chaps80

McCollum has never really been given a shot. Has he even started one NHL game yet? I know he's came in in relief a couple times, but that's it. He's a former first round pick. I know he hasn't been the greatest in the AHL. he's had ups and downs, but i'd like to see him get a chance at the backup role in Detroit before he's fully written off as nothing better than an AHL goalie. If he doesn't work out, so be it.

Every goalie has rough stretches. If not for Mrazek the Wings would be way out of playoff position right now. Scary to think if we only had Howard.

I just noticed in the article above he was picked in the 5th round. Wonder why he wasn't taken before that? It's not like he was a big secret like Zetterberg. He played his junior hockey in the OHL and I remember seeing him play and he was damn good. I'm sure NHL scouts knew all about him. I guess it was just draft luck for Detroit again.

Heh. Those are some happy kids.

Exactly. That's his major issue. We all know he has the skill, but he's easily thrown off his game mentally. One on one situations are a perfect example. It's like he psychs himself out when a player comes in on a breakaway. Most of the time the puck ends up in the net and he looks like a drunken beer leaguer falling all over.

Howard for Ramo.

This.

Yeah those black ones are sweet. No the Leafs were good back in the Gilmour/Potvin era. Pretty sure they made it to the conference final one or two seasons.

What kind of explanation do they owe Jimmy? The guy hasn't won a game since 2015, and allowed 3+ goals in his last 9 starts. They haven't been a high scoring team this year. The fact they chased Tukka Rask and won the game 6-5 yesterday despite one of Mrazek's worst games of the year was a fluke. If Howard thought that he could be his usual sieve self against NYI the very next day and the team would score enough to bail him out too, he obv doesn't know his team very well. But i'm absolutely sure he did know that wouldn't happen. I doubt they have the mentality that they can't score with Howard in net. If anything it just comes down to them not having any confidence or faith in him anymore. That can cause low scoring as well. If they don't feel they can win with him, then they won't.

Well to be fair, Howard's contract isn't a loyalty thing. He signed his big contract years ago after a great season, and at the time he was THE goalie of the future in Detroit. They spent alot of time developing him and didn't want to lose him. But his play lately coupled with Mrazek's emergence has made him expendable. I'm sure Holland knows he has to go, and won't just keep him around for nothing.

Oh I thought you meant the team should have bailed out Howard because they did it for Mrazek. Not sure who posted them, but they are always floating around in some form or another

Well if he won't get picked up on waivers, why even try to trade him? If no one wants him for nothing then they won't want to give anything up for him. Unless the Wings retain quite a bit of salary in a trade for a prospect or a pick or another backup goaltender. As for sending him to GR, why not? His salary still counts wherever he is in the system. Great opportunity for him to get in some conditioning in a low pressure setting, and would give one of the prospects some games in the NHL. Win win.

Ya, pretty sure you mean Gustavsson. He would be a solid number 1 guy if he could stay healthy. He's big and skilled, but the guy has horrible luck, No one wants him for anything more than a backup role at a low salary at this point due to the risk.

Screw it, put him on waivers and hope he gets picked up. If not, send him to GR. Honestly, what would Holland get for him anyways.

Glad people are seeing that now. I'm tired of hearing "Howard deserves another chance" "He'll be better tonight i just know it", "We need Howard in case Mrazek falters". "Howard is a great goaltender". No. He is not needed, he will not turn it around, if Mrazek s***s the bed Howard isn't going to do any better. He's the Wings version of the Flyers' Bryzgalov contract. Trade him to the goalie graveyard in Philly for Mason. Yeah Mrazek never bails out the team at all. They should never have done that for him.

Wow, I just noticed Halak isn't playing, it's Greiss. Makes it even worse. Guys got a SHUTOUT going!

That's one of his major problems. Starts out great, then something always seems to happen to kill his confidence and he collapses. I hope he doesn't get pulled. Mrazek needs a break and he should get it. Should'nt need to jump in and finish Howard's mess. Did that awhile ago. My stream was lagging and I saw the 3-0 score and said not worth it.

Pretty sure there's cap room to call up Coreau or McCollum. lol

Howard is just finished in Detroit. He doesn't seem to have much, if any, confidence in himself. I think the team doesn't have any confidence left in him either. So the first goal was flukey, doesn't mean you panic and start giving up bad goals, You shake it off. He can't seem to shake things like that off. Once it's done, he's done. I was hoping he'd play well today, but he needs a change of scenery bad. Kenny needs to move him by whatever means in the offseason..he has nothing left for the Wings. and it shows..badly.

Glad to hear Howard is looking better, but early parts of games haven't really been his problem. It's finishing them strong. His usual bad goal always comes at the worst time. Hope he keeps it together.

Exactly. All the posts make it sound like he lost the game.

Maybe he was given the option and didn't want the rest. Wanted to finish the game. He strikes me as that type of player. Goalies are coddled way too much nowadays anyways. Tonight he needed the team to bail him out for once. He'll shake this one off and come out strong and confident next game as he usually does.

Who has Prongers "contract" now? Maybe Holland can trade Howard for that?

i didn't read the first post. Just went straight to the question. lol

The old design was MUCH better. I didn't know they changed the desktop version the first time i saw it on my phone. I thought it was some new mobile version. JUNK!!