent around him. That said, it's good that he has a history of solid production and isn't just a guy who put together one good season as a player much older than most of his peers.
He seems worthy of a pro contract but I doubt we'll hear much from him in the near future.
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