Howard Recalled; Osgood told to "re-focus"

[NomadFromKazoo 42]

its just a way to get ozzie back on track. im just glad to get a new look at howard.

Dude, you're completely missing the theme, you're supposed to hysterically overrreact! This is completely measured and reasonable, in short, you've LOST it! We were stupid for not playing Conklin and bringing up Howard and we didn't trade for another goaltender soon enough and we tied up our cap and Ozzie's done and he's been killing us all season and now we're completely and utterly SCREWED!!!!!

If you need any more tips on appropriate complete and utter lack of perspective let me know and I'll help you out again...

[NomadFromKazoo 42]

I may be misreading, but I think he's saying we should have given Osgood a break back in December. That way Osgood could have had more time off to recover from his groin injury and retool his game, and we would already know what we have in Jimmy Howard.

OK, I see what you're saying. In reading as you say it here I think you're right, that is what he meant. I thought with the Howard reference he meant that Howard would be our starter now. But in re-reading it with your interpretation in mind, I think you're right, he meant Ozzie would be better healed and ready. I still think the knowing what we had in Howard was a bit of a useless diversion, I don't think a few weeks in the NHL would have changed much. But he didn't mean Howard would be NHL playoff goalie ready, so my apologies to the author of the quote I misinterpreted. I'm not sure I agree that was really the issue, it seems to me watching Ozzie that he's just not in the zone. I don't see him doing anything really different, it just seemed last year he had the ability to take a wild swing at the puck when it seemed impossible and bat it away and this year he just doesn't. Shots he stopped just sail under his arm. He's close, but close doesn't stop pucks from going in.

[Dawgs 0]

I see, so if we'd played Howard in Detroit this season he's be a playoff goaltender for an elite team and instead we wasted his season in Grand Rapids and now he's just a minor leaguer. I mean playing a kid in Grand Rapids to grow him into an NHL goalie and bringing him to the NHL slowly is such a waste of time and talent. I'll file this in the black can under my desk marked crapola and save it for all due future reference.

I always love the argument that when our kids come up they play well is PROOF they were always ready for the NHL and we were buffoons to have wasted all that time playing them in the minors. Silly me, I always thought it was solid proof we did a great job developing them in the minors and honing their skills to be ready to play in the NHL. It turns out they ALWAYS WERE and we're STUPID!!!! Wow, re-reading what I just wrote I realize what a moron I was for thinking that!!!!

Completely misunderstood that sentence my fault sorry. I meant that maybe Ozzie would be right by now, instead of trying to get him right by not playing him for 10 days with 20 games left, and that we would have had the chance to see Howard at this level. I wasnt advocating Howard for playoff goalie.

[The Secret 304]

I may be misreading, but I think he's saying we should have given Osgood a break back in December. That way Osgood could have had more time off to recover from his groin injury and retool his game, and we would already know what we have in Jimmy Howard.

You are talking to the person that supported Osgood being put into as many games a possible until the end of the season to play out his s***ty showing that has been going on from the beginning of the season. The same guy that apparently watches the same games as everyone else and still thinks that Osgood has no problems mechanically. Still the same guy that feels the Defense is as much to blame for all of the bad bounces and s***ty goals let in as Osgood.

[NomadFromKazoo 42]

I said it before and was chastised for it, but Osgood has played well when in the role of backup and needing to prove himself. It was no different in the 90s, no different this decade either. He simply is too smug as a starter and needs a kick in the ass to keep his game up. Not everyone needs this, but clearly Osgood does. At least they didn't throw him off the team and will give him some time to deal with his problems. You don't just throw a goalie that helped you in the cup last season out just because he's having an off year. Good for management for mixing a kick in the ass with loyalty.

I agree Ozzie's been way better as a sub. But I'm not sure it's just "loyalty." Hasek finally should have and did give it up. We have up and comers in the minors getting close. We signed a quality backup in Conklin. And as everyone keeps pointing out there are lots of mediocre goalies in the NHL who aren't really an upgrade. So the specific solution to the problem's not obviously apparent. Do we give up a bunch of our future and tie up a bunch of cap or hope Ozzie and Conklin can hold it together all be it with band-aids and paper clips for the year while we address other needs? And then you add on top of that what SHOULD be a monster D and it makes sense that while it was a gamble is was a reasonable choice. What if we had signed a guy who ended up being mediocre himself and we were looking at only "hoping" to keep Hossa "or" Franzen? Again when we have guys who will at least initially be cheap coming up from below next year and maybe we can sign them both and still be able to pay our young goalies as the cap goes up?

