Calgary hope new goalies push Flames to post season Smith and Lack expected to bolster Flames post season desires

In Calgary last season, Brian Elliott took time to get comfortable in the Flames’ net but from late January though the end of the regular season he was a solid performer n the net and carried the Flames to the post season.

Problem was that Elliott fell apart in the post season and the Flames lost to the Anaheim Ducks in the first round and really were never in the series being swept in four games.

The Philadelphia Flyers picked up Elliott in free agency in July and hope he will regain some form from his St Louis Blues days or at least some facsimile of his late season push last campaign.

With his departure from Calgary, the Flames acquired Mike Smith via trade from the Arizona Coyotes and Eddie Lack from the Carolina Hurricanes.

Smith seemingly is the consensus number one goalie in Calgary.  He has toiled mightily in the Arizona desert and deserved a better outcome.

A steadier defense in Calgary with Smith in net should make for a more improved stats line for Smith. His time in Glendale deteriorated since he was a standout in the 2011-12 season. He needs to perform though based on his contract that pays $4.25 million for each of the three seasons on the deal.

Lack comes to the Flames via trade as a backup to Smith most likely but can certainly play the role of starter if pressed.  He was in that role in Vancouver with the Canucks and the Canes in Carolina.

Lack is also much less expensive to the cap hit with just north of $1 million a year before going to free agency in two seasons.

Statistically, the Flames were middle of the pack last season, giving up 2.67 goals a game (14th), scoring 2.71 goals a game (16th), 81/6% penalty kill (12th), and 20.2% on the power play(10th).

Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau and Mikael Backlund were top three scorers for the Flames last season.  Sam Bennett remains an unsigned restricted free agent this summer;but a deal is certainly in the offing.

Calgary signed a one-year deal with Marek Hrivik who iced for the New York Rangers in 16 games last season while also playing in 40 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL.

Luke Gazdic signed for one year (two-way deal) as well.  He skated for the New Jersey Devils and their AHL affiliate, Albany Devils.

Gaxdic has 147 NHL games in his resume.

Group 2 free agents Garnet Hathaway, Jon Gillies and David Rittich resigned with the Flames.

Michael Ferland had opted for arbitration with the Flames as a restricted free agent but the two sides thought better of it and signed a two-year deal worth just over $3 million for the term.

Curtis Lazar also left the unsigned Group 2 list when he signed a two-year deal worth for $1.9 million over the two years.

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