"Howard believes he's ready"

[P. Marlowe 748]

NHL.com article

“He (Holland) called to say he didn’t want my spirits to go down because of the signing,” Howard told NHL.com. “He was basically telling me to come into camp and really push for that job and to try to win it.”

If I'm not completely wrong Conklin can't be sent to Grand Rapids without going through waivers first. He'd be most likely lost there. So, I wonder if Holland and co. are thinking after the training camp that if Howard is good enough to be in the NHL this season then they can afford to let Conklin go.

Edited July 13, 2008 by P. Marlowe

[Earthhuman 8]

I don't think so... they'll want the insurance. But obviously since they signed him for 1 year, they're pulling for Howard.

[redwinger4747 6]

NHL.com article

“He (Holland) called to say he didn’t want my spirits to go down because of the signing,” Howard told NHL.com. “He was basically telling me to come into camp and really push for that job and to try to[/i]”</i>

If I'm not completely wrong Conklin can't be sent to Grand Rapids without going through waivers first. He'd be most likely lost there. So, I wonder if Holland and co. are thinking that if Howard is good enough to be in the NHL this season then they can afford to let Conklin go.

Its better to have Conklin in the system for a year while Jimmy can still be sent to the minors but it kinda sucks that our hands are tied because Ty can't be sent down. I think signing Ty was a good insurance move, but I really hope they get Jimmy in for some games, hopefully like 10 or so. Then next year, he's #2 unless he plays himself out of it.

[P. Marlowe 748]

Its better to have Conklin in the system for a year while Jimmy can still be sent to the minors but it kinda sucks that our hands are tied because Ty can't be sent down. I think signing Ty was a good insurance move, but I really hope they get Jimmy in for some games, hopefully like 10 or so. Then next year, he's #2 unless he plays himself out of it.

I'd like to see him play some games too. Now it just seems that he'll get to come up only if someone's on the 7-day IR, as the team has planned to carry 8 defencemen and 13 forwards.

[Reds4Life 51]

Conklin is better than Howard, no doubt about that. Jimmy will most likely spend at least one more year in Grand Rapids.

[55fan 5,133]

I'm sure they are pulling for Jimmy, but really, what else are they going to tell him? Of course they're going to tell him to work hard and try to win it in camp. To do otherwise gives him no motivation since he knows he can be sent back to GR.

I'm not saying they're playing mind games with him, or that they aren't sincere, but it does seem that in signing Conklin they at least have reason to believe that Jimmy might as well make the most of his last year in the AHL without being exposed to waivers.

If it was my decision, I'd keep him in GR for another year and let him get in playing time and hone his skills; but I'd also want him to come into camp with a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard and show me what he can really do.

[eva unit zero 271]

Conklin is a good young goalie. He is, at this point, better than Howard. Some even considered him to have better career potential than Howard when he was Howard's age.

Ultimately, Howard will be in Detroit if he can prove he brings more to the team than Conklin does. But because of the free agent situation with Conklin, the playing time situation with Howard (it would be as a backup either way) and the fact that the rest of the roster is pretty much set, I expect we will see Howard start the season in Grand Rapids unless there is an injury. There's no reason for Howard to rot on the bench when he has another year he can be playing 40-50 games in Grand rapids.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Conklin is better than Howard, no doubt about that. Jimmy will most likely spend at least one more year in Grand Rapids.

QFT at this point.

TBH, there is nothing to indicate that he will be better or outplay Conkblock before October 9th, and barring perfect health from our Oz and Ty he'll be in GR the whole season. If one of the two gets hurt he'll gets some games here and there.

[chuklz 15]

Conklin is a good young goalie. He is, at this point, better than Howard. Some even considered him to have better career potential than Howard when he was Howard's age.

Ultimately, Howard will be in Detroit if he can prove he brings more to the team than Conklin does. But because of the free agent situation with Conklin, the playing time situation with Howard (it would be as a backup either way) and the fact that the rest of the roster is pretty much set, I expect we will see Howard start the season in Grand Rapids unless there is an injury. There's no reason for Howard to rot on the bench when he has another year he can be playing 40-50 games in Grand rapids.

They used to spew this and more crap about Osgood too.

[Opie 308]

Conklin is a good young goalie. He is, at this point, better than Howard. Some even considered him to have better career potential than Howard when he was Howard's age.

Ultimately, Howard will be in Detroit if he can prove he brings more to the team than Conklin does. But because of the free agent situation with Conklin, the playing time situation with Howard (it would be as a backup either way) and the fact that the rest of the roster is pretty much set, I expect we will see Howard start the season in Grand Rapids unless there is an injury. There's no reason for Howard to rot on the bench when he has another year he can be playing 40-50 games in Grand rapids.

Umm Eva I wouldn't exactly call Conklin a Young goalie, I know netminders tend to develop later than skaters but 32 going into the year and 33 by the playoffs (DOB 3/30/1976) doesn't scream young in my book.

But he will be the back up, there is no way the wings want to expose Conklin to the waiver wire if J-ho can freely move up and down.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

There's no reason for Howard to rot on the bench when he has another year he can be playing 40-50 games in Grand rapids.

I think that's the key here.

With key prospects like Howard and Ericsson the Wings won't waste their developmental time by having them sit in the press box. If Howard or Ericsson make the team this year they'll play regular minutes- otherwise they're both better off playing for Grand Rapids.