Ty Conklin - 18th best goalie in the NHL?

[Jocke 53]

I read this article about the top 30 goalies in the NHL according to The Hockey News:

1. Tim Thomas, Boston

2. Niklas Bäckström, Minnesota

3. Steve Mason, Columbus

4. Henrik Lundqvist, NY Rangers

5. Ryan Miller, Buffalo

6. Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose

7. Nikolaj Khabibulin, Chicago

8. Tomas Vokoun, Florida

9. Jonas Hiller, Anaheim

10. Roberto Luongo, Vancouver

11. Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary

12. Scott Clemmensen, New Jersey

13. Manny Fernandez, Boston

14. Antero Nittymäki, Philadelphia

15. Marty Turco, Dallas

16. Chris Mason, St. Louis

17. Ilja Bryzgalov, Phoenix

18. Ty Conklin, Detroit

19. Pekka Rinne, Nashville

20. Craig Anderson, Florida

21. Cam Ward, Carolina

22. Mike Smith, Tampa

23. Cristobal Huet, Chicago

24. Carey Price, Montreal

25. Dwayne Roloson, Edmonton

26. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh

27. José Theodore, Washington

28. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles

29. Martin Biron, Philadelphia

30. J-S Giguere, Anaheim

Is he really that good?

Osgood didn't make it to the list. No surprise there

Edited February 23, 2009 by Jocke

[puckloo39 5,686]

Conklin

for anyone who thinks this guy is a bush league goalie... not so at all.

Glad Kenny was smart enough to ****** him up. Ty plays great for us.

[Casey 145]

If Holland doesn't lock Conklin up for a while, he's a fool.

[Doggy 130]

Is he really that good?

Meh. 18th is no big deal. Look at some of the players ahead of him. Chris Mason, Nittymaki, Hiller... not exactly elite. He's easily that good.

[Coolio Mendez 7]

It would be nice if Holland would lock up Conks and for a while. we will have Oz and Conks, and just trade Howie and then bring up Liv once Ozzies contract is over and he retires.

[SDavis35 140]

It would be nice if Holland would lock up Conks and for a while. we will have Oz and Conks, and just trade Howie and then bring up Liv once Ozzies contract is over and he retires.

This is what I was thinking would happen. Is this "Liv" Larsson? Where'd the nickname come from?

[djohns74 3]

This is what I was thinking would happen. Is this "Liv" Larsson? Where'd the nickname come from?

Stefan Liv

As far as I know, he's not with the organization any longer anyway.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

If Holland doesn't lock Conklin up for a while, he's a fool.

I don't think its gonna be that easy. Conklin has continued to build on his steller showing last season and he's going to command a raise. I'm sure Holland would love to hang on to him, but whether or not he can given the Wings' cap situation is another story.

[Guest mindfly]

Theodore.. from league MVP to 27th

And what about Giggy? looool

[gcom007 1,465]

Are you kidding me? Lock him up? Maybe he'll start in the playoffs and play great, but no way in hell do you "lock him up" until then. We'd still be paying for Legace's therapy if we took that perspective. All this feel-good mumbo jumbo doesn't mean squat until he proves he can do it when it counts and he hasn't done that yet.

[P. Marlowe 748]

Liv? Hello 2006 (or something like that).

[boomer 0]

Are you kidding me? Lock him up? Maybe he'll start in the playoffs and play great, but no way in hell do you "lock him up" until then. We'd still be paying for Legace's therapy if we took that perspective. All this feel-good mumbo jumbo doesn't mean squat until he proves he can do it when it counts and he hasn't done that yet.

Exactly, especially with offseason this year potentially providing a whole slew of quality goaltenders up for grabs.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

Don't agree with a lot of spots on that list. Conklin 18th? Price 24th? Turco 15th? Fluery 26th? Wow!

[eva unit zero 271]

Chris Mason? Are they seriously suggesting he's one of the top goalies in the league?

[Dano33 41]

Don't agree with a lot of spots on that list. Conklin 18th? Price 24th? Turco 15th? Fluery 26th? Wow!

Luongo 10th, one spot behind Hiller? Huh?

