Dump Hasek, Play Howard

[ttbrunke 0]

We need to look at the future now, during the season Ozzie wasn't much of a step down from Hasek. If we really think Howard is our future franchise goaltender than we should give him a shot it may be a little rough at first but look how it worked for Ryan Miller in Buffalo. Plus the way we play now he will only face 20-25 shots a night that should make things easier on him.

Dom isn't getting younger but our avg team age is, if Howard is allowed to develope we could have him at the top of his game in time for the playoffs next year. Sure we may not finish first again but what has that gotten us lately anyway. Dom will always be the same, he will be a guy you love one minute and hate the next (i.e. Loved him in game 5 but hated him in game 4 & 6).

If there were any real good Free Agent goaltenders I would say we could give them a 1 or 2 year deal and let Howard play maybe 30 games, but there aren't any out there that aren't going to cost 5 mil plus.

[Zeta Power 40 1]

Howard isn't ready. Bring Dom Back!!!!!

[Bad Vlad Forever 1]

I agree, and while I respect what Dom has done/can do, it's time to move on and get someone young and less injury prone in there that we can develop.

I have my qualms and concerns with Osgood as well. I just think we would do well to shake up the whole goalie position and make some drastic moves.

[Matt 1,049]

Howard's not ready.

[OsGOD 3]

If we are going to do a goalie shakeup just do to a goalie shakeup becuase it is the only thing Detroit knows after playoff exits... Then I say

I don't want another offseason of trying to use duct tape to put a temporoary patch on our post season problems. Apart from the last series our team GAA was around 1.67... We couldn't score more that that? Sounds to me like its a forward issue and not entirely a goaltender issue. Every post season its the same thing... We lose... Gotta get a new "better Goalie". then we do that and we still lose... then we get an even "better" goalie... then we lose... the we get the "best" goalie... then we lose... See the pattern? its not goaltending! Something about the team not giving a full 60 min effort is what needs to be addressed.

Now if we are doing the goalie shakeup in the background as the real issues are being addressed then I don't mind it as much. As long as Ozzie is in the system, I am content.

Edited May 23, 2007 by OsGOD

[Opie 308]

The Howard isn't ready statement is an interesting one, and one I would like to debate it. NOT ARGUE DEBATE!!!

How do we really know that Howard isn't ready, unless the person who says that is some how in the know.

Then there is the conundrum of how does he get ready to play in the NHL if he is always in the AHL. It is like interviewing for a job and they say well you don't have any experience so we went with some one else. Well how do I get experience if you need experience for a job.

Now statistically Howard has been one of the best Goalies in the AHL for the past 2 seasons. When drafted the scouts said he was one of the most NHL ready goalies over the past couple of years.

And I agree with fact that with the D being so strong and the goalie facing limited shots that this is the perfect time to bring him up.

I would love to see him and Liv be the starting tandem next year. Let them fight it out. And let the other back up. That may be a bad idea, the team would probably want a Vet back up like Ozzie.

However if the wings do resign Dom they need to let go of Ozzie and let Howard or Liv back him up and get as many starts as possible.

As you can see I am a little Howard bias, being from maine and rooting for the UMaine Black Bears.

If Jimmy is going to be the future the team will have to make the decision to downgrade in net for a year or two, and hope that the team in front of him is strong enough to carry them.

How many non-NHL ready goalies have carried their team to the post season and some deep into the post season in the recent years.

I as well have a ton of respect for what Hasek has done for this team, however it is time to move on, in my opinion.

[Yzermaniac192005 0]

Howard's definitely not ready for the show.

And Dom got us as far as he did this year, without him the Wings don't make it. Bring him back for one last shot. Had the Wings stayed healthy, this team would be in the Finals I guarantee it.

[Offsides 21]

What's the point? Seriously. If Dom doesn't retire...keep Dom and Ozzie. If he does. I'm not sure. I guess then we could entertain making Ozzie #1 and bring up Howard as backup.

I have faith that Ozzie would be fine, but if it's not broke - don't fix it, and Dom's been fine. Everyone always thinks when we lose it's the goalie...that's the joke of it.

