The Future of our Goaltending

[Blood On The Ice 15]

I have faith in the guy, but really his only great achievement in his NHL career was his absolutely solid run with the Pens when Fleury was hurt. Not to say it's a bad thing, I mean at 750K, he's a bargain... But we can't really look at 30 games as a reference for such great goaltending.

As I say though, 750K, what the hell?

You absolutly right, you can not judge based on the 30 good games. Anyone remember the name Brian Boucher. How many shutouts in a row did he put up a few years ago. Everybody thought wow, finally, he broke out, he's the goalie of the future. Where the hell is he now. Is he even on the Coyotes goalie depth chart anymore sitting at #4 or 5.

[Cicada 4]

i'm amazed that this has generated so much discussion. To me it's pretty clear..

Osgood is our #1 for now..

Conklin and Howard are fighting for backup this year..

Larsson is an unknown because we really don't know how he'll adapt to the game - remember Stefan Liv?

McCollum is a long term thing, and who really knows how a players going to develop, even if he is a 1st rounder..

next year Howards out of waiver options, so Osgood and Howard will be our pair next year, with Conkin gone UNLESS - Larsson adapts really well, or Howard's game goes to s***. Remember that Howard signed a 3 year deal for not a lot of money. It's fairly certain he'll be in the top 2 next year.

Howard has shown flashes of brilliance in the past. But he's not been consistent. And that usually only comes with time and experience. I'm backing Howard to have a good season in the AHL.

Remember as well, that in the 3 years Howard was in the AHL, the last 2 the Griffins were a fairly crappy team. That 1st year when he shared duties with MacDonald and MacIntyre was a great team (Hudler, Filppula, Kopecky, Ellis, etc), but the teams of the last 2 have been poor. Not to mention Howard has had to take a hell a lot of the workload due to underperforming #2's. Stefan Liv sucked sometihng awful, so much so they had to send him to the ECHL and bring up Koopmans. Adam Berkhoel was poor as well. Goaltenders arn't ON everynight unless they're called Roy or Brodeur.

Larsson is only on a 2 year entry level deal, and it's impossible to project. Yes, he won things in the SEL (rookie, goalie), but not everyone who wins that award is a Henrik Lundquist. Plus he's only 22.

As for McCollum, i like his stuff. He's got great size and a Osgoodian glove hand, but he's still a junior and while he'll likely be the US #1 at the WJC he's by no means a can't miss prospect..

With out cap situation, Datsyuk, Rafalski already signed long term. Zetterberg, Franzen, maybe Hossa as well we're not in a situation where we can go and sign Roberto Luongo to a 7 mill a year deal, which is what he will command at least on the open market. Even if Lidstrom retires, unless the CBA changes dramatically it won't happen.

The future of our goaltending is internal, no doubt, and i think we'll be just fine.

Edited August 28, 2008 by Cicada

[Drake_Marcus 890]

So you don't think Howard is ready even though he has been better than average in the AHL and shown signs of being very solid in the NHL (Dallas game when the top 4 D were all out), yet some one that has not played any NA hockey, isn't used to the rink sizes (which changes angles) is?

If J-Ho is ready, he will be the man, if not then Holland and Co will fix the problem whether that be internally or via trade.

Is Larssen / J-Ho going to be the new goalie controversy thread now?

Ahhh yeah. What is LetsGoWings without goalie controversy threads?

Seriously though, Howard's been dominant in the AHL at times and horrible at other times. Like all other young hockey players his flaw is inconsistency.

[eva unit zero 271]

You absolutly right, you can not judge based on the 30 good games. Anyone remember the name Brian Boucher. How many shutouts in a row did he put up a few years ago. Everybody thought wow, finally, he broke out, he's the goalie of the future. Where the hell is he now. Is he even on the Coyotes goalie depth chart anymore sitting at #4 or 5.

Boucher is sitting on the bench in San Jose, backing up Nabokov.

[Shutemdown 23]

Lidstrom has 2 yrs left on his contract. If he hangs up his skates, i say we replace him with the only person who could come close to replacing him.. Roberto. who also has 2 yrs left on his contract.

Off-topic? What?

[Kp-Wings 3]

McCollum is the goalie of the future.

[imisssergei 0]

If you truly believe Howard is going to make the team this year over Conklin you're kidding yourself. I agree that Conklin isn't in the Wings long-term plans but having him for the bargain price the Wings got him for, the fact that you know what you are getting in him at the NHL level, and being one that the team would probably feel more comfortable in front of come playoff time (in the event of an injury) are just a few of the reasons Conklin will be on the Wings this year while Howard spends this one last year in GR.

Where in that post did I say that Howard would make the team over Conklin? I didn't. What I said is exactly what I meant: the sole reason Conklin was brought in was to push Howard.

Let me explain, because you obviously missed my point.

