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As the off-season winds down, there's only been a few things left for the Flames to do: re-sign Lance Bouma, sign Kevin Hayes (hopefully), get a new goaltending coach. One of those things has now been accomplished, as Jordan Sigalet has been promoted to fill in the vacant spot on the coaching staff.
Sigalet was the Abbotsford Heat's goalie coach last season. He was to move with the team to Adirondack, but will now be making the jump to the NHL instead, replacing Clint Malarchuk as goaltending coach.
A seventh round pick of the Boston Bruins, Sigalet played in net in the BCHL, NCAA, and AHL. It was during his time at Bowling Green that he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the same condition Minnesota Wild goaltender Josh Harding has. Sigalet continued to play, including getting the chance to step on NHL ice with the Bruins and spend some time in Austria before retiring and going into coaching. He was with the WHL's Everett Silvertips for the 2010-11 season before joining the Heat from 2011-14.
Abbotsford's former goalie coach earned his promotion. He worked with seven goalies over the course of the 2013-14 AHL season, including Joni Ortio, the Flames' most NHL-ready goalie prospect. After four seasons playing in Finland, Ortio was finally able to make the jump to North America, where he was the AHL's top rookie goalie. He was Abbotsford's starter for most of the year, playing 37 games and earning a .926 save percentage over the course of the season, second in the entire AHL. Ortio and Sigalet could be reunited soon, as the Flames may be preparing for him to join the NHL sooner rather than later.
Between a fresh-from-Russia Karri Ramo and a fresh-from-Switzerland Reto Berra, the Flames had among the worst goaltending in the NHL last season. Among save percentage leaders, Ramo was tied for 31st out of 51 goalies with a save percentage of .911 (.919% at even strength), while Berra was 49th with .893% (.898% at even strength). Berra was traded, and Jonas Hiller brought in (Hiller also had a .911 save percentage last season, although he was at .925% at even strength). That, combined with Ramo's adjustment to the NHL, should result in improved goaltending under Sigalet for the Flames this upcoming season.