I guess instead of saying you don't like what they tried, what EXACTLY are you proposing we should have done? Criticizing's a whole lot easier then solving.

BTW, someone "chastised" you for saying Ozzie's a better sub then starter? I'd like to see that quote. I've been supporting that Ozzie's our best option this year, but I can't see how anyone could disagree with that he plays better as a sub as it's clearly true.

[NomadFromKazoo 42]

Completely misunderstood that sentence my fault sorry. I meant that maybe Ozzie would be right by now, instead of trying to get him right by not playing him for 10 days with 20 games left, and that we would have had the chance to see Howard at this level. I wasnt advocating Howard for playoff goalie.

It was my bad, I think we were writing these at the same time, but I said so in the post before this post of yours.

[Dawgs 0]

Its easy to tell Ozzie hasnt been right this season. Dont look at his GAA thats as much the defense. Look at the pathetically weak Sv%. Ozzies been fighting it since day one against Toronto. He can still make the spectacular save but his penchant for allowing weak goals has gotten worse as the seasons progressed. Ten days in late Feb and early March is too little too late if ya ask me. This should have been handled in December.

[SFwingsfan 23]

Wow this is a bold move that I did not expect. I'm sorry this post adds nothing I just had to express my surprise at this turn of events.

[NomadFromKazoo 42]

You are talking to the person that supported Osgood being put into as many games a possible until the end of the season to play out his s***ty showing that has been going on from the beginning of the season. The same guy that apparently watches the same games as everyone else and still thinks that Osgood has no problems mechanically. Still the same guy that feels the Defense is as much to blame for all of the bad bounces and s***ty goals let in as Osgood.

You're a bitter little fem, aren't you? Not only are these shemale misrepresentations of what I said about Ozzie, I have not even addressed the D in any way in any of these conversations and I've never used the term "bad bounce" or anything like it either. I think the problem is that Ozzie is sucking, not the D, not bad bounces. So if you want to make stuff up, you only show what you are. At least above I misunderstood and admitted it, I didn't just make it up like you are.

[union drone 0]

its just a way to get ozzie back on track. im just glad to get a new look at howard.

Actually, I am of the opinion that Osgood is getting the 10 days off so that he can join Legace on the World Poker Tour.

[The Secret 304]

You're a bitter little fem, aren't you? Not only are these shemale misrepresentations of what I said about Ozzie, I have not even addressed the D in any way in any of these conversations and I've never used the term "bad bounce" or anything like it either. I think the problem is that Ozzie is sucking, not the D, not bad bounces. So if you want to make stuff up, you only show what you are. At least above I misunderstood and admitted it, I didn't just make it up like you are.

I have no need to make things up. You were adamant in the Osgood thread that was canned by the mods that Osgoods mechanics were fine, that he needed to play in more games to finally get things working and that the D was sub-par and that was another reason.

They should have done this in December as was suggested. Getting either Howard and/or Larsson at least a few games during the season to see how they respond and how they have progressed. Very beneficial in the case that either Osgood or Conklin go down for the count and they need to come up in support. PLUS, it would have given Osgood the time he needed to find out what his problem is.... doing this in December rather then February would have been a much better idea.

[Vladifan 680]

Classic overreading. Clearly they are not satisfied and they are trying EVERYTHING. If they didn't "trust" him he would be waived and there's no basis to say that at all. With his record and our record it's nonsense to make that extreme statement they don't "trust him," pa-lease. With his save percentage and GAA there's no basis to say they are or should be satisfied. As they keep saying, you don't win playoff games 6-5. But because rather then playing Ozzie or sitting Ozzie for Conklin they try bringing up Howard and you jump to they don't "trust" him? It's baseless and frankly pretty inane. The only playoff experienced guy in the organzation who won two Cups, the last in J-U-N-E. And they don't trust him. Why do people feel the need for such nonsense?

[kylee 727]

oh Ozzie... :[

big time move by Holland. As others have stated in this thread, this might be the wake up call that Osgood absolutely needs.. wait and see.