[clutchngrab 12]

Holland: "You've got five or six (goalies) that are a different level than everybody else," he said, "but the difference between the 10th best and 20th best isn't that great -- if you play defense."

That says it all. It is also interesting to see how once high and mighty goalies have crashed and burned and new comers are up on that list. It just goes to show that:

1. You play the goalie that is playing well

2. If you think a goalies performance can be predicted from the past you are mistaken.

3. Anyone who locks up a goalie with a fat long-term is going to destroy the organization. Unless it is Marty Brodeur and even he is probably nearing the end.

[DuckSoup13 0]

Conks is the man. He doesn't have all the hype but he sure as hell is better than Osgood at this point in their respective careers. I hope we lock him up to be our starter for the next few years

[Jocke 53]

Meh. 18th is no big deal. Look at some of the players ahead of him. Chris Mason, Nittymaki, Hiller... not exactly elite. He's easily that good.

If you look at the golies below him I think it's pretty high. But maybe not I haven't watched him play a couple of games, that's why I asked

[Ms_Hockey 0]

There's no doubt in my mind that the team in front of him helps him out. I mean, Osgood's career stats with this team (bar this season) are pretty good as well. Even given his play THIS season, he has the highest win percentage of NHL goalies. Conklin is a good goalie, but being on our team certainly helps.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

EDIT: Nevermind.

Edited February 23, 2009 by Ms_Hockey

[Carman 387]

What more does Conklin have to do to win the respect of some of these fans? I mean the guy has played great and has had a rough time so far in the NHL, but I remember watching him with the Green Bay Gamblers, and this guy is the perfect goalie for the Red Wings style, he rarely loses compusure, has a strong techinque, and is extraordinarily calm. He is what made Osgood a great goalie for the wings back in the day. The wings' don't need to use money on a spectacular goalie when we can win with a consistent and "average"(using for a lack of a better word) goalie who doesn't mind watching his team rack up 50 shots and only stopping 13 in a game. I'm rooting for Osgood to return to his earlier confidence and swagger, but either way I feel why are in good hands.

[gcom007 1,465]

What more does Conklin have to do to win the respect of some of these fans? I mean the guy has played great and has had a rough time so far in the NHL, but I remember watching him with the Green Bay Gamblers, and this guy is the perfect goalie for the Red Wings style, he rarely loses compusure, has a strong techinque, and is extraordinarily calm. He is what made Osgood a great goalie for the wings back in the day. The wings' don't need to use money on a spectacular goalie when we can win with a consistent and "average"(using for a lack of a better word) goalie who doesn't mind watching his team rack up 50 shots and only stopping 13 in a game. I'm rooting for Osgood to return to his earlier confidence and swagger, but either way I feel why are in good hands.

I have no issue with Conklin at all. He seems like he's got great character and he's had a real solid year. But I'm not going to get my hopes up about the playoffs and him signing an extension until we see how he handles himself in the playoffs. It's a different game and we more than anyone ought to recognize that with what we've been through. If he starts or comes in to support Osgood in the playoffs, I'll support him and cheer for him because he's on our team and if he proves himself, great. But the regular season only says so much about a guy and I'm not going to get ahead of myself. And I'm going to hope as well that the guy who won us a Cup 8 months ago and made a Conn Smythe case for himself returns to form. This is pretty simple. Hype and bandwagon fans make it a bigger deal than it is. It will work itself out in time.

[Wombat 26]

It seems like there are few goalies that are year-in-year-out great players for more than 5 seasons or so. In that way they are sort of like NFL running backs. Every year we see a few goalies come out of nowhere and they are the new flavor of the month that everyone loves (Mason comes to mind this year). Remember Jim Carey winning the Vezina? Theodore had a great season and otherwise has been sort of average.

I find it hilarious that the top 3 goalies in the league according to this list haven't accomplished squat. Mason is a rookie, Thomas and Backstrom have had a couple nice seasons and no playoff success. That Holland quote is perfect... outside of the top 5 guys, the next 15 or so guys are basically the same. Build a strong defense/team around them and hope everyone gets hot!