Jimmy Howard will be eaten alive here.

Edited May 23, 2007 by Offsides

[Statiklullaby87 0]

I believe there is only one way to get experiance... and like ttbrunke said he will probably only face 20-25 shots a game... I say let him split time with ozzie this year, play half the games or so and see how it works out...plus if he hasnt improved much and we dont have much faith in ozzie come the deadline, try and get a better goaltender. But I think we should give him a try, if nothing else just to finally prove if he will work out or not.

[Winged Scooter 0]

The Howard isn't ready statement is an interesting one, and one I would like to debate it. NOT ARGUE DEBATE!!!

How do we really know that Howard isn't ready, unless the person who says that is some how in the know.

Then there is the conundrum of how does he get ready to play in the NHL if he is always in the AHL. It is like interviewing for a job and they say well you don't have any experience so we went with some one else. Well how do I get experience if you need experience for a job.

Now statistically Howard has been one of the best Goalies in the AHL for the past 2 seasons. When drafted the scouts said he was one of the most NHL ready goalies over the past couple of years.

And I agree with fact that with the D being so strong and the goalie facing limited shots that this is the perfect time to bring him up.

I would love to see him and Liv be the starting tandem next year. Let them fight it out. And let the other back up. That may be a bad idea, the team would probably want a Vet back up like Ozzie.

However if the wings do resign Dom they need to let go of Ozzie and let Howard or Liv back him up and get as many starts as possible.

As you can see I am a little Howard bias, being from maine and rooting for the UMaine Black Bears.

If Jimmy is going to be the future the team will have to make the decision to downgrade in net for a year or two, and hope that the team in front of him is strong enough to carry them.

How many non-NHL ready goalies have carried their team to the post season and some deep into the post season in the recent years.

I as well have a ton of respect for what Hasek has done for this team, however it is time to move on, in my opinion.

That is one of the most intelligent statements regarding handing the reigns to Howard I have ever seen on this forum.

I get so frustrated when all I see is, he isn't ready, he isn't ready. How do you know? Why isn't he ready? When will he be ready? When he's freakin' 30? No one will ever if he is or if he isn't unless he gets a chance to play, let him play . Let him prove that he IS or ISN'T ready...just MHO.

[motorcitykid 42]

Dump Hasek? I just don't know if Jimmy is ready for full-time duty next season. We'll soon see if he gets the chance to prove it.

As for Hasek - there's rumbling's that he could be back next year. The 2 names we kept hearing these playoffs are Chelios signing another 1-year deal and Dom comitting for 1 more season as well. I'd love to have Dom back for one more go-round. He did a great job this year, and with the infusion of a little more youth next year, it would be a great bonus to have him back there guiding the ship and being another veteran presence. We'll soon see.

Edited May 23, 2007 by motorcitykid

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

What's the point? Seriously. If Dom doesn't retire...keep Dom and Ozzie. If he does. I'm not sure. I guess then we could entertain making Ozzie #1 and bring up Howard as backup.

I have faith that Ozzie would be fine, but if it's not broke - don't fix it, and Dom's been fine. Everyone always thinks when we lose it's the goalie...that's the joke of it.

Jimmy Howard will be eaten alive here.

QFT

Jimmy needs one more season. If he isn't ready after that, it'll be time to look elsewhere, but I'm hoping he'll be the guy of the future in Detroit.

[Opie 308]

That is one of the most intelligent statements regarding handing the reigns to Howard I have ever seen on this forum.

I get so frustrated when all I see is, he isn't ready, he isn't ready. How do you know? Why isn't he ready? When will he be ready? When he's freakin' 30? No one will ever if he is or if he isn't unless he gets a chance to play, let him play . Let him prove that he IS or ISN'T ready...just MHO.

Cut it out your making me blush

[Patrick Roy 5]

Dump howard and hasek and bring Roy out of retirement! Hanlon and Essensa are available too!!! Bring back Hasek!

[Offsides 21]

Everytime he plays up here he sucks. I think that's why they say that.