Regardless if the Wings want to go with Howard as the backup this season or not, they think needs to be pushed. If Conklin was brought in to backup Osgood, then he wouldn't have been signed to a one year deal. Why? Because by now if the Wings don't have enough faith in Howard to provide backup duties on the level that Conklin does, they never will. Much more the less, have any confidence in him as a starter. Both Conklin and the Wings know that if Howard plays well, he will get the spot. Conklin is a serviceable backup, most of the time.

Bottom line, he won't be around come this time 2009.

Alas, knowing the Wings, they will probably completely destroy this thread by carrying and using all 3 goalies.

[soultrain 43]

Hasek will change his mind on retiring and be back to take Osgood's spot for a couple years.

and he could win another cup if we keep our team together....but the wings almost could bring back tim cheveldae and win another cup.

[soultrain 43]

Ray Emery is the future!

if he can stay away from trouble...i thought the wings should have thrown a small chunk of cash when the sens dropped his ass.

[DatsyukownzU13 1]

Just a little update-

Larsson posted 15 saves and allowed no goals against in the game today for about 1/2 the game. He decided to leave the game for dehydration reasons but was said to have played exceptionally well.

McCollum came in and posted the exact same numbers (15 saves) in the 4-0 win over the Rangers.

Side Note: Cory Emmerton notched 2 goals and 1 assist.

[KrazyGangsta 79]

McCollum will be a great goaltender if he get's developed right

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

As someone mentioned above, Lids has 2 years left on his contract. So does Roberto Luongo. The two are making (if i'm not mistaken) basically the same salary. Why wouldn't it make sense to make a push for Luongo after Lids retires? hmmm.......

[imisssergei 0]

As someone mentioned above, Lids has 2 years left on his contract. So does Roberto Luongo. The two are making (if i'm not mistaken) basically the same salary. Why wouldn't it make sense to make a push for Luongo after Lids retires? hmmm.......

Here is one for you....

Hossa or Bobby?

I take Bobby.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Here is one for you....

Hossa or Bobby?

I take Bobby.

Perhaps....both?

Seriously, if it came down to the two, Bobby.

[russianswede919293 95]

In my opinion there is no issue. Howard, Larsson, and McCollum are all 2-3 years apart developmentally. They will each get their shot, and if they blow it the one behind them gets theirs.

I think Howard has shown he COULD be a great goalie. But he is far too inconsistant down in GR for me to be comfortable with him as an NHL starter at this point.

[Dabura 12,232]

Howard. There's really no question at this point.

[Scotty 0]

I think that when it's all said and done... Jimmy Howard is our goaltender of the future, just like they said he would be. But, then again, Daniel Larsson could very well push Howie and possibly earn the future starting job. Who knows? Also, let's not forget that Thomas McCollum was considered the best North American goalie at this years draft so, he could to very well be in the mix in the long run. Only time will tell.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Why would Ty Conklin not be in the long term plans? Obviously barring some kind of injry, he's not going to be the starter. But he's becoming a veteran netminder who's been on 2 Cup finalists and a conference finalist in the last 3 years, and now he's a member of the team where winning is a culture and is coming off a Cup win. Being around these teams/players, he knows what it takes to get it done, and could really offer nothing but help to younger goalies coming in. I'm all for keeping him around in the backup role for longer than 1-2 seasons.

[Heaton 1]

Howard. There's really no question at this point.

I think there's a lot of questions about that at this point. I certainty haven't given up hope but while the front office has come out and said that Jimmy will be with the team next year I'm curious to see how short the leash is.

[Opie 308]

Why would Ty Conklin not be in the long term plans? Obviously barring some kind of injry, he's not going to be the starter. But he's becoming a veteran netminder who's been on 2 Cup finalists and a conference finalist in the last 3 years, and now he's a member of the team where winning is a culture and is coming off a Cup win. Being around these teams/players, he knows what it takes to get it done, and could really offer nothing but help to younger goalies coming in. I'm all for keeping him around in the backup role for longer than 1-2 seasons.

Because Howard is out of Waiver options next year, so if it is a tie (no pun intended) the wings are going to side with Howard, IMO.

Howard is a potential starter and was billed to be a very very good prospect.

Conklin is a career back up who is older than Howard.

If the Wings want to keep Conklin past this season it would involve letting go or either Howard or Osgood. Seeing as Ozzie is the starter for this and next season (at minimum) it comes down to Conklin and Howard. If Larsson shows up this season and owns Howard in GR then Conklin would probably get another contract, Howard would be dealt/waived and Larsson would have Waiver options. That is a a shot in the dark, odds are Larsson will take a season or two to get used to NA hockey and the rinks.

Edited September 15, 2008 by Opie

[vangvace 12]

IIRC MacDonald was supposed to be the goalie of the future. Now it's Howard... hmmm. Osgood was the last goalie to make it up the ranks. That says something.

Howard will be traded before training camp 2009.