Here's a chance for Howard to show the organization something...

[sliverck 3]

Awesome! And it's about time. How can you make an nhl quality goalie if he never plays any nhl games? Howard should have at least played in a handful of games this season by now. Enough with other teams career backups, Howard is ready. He has been ready, what more can he do in Grand Rapids at this point? He struggled early with a broken finger, now the finger's good and so are his numbers. Time to put Nogood out of his misery.

[Wingfan24 0]

I suspect Maltby is gone by the deadline, who knows maybe there's a package being put together to acquire a goaltender?

Maltby won't be gone hes been with detroit almost his whole career plus your not gunna get anything thats gunna make a difference with him.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I haven't read through the thread, and I don't plan to, but I have to say this is a great, classy move on the Wings part. He's not going to get traded or waived, they're just giving him another chance, yet not at the cost of points.

Even if the Wings went with Conklin in the playoffs, or picked up a goalie at the deadline, why on earth would they get rid of a guy thats won two Stanley Cups? If by chance the Wings do find themselves going into the playoffs with a tender who has little or no playoff experience, then Osgood becomes a great source of advice and reassurance to whoever that goaltender is. If you're not going into the playoffs with a proven winner at the helm, then it doesn't hurt to have one as a back-up, regardless of how hes played all year.

[Vladifan 680]

I said it before and was chastised for it, but Osgood has played well when in the role of backup and needing to prove himself. It was no different in the 90s, no different this decade either. He simply is too smug as a starter and needs a kick in the ass to keep his game up. Not everyone needs this, but clearly Osgood does. At least they didn't throw him off the team and will give him some time to deal with his problems. You don't just throw a goalie that helped you in the cup last season out just because he's having an off year. Good for management for mixing a kick in the ass with loyalty.

Nicely put. The only part where I might throw in a different opinion is that Ozzie's attitude is "smug". I'm not sure it's that so much as denial about his problems - or it might be that he figures if he thinks positive thoughts it will all be OK in time. Wasn't happening. I'm all for the shake-up and I agree about the kick in the ass with loyalty. Again, the Wings organization is nuthin' but class.

[Z and D for the C 712]

Wow. Did NOT expect this at all. (seriously, not being sarcastic)

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

I've been watching highlights of last year's playoffs all afternoon. Ozzie was such a beast. That had to be his best goaltending of his career.

And then watching him this year, it's like the old Ozzie. I hope he gets his head right, because if we're gonna go deep into the playoffs again this season, we need a goalie playing like Ozzie last season.

[The Secret 304]

I haven't read through the thread, and I don't plan to, but I have to say this is a great, classy move on the Wings part. He's not going to get traded or waived, they're just giving him another chance, yet not at the cost of points.

Even if the Wings went with Conklin in the playoffs, or picked up a goalie at the deadline, why on earth would they get rid of a guy thats won two Stanley Cups? If by chance the Wings do find themselves going into the playoffs with a tender who has little or no playoff experience, then Osgood becomes a great source of advice and reassurance to whoever that goaltender is. If you're not going into the playoffs with a proven winner at the helm, then it doesn't hurt to have one as a back-up, regardless of how hes played all year.

Yes, I totally agree with this. Right now I think Conklin could hold his own in a play off situation. Remember he doesn't need to be a super star on this team and he has shown he is capable of doing whats needed and if he is playing it will be very helpful to have Osgoods experience behind him. Osgood as it sounds I don't see Osgood being traded.

[lets go pavel 2]

I have no need to make things up. You were adamant in the Osgood thread that was canned by the mods that Osgoods mechanics were fine, that he needed to play in more games to finally get things working and that the D was sub-par and that was another reason.

They should have done this in December as was suggested. Getting either Howard and/or Larsson at least a few games during the season to see how they respond and how they have progressed. Very beneficial in the case that either Osgood or Conklin go down for the count and they need to come up in support. PLUS, it would have given Osgood the time he needed to find out what his problem is.... doing this in December rather then February would have been a much better idea.

I too thought it would be better to let Ozzie keep playing, and I also feel that the defense has not been as consistently strong this year as last year. I, along with most people who have posted similarly, have also been pretty plain in saying that none of this excuses Ozzie's play, that he is playing poorly. You act like this decision vindicates you, but you should probably wait until it actually works before you start celebrating. If Ozzie comes back strong, then I will gladly agree, we should have done it in December ... if he doesn't, I hope you'll acknowledge that your plan didn't work.