[Coyote0106 2]

The Howard isn't ready statement is an interesting one, and one I would like to debate it. NOT ARGUE DEBATE!!!

How do we really know that Howard isn't ready, unless the person who says that is some how in the know.

Then there is the conundrum of how does he get ready to play in the NHL if he is always in the AHL. It is like interviewing for a job and they say well you don't have any experience so we went with some one else. Well how do I get experience if you need experience for a job.

Now statistically Howard has been one of the best Goalies in the AHL for the past 2 seasons. When drafted the scouts said he was one of the most NHL ready goalies over the past couple of years.

And I agree with fact that with the D being so strong and the goalie facing limited shots that this is the perfect time to bring him up.

I would love to see him and Liv be the starting tandem next year. Let them fight it out. And let the other back up. That may be a bad idea, the team would probably want a Vet back up like Ozzie.

However if the wings do resign Dom they need to let go of Ozzie and let Howard or Liv back him up and get as many starts as possible.

As you can see I am a little Howard bias, being from maine and rooting for the UMaine Black Bears.

If Jimmy is going to be the future the team will have to make the decision to downgrade in net for a year or two, and hope that the team in front of him is strong enough to carry them.

How many non-NHL ready goalies have carried their team to the post season and some deep into the post season in the recent years.

I as well have a ton of respect for what Hasek has done for this team, however it is time to move on, in my opinion.

After watching Jimmy play in GR all year, I can tell you I think he needs another year in GR. He is inconsistent(sp?), but has some major talent (which I'm sure you know, being a UMaine fan). I'd let him play 60 games in GR next year, and then make the decision. As for Liv, the rumor is he signed a 3 year deal with his old Euro team, and will only be in NA next year if the wings offer him a one way deal. So, IMO, Liv is done in the NHL.

[OsGOD 3]

If we are going to get another goalie... Gosh darnit... I want Roy... Get that Mofo out of retirement.... Roy rules all!

Edited May 23, 2007 by OsGOD

[Statiklullaby87 0]

What's the point? Seriously. If Dom doesn't retire...keep Dom and Ozzie. If he does. I'm not sure. I guess then we could entertain making Ozzie #1 and bring up Howard as backup.

I have faith that Ozzie would be fine, but if it's not broke - don't fix it, and Dom's been fine. Everyone always thinks when we lose it's the goalie...that's the joke of it.

Jimmy Howard will be eaten alive here.

The point is we potentially have an incredible goalie in our system. I'm not saying bring him up because I think hasek failed us...And I do believe we have other more important issues to solve... I'm just saying that sooner or later we will have to give him a shot, wether he works out or not, If he's eaten alive then the scouts were wrong, we move on and try with someone else. Because eventually it will be broke then what?

[Gordie Howe hat trick 110]

Yes I see what some of you are saying, but if Dom comes back I would be willing to bet it is only for one more year, and I think it would be great for him to go out on top next year. I mean yes we do need to finaly start playing some younger talent, but all around not just in goal, but if Dom wants to come back for one last shot at the Cup, I think it would be great.

[OsGOD 3]

The point is we potentially have an incredible goalie in our system. I'm not saying bring him up because I think hasek failed us...And I do believe we have other more important issues to solve... I'm just saying that sooner or later we will have to give him a shot, wether he works out or not, If he's eaten alive then the scouts were wrong, we move on and try with someone else. Because eventually it will be broke then what?

I say give him one or two shots against the bottom feeders (St. Louis, Chicago and/or Columbus) if he continues to get lit up keep him down... if he plays well then allow him a game against a little stronger opponent. Each time he beats a team allow him a game against a stronger opponent.

Edited May 23, 2007 by OsGOD

[Opie 308]

So you say every time he plays with the big club he sucks, well in 4 starts these are his stats

1 w 2 L 0 otl 10 ga 2.99 gaa 104 sog 94 sav .904 sv%

While I agree those are not stellar numbers I would hardly say that he sucks, and as with the argument for every player in the league, he would get better with more ice time.

