chaps80

Haha Can’t see him going anywhere soon, especially if he continues to play at a high level. He seemed to have found his game, and i’m sure the Wings staff is very happy about it. Howard’s been solid, but won’t be around forever. Mrazek was the guy to take over before, still can be. Too early in the season to tell, but I’m glad he’s smartened up.

Rangers in the market for a goalie apparently, with the King no longer the King, and Pavelec being, well, Pavelec. Possible options are Hammond and...Mrazek? I dunno how much faith I put into these rumours. They’re usually fluff pieces. But why would Holland move Mrazek now, just as he has seemed to have found his game again? Too early to consider that move imo.

Osgood didn’t “need” to be replaced, but in the three seasons since the’98 Cup, the Wings bowed out of the playoffs too early, culminating in the First Round Game 6 OT elimination loss at the hands of the Kings in ‘01, which Kings fans refer to as “The stunner at Staples”. That summer, Holland was contacted by the Sabres ( I think, may have been vice versa) about a trade for Hašek, who wanted out before he wasted his whole career carrying a team that would never win. When you have the opportunity to get a goalie of his level, coupled with adding Hull and Robitaille to an already loaded roster, you don’t pass it up. It sucked for Osgood, but I’m sure he understood. He moved on, was picked up by NYI and went back to work, making the playoffs with them. He could have complained and made a big deal of it and packed it in, but that wasn’t his style. He eventually made it back to DET and bailed out Hašek on the way to the ‘08 Cup. Perhaps a bit of redemption for himself there?

Ya, glad his “whiny entitled prima Donna ass” got signed. Wasn’t a necessity or anything... Seems like both of the guys some labeled as that in the off-season are doing pretty damn well right now.

Hell yeah!! His last two games, he’s looked completely different. Calm, not overplaying pucks, great anticipation of where pucks are heading. Making routine saves look routine and great ones look great. He had quite a break in between the WASH game and this one. Hopefully this one gets him more starts. I was surprised he actually got the start last night. Looked like Blash was just gonna ride Howard into the ground.

Yep. I'd take him to get Nielson off the books. Straight up trade. His attitude is obv s***, but he's only signed till end of next season at less cap hit than Nielson. Oh, I didn't know he was promised anything. That changes my s*** attitude comment. Fleury, Subban, Dansk all injured. Only two goalies left under contract I think, neither with prior NHL experience. Fun!

Went from 2-0 and 4-1 to 4-3 against Arizona with Wedgewood in goal. This team loves sitting back on leads. They havent figured out that a 4-1 lead is nothing these days with all the scoring talent around the league?

Scott ******* Wedgewood in net for Arizona. That’s when you know your desperate for a body to throw in there. Lol 1 shot on goal isn’t helping them either. Wings better not lose this one.

Solid game by the entire team for the most part. That Mantha/Larkin/AA line is awesome. AA is absolutely flying out there, but I see his minutes are still being a bit limited compared to the other two. Blash letting him ease back in I guess, but he looks more than in shape and ready. Only bad thing about that game was the shots against. 50. They need to limit that, just ridiculous. Howard looked tired and probably a bit dehydrated by the end. Luckily he played great, but had he had an off night it would have been ugly. Gotta give more defensive support somehow.

This. Osgood also played for lesser teams like NYI and STL and always had a winning record. Helped the Isles to the playoffs in his first season there after they had missed for awhile. People like to say he benefitted from strong teams in front of him in DET, but he did just as well elsewhere. Plus, you know, the three Cups. One he was Vernon’s backup, next season he won as starter. Didn’t have to play out of his mind, but he did his job. The third, he came in cold in Game 4 first round when Hasek faltered and never looked back. Rock solid. Next season he was even better in the playoffs, elite level good. Only thing he and Howard have in common is not being appreciated by fans. Nothing else lines up.

Wow. LOL

They’ve been lucky so far. How many teams can lose their starter and backup to injury and have an AHLcallup get a shutout in his first game? Unreal. They passed on Niemi. Not that I blame them with his 7.25 GAA, but for his contract cost, it would have given them lots of NHL experience at the position.

Well, there’s no defence most of the time. So yeah, our goalies are constantly hung out to dry. They’re the only realistic option to stop pucks from going in the net after the opposition gains the zone. I see AA scored his first goal. Atta boy!

