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Montreal Canadiens: Ranking The Canadian Division’s Goaltenders

By Ken MacMillan

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 12: Carey Price Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 12: Carey Price Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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VANCOUVER, BC – FEBRUARY 08: David Rittich (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC – FEBRUARY 08: David Rittich (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /

Jacob Markstrom and David Rittich

The Calgary Flames have had a difficult time finding consistent goaltending since Miikka Kiprusoff retired. They’ve tried Karri Ramo, Jonas Hiller, Brian Elliott, Joni Ortio, Joey McDonald, Cam Talbot, Mike Smith, David Rittich and on and on the list goes.

Goaltending just hasn’t been a strength of this team for a decade or more, but that might be about to change.

When free agency opened on October 9, the Flames targeted Jacob Markstrom and lured him in with a six-year contract. The Swedish netminder was a second round pick in 2008 and was one of the best prospects in the world shortly thereafter. However, he didn’t develop as quick as the Florida Panthers would have liked and he was eventually traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Roberto Luongo.

Markstrom finally became a workhorse goalie for the Canucks over the past three years. He has played the 7th most minutes of all goaltenders in the past three seasons combined and has solid stats with a 2.74 GAA and a .914 SV% in that time.

David Rittich will take on the number two role for the Flames this season. While he has been good the past two seasons, he wasn’t quite good enough to take over the starting role and run with it. He would have good stretches from time to time but follow that up with a rough patch.

He wasn’t quite consistent enough to be a starting goaltender on a strong NHL team, but he should be a really good second option that can give Markström rest throughout the approaching chaotic season.

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