Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

The Calgary Flames Now Have Their #1 Goaltender

06/17/2017 at 5:21pm EDT

from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

The Calgary Flames completed their most important piece of off-season business Saturday, acquiring a new No. 1 goaltender in Mike Smith from the Arizona Coyotes.

Just hours before they were obliged to submit their protected list for the 2017 NHL expansion draft, the Flames acquired Arizona’s long-time starter in exchange for Brandon Hickey, a top defensive prospect, the rights to pending free-agent goaltender Chad Johnson, plus a conditional third-round pick that becomes a second-rounder if the Flames make the playoffs in 2018.

In what will surely be a heavily scrutinized move, the Flames gave up a player in Hickey that was likely their brightest prospect on defence. But while the acquisition cost was steep, the Flames didn’t give up a player off the NHL roster, which is what other deals they were pondering would have required.

The 35-year-old Smith has two years remaining on a six-year, $34-million contract that he signed in 2013, and it pays him an annual average salary of $5.666-million....

Smith’s acquisition means that, for the third consecutive season, the Flames’ will have a new No. 1 face in goal. Last year’s tandem, Brian Elliott and Johnson, was an upgrade over the previous year’s trio (Jonas Hiller, Karri Ramo and Joni Ortio). Elliott overcame a slow start to put together a quality regular season on behalf of the Flames, but he faltered in the playoffs during a four-game sweep at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks.

Organizationally, the hope is that Smith can not only help the Flames get to the playoffs, but that they can then do some damage once they’re there.

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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