For the first time in a decade, the Flames will have an elite goaltender between the pipes when the season opens this fall.

Although St. Louis fans would lead people to believe otherwise, 31 year-old Roman Turek has numbers that put him among the top five goaltenders in the NHL. Only two goaltenders (Roy & Hasek) have more shutouts (13) than Turek in the past two seasons. His GAA of 2.12 over the past four seasons is better than Martin Brodeur (2.19), Roy (2.29), and Curtis Joseph (2.52). In fact, only Hasek and Belfour have a lower average over that time period. Whether or not Turek can continue his success in Calgary remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure; statistically he's one of the best goaltenders in the NHL right now. Turek should see 60 to 65 games this season, while Mike Vernon will probably play in the remaining 20 or so games. The first few games of the season will be key for Vernon as he tries to rebound from an up and down season. If Vernon falters, I'd expect the Flames to cut him loose and attempt to pick up a career back up via waivers or a trade.

Veteran Kay Whitmore and sophomore Levente Szuper will be the tandem in Saint John this season. Szuper will likely see more playing time, but Whitmore will sit 3^rd on the depth chart because of his 154 games of NHL experience. The 34 year-old Whitmore has 60 career NHL wins, but only one since 1994. Szuper has a bright future ahead of him, but still needs to develop his poise at the professional level. The 21 year-old Hungarian was 7^th in the AHL last season in GAA, and won a key playoff game by stopping an overtime penalty shot. Dany Sabourin will likely return to the ECHL this season, but could be called to Saint John in the event an injury. Sabourin didn't allow a goal in 131 AHL minutes last season (including pre-season). Tyrone Garner may not return to the Flames organization after a disappointing three year professional career.

The Flames future looks very promising in goal. Brent Krahn is a strong prospect coming off an injury-ridden season, while Andrei Medvedev has the skill to be a breakthrough 'keeper in the NHL. Both are several seasons away from making a serious impact, however.

1. Roman Turek
2. Mike Vernon
3. Kay Whitmore
4. Levente Szuper
5. Danny Sabourin
6. Tyrone Garner
7. Brent Krahn
8. Andrei Medvedev

(Krahn, Medvedev, and Underhill are purposely excluded, as they won't be playing North American pro hockey this season).

Craig Button made many changes over the summer, and that change can be seen in goal more than any other position.

A good deal of the team's depth chart has been altered for the upcoming season due to a big trade, a free agent signing, and the failure to sign yet another goaltender.

The position of goal needs to be a strength for the Flames to get them back to the playoffs. Inconsistency in-between the pipes the past few seasons is likely the most discernable difference between teams that finished seventh and eighth in the west, compared to ninth or tenth.

The Flames will go as far as their veteran duo will carry them.

The Calgary Flames have increased the size, age and financial commitment in goal for the 2001-02 season. Roman Turek will take over the starting job, with last year's starting goaltender fighting it out with Brent Johnson in St. Louis.

This fall the number one duties will surely fall to Roman Turek, a huge goaltender that has the faith of both Button and coach Greg Gilbert. Both men have hinted Turek could play close to 60 games in the Flames nets this season. Turek was acquired from the St. Louis Blues in a deal for Fred Brathwaite and two minor league players, Daniel Tkaczuk and Sergei Varlamov. He averaged over 60 starts for the Blues in each of the past two seasons, winning 66 hockey games. His doubters point to some less savory playoff performances the past two springs as a concern.

Turek's backup will be future Hall of Fame goaltender Mike Vernon. Vernon, brought in to lead the Flames back to the playoffs last season, struggled early then again after suffering a concussion prior to Christmas. He was never the same. Prior to the concussion, Vernon had emerged to lead the team on it's best stretch of the season, pulling them back into striking distance for a playoff spot. This past off-season has seen a huge commitment from Vernon towards conditioning and proving his doubters wrong this season. I wouldn't count him out. Humble Pie can act as great motivation to a goaltender used to success. Look for Vernon to push Turek all season, making both goaltenders better. By the season's end Vernon will have likely logged more than 30 games, in a true tandem situation.

Last season's backup will be this season's starter.

During the 2000-01 season rookie Levente Szuper played caddie to starter Martin Brochu. This summer saw Brochu bolting for money in the Minnesota Wild franchise, leaving Szuper as the main man in Saint John. Szuper had a 16-10-2 record last season, with a 2.50 goals against average, and a .898 save percentage.

The Flames signed veteran Kay Whitmore to backup Szuper in Saint John. Whitmore has literally been around with NHL stops in Hartford, Vancouver, and Boston as well as numerous minor league stops. Whitmore has the perfect attitude and temperament to help guide the Flames young goaltenders from on the ice.

Further down the system the Flames have Danny Sabourin and Tyrone Garner likely sharing duties in the ECHL with the Johnstown Chiefs.

1. Roman Turek
2. Mike Vernon
3. Kay Whitmore
4. Levente Szuper
5. Danny Sabourin
6. Tyrone Garner
7. Brent Krahn
8. Andrei Medvedev

The town that kills goaltenders with regular monotony will have fresh meat to ponder this fall.

Will Roman Turek fair any better than the ghosts of saviours before him, names like Trevor Kidd, Rick Tabaracci, Grant Fuhr and Fred Brathwaite?

Among the living dead who can tell Turek first hand about the rough ride given goalies in Calgary is the recently resurrected Mike Vernon, maligned even when he was winning 40 games a year.

And what of those yet to appear in Flames colours, Lavente Szuper, Brent Krahn or Andrei Medvedev?

This only shows the importance of goaltending in today's NHL. Without it, like pitching in baseball, it matters little what the rest of the team might be doing since it won't be good enough.

One needs look only to the start of last season to see that the inconsistent efforts of Brathwaite and Vernon put the Flames behind the eight-ball through to mid-November. Forget about the fact both at various times managed to redeem themselves by standing on their heads and carrying the Flames for long stretches - by then the hole was too deep.

I said this in my column immediately after draft day - Turek is here to provide the consistent goaltending Brathwaite couldn't deliver. And a team that won only 27 games last season shouldn't be lamenting about those departed.

That makes Turek the undisputed number one on the Flames depth chart. Big, able to cover an enormous amount of net by simply playing the angles, Turek isn't the lame duck some would suggest. He carried the Blues on his back through two playoff rounds before blowing a tire against Colorado - but then who on Blues didn't in that series? His final post-season numbers were a record of 9-5, a 2.04 GAA and a save percentage of .919. All major league calibre.

The fact Vernon is still around in spite of a $2.5 million contract is probably because 1) the Flames would face the frightening prospect of Kay Whitmore as their number one goalie if Turek went down and 2) Button isn't so sure of Turek that he feels he needs to take chances. Vernon is the equivalent of a $2.5 million insurance policy, pricey but you never know if you'll need it.

You would have to place Whitmore number three on the Flames depth chart if only for the reason he is the most likely to be called up in a backup role if Turek or Vernon were injured. A career minor leaguer, Whitmore's only real jobs in this organization are to act as a tutor in St. John and stay healthy in case of a call-up to Calgary.

Szuper is the only other young pro who matters on the Flames depth chart, the only one of the coming young goalies with a chance to make it to Calgary this year via some kind of unforeseen calamity. He's ahead of other prospects like Krahn and Medvedev if only because he has a pro contract and has a year of in St. John under his belt.

But it would also be fair to speculate, on the secret piece of paper Button keeps hidden in his desk, that the diminutive Hungarian flash is actually behind Krahn and Medvedev in the overall scheme of things. It will be up to Szuper to change some minds, similar to the way Theo Fleury bulled his way into the Flames lineup under similar circumstances.