WWYDW: Ramo Money? Ramo Problems.

What Would You Do Wednesday Returns to talk puck-stoppers.The Flames certainly have an interesting decision ahead of them this upcoming summer in net. While it may be a little early to be getting into hypotheticals when a lot of the decision will involve what occurs over the next 19 games, let’s do it anyway because it’s fun.

Let’s talk about the goaltending future of the Flames and see a really old picture of Ramo!

Over the past four games, the goaltending ball (not a perfect analogy I know) has been given back to Karri Ramo after a prolonged period of benchwarming behind Jonas Hiller. During that stretch Ramo’s numbers have been exceptionally good:

Also, thanks to Darren Haynes, we can take a look at Ramo’s numbers on the road throughout this season and they are also very good: 

However, Ramo and Hiller both currently sport identical save percentages at even strength with .922 and the Flames sit tied for 11th with a team SV% of .911. It is no secret that one of the reasons for the Flames even having a remote possibility of playoff hockey is the play of both (and even all three at times) goalies, who have taken turns playing well and even stealing games.

Heading into this season and even in the first few weeks of October, it seemed likely that Ramo would be moved sometime throughout the season as Ramo is in the final year of a deal with a cap hit of $2.75 million. Ramo’s expiring deal presented one of the few opportunities for the Flames to move an expiring asset to further help stock their prospect pool.

Well, things didn’t work out that way. The Flames are in a playoff hunt and even if they wanted to move Ramo they really couldn’t because the presumptive heir-apparent Joni Ortio injured his ankle and would no longer be available to spell off Jonas Hiller down the stretch. 

So this leaves the Flames in an interesting position. What to do with two goalies, both of which have played fairly well at times this season? Next year Joni Ortio has a one-way deal and is likely going to get a serious look in the NHL but is still a fairly unknown entity at this stage in his career. 

This raises a number of interesting questions. Is it worth parting with either Ramo or Hiller in the summer and trust that Ortio is ready for at least a backup role? If Ramo is re-signed and Hiller is moved, is a tandem of Ortio and Ramo something you would be comfortable with heading into next season? Is it likely that the Flames would jettison a known-quantity like Hiller, whom has helped stabilize the uncertainty in goal after an abysmal 2013-14 carousel of goalies? 

If somehow the Flames start the season with all three goalies again, with Ortio in the AHL (it’s possible), what would that do to Jon Gillies’ place in the organization after he is surely signed following the conclusion of his NCAA season?

I suppose if Ramo keeps this play up (which seems unlikely simply because he is putting up crazy good numbers right now) and the Flames somehow sneak into the playoffs, the Flames will be exceptionally unlikely to let him walk. However, I turn these questions over to you, wise FN readers. Tell me how to feel.