2009 was Osgood/Conklin. Conklin helped save that season IMO. Ozzie was not that good until the playoffs, where he would have had Smythe consideration had the Wings finished the job. He got the starting job again in 2010 based on that playoff performance. But honestly, he was just about done. I’m sure losing the Finals in 7 games after being up 2-0 and falling short of the repeat had him pretty deflated Howard took over the job that season.

Only 19 shots in two periods.

I’m not defending DiPietro over Howard. I was only using DiPietro as an example of a goalie who had respectable numbers in his day despite crappy teams and injuries, and is now pretty much forgotten.

I guess he could be the new Osgood, besides the three Cup rings. And stepping up in the playoffs to win two of those Cups as starter, and nearly a third after a pretty bad regular season. Probably would have won the Smythe had the Wings won the Cup. He started the season in Pittsburgh. Didn’t know he was moved. Shows how under the radar he is now.

Yeah right. Peg leg and piano have those A’s till they retire.

Ward won that Cup as a rookie, and Niemi as well on a stacked team. They’ve both trended downhill since. Neither will ever win a Cup again. When Howard was younger on the good Wings teams of the early 2010’s, he had a shot. I just can’t see him ever doing it now, not as a starter anyways. edit- Niemi is the backup in Pittsburgh now, so maybe he’ll ride the pine to a Cup. I hope not.

DiPietro’s stats are actually pretty good in seasons where he played 50+ games on horrible NYI teams in the pre- cap and just post-cap era. Howard has been injured in more than two seasons. Been out at least once a season starting in 2013-14. In 2014 alone he was injured four times. Hasek has six Vezinas, two Harts, two Cups, and an Olympic gold, among other things. His achievements vastly outweigh his injury history, although he may have cost Ottawa a Cup in 2006 after being injured in the Olympics. I used to be as much of a Howard fan as some of you are. I just grew tired of the injuries and inconsistent play over the years. He’s rebounded very well the past season and this one, (despite missing a lot of last season), which i’m happy about. But him getting injured suddenly or his play dropping off suddenly is always in the back of my mind. Not that it matters much though, this team isn’t doing anything anyways.

Rick DiPietro, not a mediocre goalie ability wise. Did pretty well when healthy on a horrible team, but all people remember him for is being made of glass and never doing anything significant, therefore mediocrity is associated with him, and he’s been forgotten. Not comparing the two, just saying you don’t have to suck to be forgettable when your often injured and haven’t come close to winning anything.

Hahaha I get why their fans are still pissed about that. Too this day, that was one of the worst screw ups on a Cup winning goal ever, in a time when a skate in the crease (not to mention a blatant one like that) was automatically considered no goal. Was clear as day. Lol How many goals did Holmstrom get called off for interference by just screening a goalie outside of the blue paint? And they let Hull’s goal stand?

I think by mediocre he means he can’t be counted on by this team to get them through a full season without being injured. You can be the best in the world, but if your hurt, your of no value. Plus his playoff record stinks. He’s never going to be good enough to win a Cup with any team in the NHL. Right now he’s a stop gap measure until or if Petr gets his shot together, or another young goalie outplays him.

Hahaha this has started up again? Not even through October yet!! Last I checked, both weren’t doing so well, although Jimmys GAA improved from 2.80 to 2.58 after last game. The one thing that stands out though is Mrazek’s starts we’re Dallas, Vegas, and Washington. And inheriting a 3-1 deficit coming into Toronto and taking the loss. Three offensively talented teams out of four. Howard gets Minnesota, Arizona, Tampa, Toronto ( pulled on 3 goals on 4 shots), Vancouver, Buffalo. So two out of six that are offensively talented, and one of those he didn’t last a period. Take it for what you will.

True enough. They all want to get their money and not have to be pushed and worked too hard. I bet the vets love it under Blash. No accountability, some already have their Cup ring, just show up and “play”. They’re ice time is guaranteed. Kronwall situation is a great example. He clearly can’t keep up with the NHL anymore, slow, defensive liability, good for maybe a few points, but he gets top pairing minutes some nights. Blash refuses to bench or scratch him. He should be 7th d man at this point. Or retire and stop looking like a fool out there. Chelios was relegated to 7th d man in his final season or two. Three time Cup winner and a Norris winner. Didn’t matter. He was declining and a liability. Babs used him sparingly. But Blash can’t do that with Kronner when he’s probably worse off than Chelly was?