[clutchngrab 12]

You're a bitter little fem, aren't you? Not only are these shemale misrepresentations of what I said about Ozzie, I have not even addressed the D in any way in any of these conversations and I've never used the term "bad bounce" or anything like it either. I think the problem is that Ozzie is sucking, not the D, not bad bounces. So if you want to make stuff up, you only show what you are. At least above I misunderstood and admitted it, I didn't just make it up like you are.

let the hair pulling and mud wrestling begin. I always like when a whiny ***** calls another a whiny *****. good humor... keep it up.

[Guest Shoreline]

I agree Ozzie's been way better as a sub. But I'm not sure it's just "loyalty." Hasek finally should have and did give it up. We have up and comers in the minors getting close. We signed a quality backup in Conklin. And as everyone keeps pointing out there are lots of mediocre goalies in the NHL who aren't really an upgrade. So the specific solution to the problem's not obviously apparent. Do we give up a bunch of our future and tie up a bunch of cap or hope Ozzie and Conklin can hold it together all be it with band-aids and paper clips for the year while we address other needs? And then you add on top of that what SHOULD be a monster D and it makes sense that while it was a gamble is was a reasonable choice. What if we had signed a guy who ended up being mediocre himself and we were looking at only "hoping" to keep Hossa "or" Franzen? Again when we have guys who will at least initially be cheap coming up from below next year and maybe we can sign them both and still be able to pay our young goalies as the cap goes up?

I guess instead of saying you don't like what they tried, what EXACTLY are you proposing we should have done? Criticizing's a whole lot easier then solving.

BTW, someone "chastised" you for saying Ozzie's a better sub then starter? I'd like to see that quote. I've been supporting that Ozzie's our best option this year, but I can't see how anyone could disagree with that he plays better as a sub as it's clearly true.

I was chastised by some Ozzie fanatic for saying it, don't care to get the quote (I'm lazy) but it was a few months back when the team was doing FAR worse defensively than now.

Anyways, the thing about Hasek is he's a self-motivator. He ended up becoming somewhat of a locker room problem around the time the team had him and Curtis Joseph, but he eventually shaped up again. Manny Legace, before becoming a starter, showed signs of it, but nonetheless the Wings realized it was a mistake and Legace was best kept in a backup role (or starter for another team). In Osgood's case, every time he's won the starting job he's lost it, too. The Wings management simply did not trust him as the #1 guy for long, and this season is really proof that he needs to be under that sort of mentality that he has to prove himself a starter.

Meanwhile, Conklin has been busting his ass and right now I'm thinking Conklin could be this last year's Osgood, this season.

There really isn't anything I could have told them to do better on because the team just won a cup with Osgood, and really couldn't afford to go out and get another. So being that tight on the cap, surely that was a large factor in keeping Osgood a starter. If the team signs Hossa and Franzen both, I'm thinking the team might be pushed into a similar situation again.

[The Secret 304]

I too thought it would be better to let Ozzie keep playing, and I also feel that the defense has not been as consistently strong this year as last year. I, along with most people who have posted similarly, have also been pretty plain in saying that none of this excuses Ozzie's play, that he is playing poorly. You act like this decision vindicates you, but you should probably wait until it actually works before you start celebrating. If Ozzie comes back strong, then I will gladly agree, we should have done it in December ... if he doesn't, I hope you'll acknowledge that your plan didn't work.

Bah, it's not a celebration on my part. I am hoping Osgood gets clear and gets back on track. I want us to win, thats the goal. I just don't think it was handled as it should have been. I'm just an armchair GM here, I'm not trying to say I know-all at all. I would have done things differently and thats that. There is nothing saying that any of this will work but it was quite obvious at least a month ago that playing him more wasn't doing any good... he's gotten worse as the season has progressed. The D not playing like last year is still better then 90% of the Defenses units out there and they are not playing that bad IMO. PK, needs work but the Offense is the reason why we are in the position we are in.

[Majsheppard 203]

Osgood surely is the Rodney Dangerfield of the NHL.

I tell you what, he doesn't get no respect.