Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving was on Sportsnet radio today and confirmed the previously reported details on the Brian Elliott trade from last summer. Should the Flames reach a new contract with the goaltender this summer, they would have to send an additional third-round pick to St. Louis. Though the Flames have previously considered an extension for Elliott, that extra asset obviously makes it harder.
Elliott had a terrible start to the season, holding an .898 save percentage through his first 30 games. He would raise that number to .910 by the end of the year, including an outstanding streak to help the Flames into the playoffs. It ended poorly, being pulled after just a single goal in the deciding game against the Anaheim Ducks. Even so, Elliott likely remains on the Flames list as a potential option for next season.
With Ben Bishop and Scott Darling already locked up, the goaltending options for a non-expansion team seem to be dwindling quite quickly. As reported yesterday, Mike Smith and Marc-Andre Fleury remain possibilities for the team, though may each come with a higher price than the 2018 third-round pick that Elliott would cost. Should the team want to make a short-term investment in order to bridge the gap to their young prospects—Jon Gillies and Tyler Parsons among them—any of these three could fit. Smith and Fleury both have two years remaining on their current contracts at $5.67MM and $5.75MM respectively.
Elliott at age-32 is still one of the more experienced options on the market for any team this summer, with 338 starts under his belt. His .913 career save percentage compares favorably to many of the other choices, including Steve Mason (.911 career save percentage), Ryan Miller (.915) and Jonathan Bernier (.915). He’s coming off a contract that carried just a $2.5MM cap hit.