[Offsides 21]

Once upon a time there was a boy named Chris Osgood. He was the Red Wing's future. He got to play for a while, even won a couple of Cups and broke some records, but was eventually dealt to make room for Dominik Hasek.

Which proved something from then on: Winning > The Future

No matter who is touted as 'The Future' you don't ACTUALLY know if they will make the team for more than a year because the Wings could get a shot at, oh for fun, Roberto Luongo, and dump Howard in a hot minute. So, he is really only part of a hypothetical future. Our real future might be Dom/Ozzie, Ozzie/FA, and then a string of FA's

And if we won the whole time no one would care about JH.

Edited May 23, 2007 by Offsides

[OsGOD 3]

Once upon a time there was a boy named Chris Osgood. He was the Red Wing's future. He got to play for a while, even won a couple of Cups and broke some records, but was eventually dealt to make room for Dominik Hasek.

Which proved something from then on: Winning > The Future

No matter who is touted as 'The Future' you don't ACTUALLY know if they will make the team for more than a year because the Wings could get a shot at, oh for fun, Roberto Luongo, and dump Howard in a hot minute. So, he is really only part of a hypothetical future. Our real future might be Dom/Ozzie, Ozzie/FA, and then a string of FA's

And if we won the whole time no one would care about JH.

Even more recently there was a boy named Manny Legace who was given the roll as started because of how good he was in the backup roll. What happened to that kid?

[ttbrunke 0]

The point is we potentially have an incredible goalie in our system. I'm not saying bring him up because I think hasek failed us...And I do believe we have other more important issues to solve... I'm just saying that sooner or later we will have to give him a shot, wether he works out or not, If he's eaten alive then the scouts were wrong, we move on and try with someone else. Because eventually it will be broke then what?

I agree Hasek has let us down at times, he has also played great, so the person who said Howard was inconsistent shouldn't be too worried because that is what we have now. Plus coming up to play a game or two is no judge of Howards play he needs to get a chance to be a part of the team in practices and roadtrips. I say you give him a shot Hasek will want much more money to come back (probably 3-4mil) and we can't afford to get another FA goalie and still fill in other holes. i do agree that we have other gaps but the bottom line is I have seen Hasek fall on his back and lay on the ice while the other team skates around him and scores for teh last time (I hope). Both the Perry and Getzlaf goals were horrible he was looking right at perry and didn't see that he had the puck, The team did not play in front of him until the third but i think that if we are going to pay a goalie 3mil+ he better be able to keep us in games and make saves like that.

Even more recently there was a boy named Manny Legace who was given the roll as started because of how good he was in the backup roll. What happened to that kid?

Manny Legace had stats much like Hasek through the season (actually better I think). But like hasek made some very bonehead plays that cost us games.

[Opie 308]

Once upon a time there was a boy named Chris Osgood. He was the Red Wing's future. He got to play for a while, even won a couple of Cups and broke some records, but was eventually dealt to make room for Dominik Hasek.

Which proved something from then on: Winning > The Future

No matter who is touted as 'The Future' you don't ACTUALLY know if they will make the team for more than a year because the Wings could get a shot at, oh for fun, Roberto Luongo, and dump Howard in a hot minute. So, he is really only part of a hypothetical future. Our real future might be Dom/Ozzie, Ozzie/FA, and then a string of FA's

And if we won the whole time no one would care about JH.

Great point, however I worry that the wings will become like the Yankees in the fact that once a top tier guy gets hurt they have given up all their young talent and their is no one left to fill the void that has any real talent.

Also when the wings let Ozzie go they were trading away what appeared to be a goalie on his downside for one of the hottest commodities in the NHL, not a great goalie, but Dom!!!

I also think that the salary cap will put a speed bump in the way of that theory, teams can no longer afford to just go around getting all of the talented UFA's and abandon their youth. This year as a case in point the team looked to young guys in the time of need and even used them regularly, Guys like Lebda, Quincey, Kronwall (I understand that with his talent you can't overlook him), Franzen, Filpula, and so on. I think the league changes have made it essential to build some talent from within.

Again I am debating this issue not arguing!!