Howard Poll

[Herr Hockey 0]

I know the question has been asked before, but I really wanted to see poll results of what everyone thinks. Personally, just knowing how Wings' management likes to go about doing things, I can see a veteran here to backup Oz this season. Whatever they decide, I'm sure it will be the correct decision.

EDIT: Poll not showing up?

still can't get it to show up. Well, now it's just another goalie topic.

Edited June 23, 2008 by Herr Hockey

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I'd absolutely like to see the Wings start the season with Howard. Give him a solid amount of starts and finally give him the chance to follow Oz upon his retirement.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

There's always the trade deadline if he isn't cutting it.

[Guest Hatethedrake!]

We have to see what Howard can do given 20-30 starts. He's paid his dues in the minors and looked very good in Training Camp and when he has been called up. He's earned the right to be given a chance.

[DogBolter 0]

Ozzie is a great goalie. I've always liked his attitude and presence. However, this season (the prior seasons) have made be believe that his strength is playing 40 games not 60. I think the split play with Hasek complemented his style and stamina (it benefited Hasek also). I would perfer to see Ozzie and Howard split the duties during the coming year. If Howard does not progress as desired, then acquire another that can split the duties with Ozzie. State publicly that Ozzie is the number 1 goalie with the goal being another cup.

[Glubki 17]

Might as well give the job to Howard because their aren't too many affordable/quality options out there....

http://www.nhlnumbers.com/freeagents.php?t...amp;type=salary

[C-TownWing 0]

As the guy two above hinted, I think it all depends what you expect out of Ozzie. I don't know if I'm comfortable with Howard starting half of the games just yet, but if you can get 60 starts from Ozzie, then I'm ok with it going in with just Ozzie/Howard. The point here is that we're easing Howard in, not throwing him to the fire.

[Hank Dats 'N Homer 81]

i like howard as much as everyone else, and i really hope that he does become our goalie of the future, but it seems like our GM and staff dont beleive in him as much. When they sgiend Larsson they said that he was good enough to battle Howard for the backup spot behind ozzie and that Howard might not even make the team for the 09 season. Which was fine in my book, a little competition to kick him the ass and hope he gets his act together. Then they go out and with their first draft pick they pick a big bodied goalie. 6'2 205lb goalie. This just makes me thing this is the year that the Wings give up on howard altogher. I think that if he doesnt turn it around quick you could see his traded at the deadline or something since our depth at goalie is now as good as our depth at just about every position now.

[betterREDthandead 58]

i like howard as much as everyone else, and i really hope that he does become our goalie of the future, but it seems like our GM and staff dont beleive in him as much. When they sgiend Larsson they said that he was good enough to battle Howard for the backup spot behind ozzie and that Howard might not even make the team for the 09 season. Which was fine in my book, a little competition to kick him the ass and hope he gets his act together. Then they go out and with their first draft pick they pick a big bodied goalie. 6'2 205lb goalie. This just makes me thing this is the year that the Wings give up on howard altogher. I think that if he doesnt turn it around quick you could see his traded at the deadline or something since our depth at goalie is now as good as our depth at just about every position now.

McCollum is no threat to Howard for at least four or five years. Drafting a goalie has nothing to do with how they feel about Howard, it's just a replenishment of the pipeline now that Howard's ready for the big club and Larsson is starting to knock on the door. The only other goalie prospect is Koopmans, and he's never going to make the Wings.

[Hank Dats 'N Homer 81]

McCollum is no threat to Howard for at least four or five years. Drafting a goalie has nothing to do with how they feel about Howard, it's just a replenishment of the pipeline now that Howard's ready for the big club and Larsson is starting to knock on the door. The only other goalie prospect is Koopmans, and he's never going to make the Wings.

I could understand your argument if we took him as like a 3rd or 4th round pick. To me, usually a teams first round pick is someone they think very highly on, and hope to have in the organization the quickest. Not many teams take first round goalies. If your first round pick is a goalie (which this year only two teams took goalies in their first round, the other being Nashville who is pretty bad with depth except for Ellis) it makes me beleive that our staff thinks that we are shaky at that position. Im not saying he is a threat to Howard now but possibly in the next few years. I think that by taking a Big bodied goalie like that along with having a guy like Larsson who could take howards spot this year as backup, it shows to me that the staff may not have as much confidence in Howard as they did in the past. I love that we have an American goalie in our minors now, im glad to see that. I also have been hearing alot about a Ryan Miller possibility in the future. It just seems like a whole lot of options for the postion that was suppose to be a lock for Howard since his draft day.

[DatsMyWings13 4]

I would like to see Howard get his chance to back up Ozzie. I'd like to see him play about 25 or 30 games. He might surprise people.

