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Flames ‘in a bunch of different markets’ for goalie, want to get something done at draft

Brad Treliving

Calgary Flames’ new General Manager Brad Treliving speaks at a press conference after being introduced in Calgary, Alberta, on Monday, April 28, 2014. Treliving spent the past seven seasons as an assistant under general manager Don Maloney, helping guide the Phoenix Coyotes. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Larry MacDougal)

AP

“They tell me it’s good to have one.”

That was Brad Treliving’s quip when asked about the Flames’ goaltending situation on Thursday -- a situation that was a real sore spot last season, something Treliving wants to fix over the NHL Draft weekend in Buffalo.

“We’re in a bunch of different markets on that, so we’ll see how it goes,” Treliving said, per Sportsnet. “We’re looking at everything and balancing it.

“This is the time. You need a dance partner, that’s how it works, and you’d like to get [the goalie situation] taken care of. That’s sort of our preference right now.”

Currently, Calgary has just one goalie with NHL experience -- Joni Ortio, at one time a fairly touted prospect. But the luster has worn off Ortio to a certain degree, especially after a ’15-16 campaign in which he cleared waivers, posted poor numbers in the AHL and fared only marginally better with the Flames (in 22 games, a 2.76 GAA and .902 save percentage).

This is why Treliving has been searching high and low for help in goal.

The Flames were believed to be in on Frederik Andersen, prior to the Leafs outbidding for him. Marc-Andre Fleury’s name has been connected to Calgary for weeks. Ben Bishop came up in some trade rumors as well, and there’s always the possibility of James Reimer, who will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

So yeah, no shortage of candidates.

The real interesting decision will be if Treliving opts for a placeholder-type goalie, or a long-term investment. The Flames do have two good young goalie prospects in Jon Gilles and Mason McDonald, but neither project to be in the NHL soon.

Fleury, who turns 32 next season and has three years left on his contract, looks to be an ideal placeholder. But the fact the Flames were also in on Andersen -- who the Leafs gave a five-year, $25 million deal to, presumably to be their goalie of the future -- could suggest Treliving’s looking for the same.