Fantasy Impact: Calgary Flames Acquire Brian Elliott from St. Louis for a Second Round Pick

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I had mused in Friday’s Ramblings that the Flames would do well to grab Ben Bishop in a trade, and that it would make sense for the Lightning. Well, that didn’t quite work out as the Flames went and traded for St. Louis Blues goalie Brian Elliott instead. The return was a second round pick this year, and a conditional third in 2018. 

As mentioned in the Ramblings with regards to Bishop, how Glen Gulutzan changes the way the Flames play will be paramount to fantasy success for Elliott. According to Corsica Hockey, the Flames are a bottom-3 team over the last two years in adjusted shot attempts allowed at five-on-five. Facing that many shots can be good for goalies in points leagues, but is murderous in standard roto leagues. It hurts the goals against average, and can hamper wins without a high-scoring team.

With all that said, the Flames have a top-six that looks pretty stellar, and a defence corps where the top-half is as good as any in the league. With appropriate systems changes, and focus in areas like preventative defence rather than selling-out shot blocking, the Flames could improve drastically. Even a middling team in shot attempts allowed gives a goaltender a fighting chance to be a top-10 fantasy tender.

What this also does is clear up the situations for both Elliott and St. Louis Blues goaltender Jake Allen. After splitting starts over the last two years – at times due to injury, at times to just riding a hot hand – both Elliott and Allen will be the starter for their respective teams. It finally gives a real fantasy boost to Allen, and should the Flames be able to turn around the way the team plays, this could be a boost to Elliott as well.

According to Corsica, Elliott has been a top-10 goalie over the last three years in adjusted five-on-five save percentage. Not since the run of Miikka Kiprusoff have the Flames had a goalie they can rely, and now they finally do (provided he can stay healthy). Keeper owners of both Elliott and Allen have to be smiling right now, if not only for clarity’s sake. 

Fantasy Players This Helps, In Order:

1. Allen – injuries will always be a factor, but otherwise he's the clear-cut guy on a great team with amazing defense.

2. Ville Husso – now just one (likely) injury away from getting some starts. (Husso scouting report here)

3. Elliott – more saves and starts in Calgary. Even wins – with 15 more starts there, it should be enough to make up for the slip in team quality. His SV% and GAA will hurt, as will the losses.

Fantasy Players This Hurts, In Order:

1. Joni Ortio – he can't catch a break.