egroen

Ovechkin is not "competing" against Brad May in any sense of the word, despite them both being forwards. Throw 1,000 more forwards from the AHL, SEL and KHL into the NHL and it is not going to affect Ovechkin's ranking at all, or make it any more impressive that he is #1. Are you saying you would be more impressed with Howard if a few hundred inferior goalies were thrown into the NHL for him to beat up on?

Alright, stop pulling crap from your arse. It is not a "statistical fact"... you have no idea what you are talking about. The best goalies in the world are playing in the NHL. If you have ever played hockey, you would know that everyone gets a chance in net... obviously it is a unique skill that only the best at that position stick to. If you are a Top 10 goalie in the NHL, it is a hell of a lot more impressive than being a Top 60 forward in the NHL. The proof is simply that Top 10 goalies fetch a heck of a lot more in trades than Top 60 forwards... obviously the GMs in the league disagree with your statistiacal facts.

That's like saying you are not as impressed with a Top 10 quarterback in the NFL because there are more linebackers.

Because goalie is such an easy position to excel at?

Or gooey.

Credit to Burke for swooping in and getting the deal.

Hmmm... decent comparison. Both smaller, lighter, non-physical players. Larionov obviously was the better playmaker, better skater and had better vision, and was also by far the better defensive player. But Hudler is more likely to to go to the net (with often hilarious results) and take a shot.

Keeps you goin' 24/7

"Better Than That" - All

The East has just been demolished by the West this year. Definitely not working in the Wings favor. I'm not giving up hope until midway through March.... though I have come awfully close these last few games. The Wings have proven they have a "switch" and I expect to see it earlier this year.

Getting into the NHL as a goalie is 6 times harder than it is for a forward -- that is the point. There are 70-100 forwards in the NHL better than Tavares and Duchene in the NHL alone right now -- probably another dozen on top of that in other leagues around the world. Howard is bar none a Top 10 goalie in the world right now. What goalies in the world are better than the 60 NHL goalies... let alone better than the Top 10? It is not "easier" to be one of the best goalies in the world vs. one of the best forwards in the world.

Same league Leino was the MVP of? Though Hudler has proven he can put up the points in the NHL (as well as the AHL, where he carries a Griffins franchise record for assists).

Unless you are able to show 50-60 goalies outside of the NHL that are better than Howard right now it does mean that much. A goalie has more to do with wins than a forward does -- especially a forward getting only 17 to 18 minutes a night like Tavares and Duchene. Yes, "wins" is a team stat, but there is no denying it carries a lot of weight with the voters when it comes to the goalie position. I list it because it is very relevant to the award at hand... whether we agree or not. As I pointed out earlier, Rask is playing a much lighter (and easier) schedule than Howard is.

Rask has also benefited from playing the weaker teams - as all backups do. Not the case with Howard.

The Calder is not a lifetime achievement award... it is for only one season. Howard is a Top 10 goalie in the world this season, if he keeps it up. Throwing a bunch more AHL, SEL and KHL goalies into the league would not change that.

Tavares is #107 in scoring amongst forwards Duchene is #70 Myers is #15 in scoring amongst defenseman #69 in +/- amongst defenseman Rask is #30 in Wins (12) #3 in SV% (.931) #2 in GAA (2.01) Howard is #14 in Wins (20) #6 in SV% (.926) #9 in GAA (2.33)

So? How many better goalies are there in the world (that are not in the NHL)? Is it any coincidence almost every teams' roster at the Olympics has NHL goalies. Russia is not bringing a single KHL goalie. Howard would deserve it over Rask for the same reason Brodeur has deserved his Vezinas -- more games played and more wins, despite similar stats. For emphasis: Howard is a Top 10 Goalie in the World right now.

Except, for all intents and purposes, we're pretty much at the trade deadline now -- with only 3 more games until the March 3 deadline. Even with 3 straight losses, the Wings are still in contention.

Howard is in the Top 10 at his position in the NHL right now -- none of the other candidates can say that.

Obviously he would have been huge to have this year. Certainly hope to see him again... and he's at a nice cap rate too!

Zetterberg just is not good on the shootouts. I don't have his stats, if someone wants to post them... But I have to think either Bertuzzi or Franzen would be better.

I thought that was about average -- right around 70%.

My Power Play order of preference: Lidstrom Rafalski Kronwall Ericsson Williams Stuart Meech . . May . . . Lebda

Datsyuk rarely gets stopped when he goes for a deke.... but there was a stretch where he shot a lot (last year), and he was stonewalled quite a bit.

Ok, Badgers... we hear you loud and clear.