from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

It was the first day of training camp and the question put to coach Bob Hartley fixed on the Calgary Flames’ complex three-way goaltending battle.

“I’m a coach, not a banker,” Hartley answered. “I’ll make the best possible decision for the organization.”

And that, right there, really summed up a discussion that will not be resolved until the conclusion of Saturday’s final exhibition game against the Winnipeg Jets.

Of the three candidates to play goal for Calgary this season, one – rookie Joni Ortio – is in a far different place, career-wise, than the other two. At 24, he is the youngest by far and at $600,000 a season, he is also the cheapest by far.

If the goal in Calgary is to continue developing this still wet-behind-the-ears team until it is a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, then keeping Ortio ahead either the 33-year-old Jonas Hiller or the 29 year-old Karri Ramo makes sense.

Complicating matters is that banking question Hartley raised. All three goaltending candidates are on one-way contracts and all three require waivers to get assigned to the minors.

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