[puckbags 863]

I could understand your argument if we took him as like a 3rd or 4th round pick. To me, usually a teams first round pick is someone they think very highly on, and hope to have in the organization the quickest. Not many teams take first round goalies. If your first round pick is a goalie (which this year only two teams took goalies in their first round, the other being Nashville who is pretty bad with depth except for Ellis) it makes me beleive that our staff thinks that we are shaky at that position. Im not saying he is a threat to Howard now but possibly in the next few years. I think that by taking a Big bodied goalie like that along with having a guy like Larsson who could take howards spot this year as backup, it shows to me that the staff may not have as much confidence in Howard as they did in the past. I love that we have an American goalie in our minors now, im glad to see that. I also have been hearing alot about a Ryan Miller possibility in the future. It just seems like a whole lot of options for the postion that was suppose to be a lock for Howard since his draft day.

An organization can never have enough goalies, its such a fickle position. They are going to give Howard every chance this year to make this team and prove himself...if he's up to the challenge. The Wing's can't leave him in the minors for another year and just let him rot down there, they need to get him some starts at the NHL level and see if he can cut it. If he can't cut it then there are obviously other options such as free agency, trade, or someone else in the system.

[Majsheppard 203]

I just cannot understand why they are not sold enough on him to let him be a back up. He will only play like 25 games anyways.

[dallas27 7]

Howard, as stated, will see about 25-30 games. It's time to piss or get off the pot with him. He played well, real well, for the Wings in the games he played last year and with his own defense.

[shoe 165]

There's always the trade deadline if he isn't cutting it.

Asking prices could be high at the deadline especially if your in need and other teams know it. Wonder if there are any rejuvinate your career goal tenders the wings would consider.

[betterREDthandead 58]

I could understand your argument if we took him as like a 3rd or 4th round pick. To me, usually a teams first round pick is someone they think very highly on, and hope to have in the organization the quickest. Not many teams take first round goalies. If your first round pick is a goalie (which this year only two teams took goalies in their first round, the other being Nashville who is pretty bad with depth except for Ellis) it makes me beleive that our staff thinks that we are shaky at that position. Im not saying he is a threat to Howard now but possibly in the next few years. I think that by taking a Big bodied goalie like that along with having a guy like Larsson who could take howards spot this year as backup, it shows to me that the staff may not have as much confidence in Howard as they did in the past. I love that we have an American goalie in our minors now, im glad to see that. I also have been hearing alot about a Ryan Miller possibility in the future. It just seems like a whole lot of options for the postion that was suppose to be a lock for Howard since his draft day.

You have to have options. Have to. At the absolutely critical position of goalie, no matter how confident you are, if a team leaves itself without a pipeline of replacements, they're setting themselves up for failure. If the team is losing confidence in Howard, they're not going to solve that by giving him four more years to prove it, they're going to go out right this year and get a new goalie that can play right away.

And don't put anything much into the Ryan Miller possibility, the only reason it's mentioned so much is because he's a native.

[Slave 31]

i say give howard the chance to prove he can or can't play, i think he can, he looked solid enough in the net when he did play last season, on another note...is there a rule against getting a 600 pound sumo wrestler, strapping skates on him and sitting him in the net? there has to be right, or else someone would have thought about doing it already?...

[Cicada 4]

Howard needs to get his chance now...

they'll be enough veteran netminders round so that if it doesn't work, but we should give him 20 or so games and see how he does.

[Shaman 713]

goalies can rot on the vine...so we need to give him a chance asap.

[up2here 41]

We also have to remember that Howard isnt just going to be given the back-up role. He's going to have to earn and from what I've read about Larsson the latter could very well end up taking the job.

[hallelujahlogic 1]

howard deserves a chance for sure. i think he played pretty well for us the few times he got the opportunity to last season.

and if he can't live up to the expectations the organization demands of him...well...i can dream of ryan miller in a winged wheel, right?

[Dabura 12,232]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: The Wings will start the season with an Osgood-Howard tandem.

If Howard somehow drops the ball in a big way (not likely), management may go out and grab someone at the trade deadline. But it won't be a top-notch starter.

[Guest Hatethedrake!]

i say give howard the chance to prove he can or can't play, i think he can, he looked solid enough in the net when he did play last season, on another note...is there a rule against getting a 600 pound sumo wrestler, strapping skates on him and sitting him in the net? there has to be right, or else someone would have thought about doing it already?...

Well Barry Trotz coaches the Preds and Ken Hitchcock is in Columbus. Maybe the Wings can draft a future sumo goalie.

[Slave 31]

i'd do it if i was GM, if the guy can keep his balance on skates then why the hell not, you know they got equipment big enough, just borrow a chest piece of of giguerre

[RWK23 0]

Jimmy Howard will start the season as the backup and he is going to surprise a lot of the doubters around here. He was very good in his brief stint this past season and had a pretty decent season at GR. Don't worry about him.