*If* Jimmy Howard Doesn't Work Out

[Yzerfan1999 81]

What are the odds Holland brings in someone like Manny Fernandez, Kolzig, or Curtis Joseph just in case? If they are still available and Howard isn't giving us wins while Osgood gets nights off, do you think Holland will go after a vet to play backup down the stretch?

[martyrme19 73]

if that ends up being the case.....yes i do.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

If he hasn't hung himself yet, I wouldn't be surprised if Holland brings in Legace again.

[VM1138 1,921]

If he hasn't hung himself yet, I wouldn't be surprised if Holland brings in Legace again.

Man. Legace was so good in the beginning. So good.

And then BAM! Suck-city.

I think it's an open secret that Holland is keeping an eye on goalies in case Howard doesn't pan out. Remember, Howard hasn't done much to make everyone confident in him, and he's really only with the team because he and the team were both out of options.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

What are the odds Holland brings in someone like Manny Fernandez, Kolzig, or Curtis Joseph just in case? If they are still available and Howard isn't giving us wins while Osgood gets nights off, do you think Holland will go after a vet to play backup down the stretch?

If Howard doesn't work out by the time the trade deadline approaches I imagine he'd go after a veteran back-up. Certainly not CuJo, since he's got almost nothing left in the tank, but someone.

[uk_redwing 495]

If Jimmy Howard doesnt work out, it will clearly be due to a lack of an enforcer.

WHEN Jason Williams doesnt work out, its because hes a lazy piece of s***.

[Doc Holiday 0]

If Jimmy Howard doesnt work out, it will clearly be due to a lack of an enforcer.

WHEN Jason Williams doesnt work out, its because hes a lazy piece of s***.

Dammit, I was about to make that joke.

Also, I wouldn't mind Legace as a backup. He did fine in 02 with Hasek. Just don't give him any significant responsibility and he'll do much better.

[newfy 695]

Dammit, I was about to make that joke.

Also, I wouldn't mind Legace as a backup. He did fine in 02 with Hasek. Just don't give him any significant responsibility and he'll do much better.

02 was a long time ago and with Ozzy as your starter the backup gets a pretty big amount of responsibility because Ozzy is getting older. Oh and he needs his rest to make conn smythe worthy cup runs.

[Doc Holiday 0]

02 was a long time ago and with Ozzy as your starter the backup gets a pretty big amount of responsibility because Ozzy is getting older. Oh and he needs his rest to make conn smythe worthy cup runs.

Legace was great in the 06 regular season, and since Osgood is the obvious playoff choice, his f***-ups in the playoffs will not be a problem.

Price tag is my biggest worry.

[BeeRYCE 2]

I'd be content with trying McCollum for a Steve Mason-esque approach. I'm convinced he's the next big goalie and in the very near future as well... As soon as next season even.

[RedWingedKitten 9]

I'd be content with trying McCollum for a Steve Mason-esque approach. I'm convinced he's the next big goalie and in the very near future as well... As soon as next season even.

That is so far from our style... although the idea interests me.

I'm sure the team will be able to help Howard out a bit.

Lidstrom - Rafalski

Kronwall - Stuart

Ericsson - Lilja/Lebda

Hopefully Howards presence will make the team defense play better. (in the regular season)

[rage 24]

lly

That is so far from our style... although the idea interests me.

I'm sure the team will be able to help Howard out a bit.

Lidstrom - Rafalski

Kronwall - Stuart

Ericsson - Lilja/Lebda

Hopefully Howards presence will make the team defense play better. (in the regular season)

Hopefully the team defense doesn't get worse than it was last year during the regular season!!

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Trade him to the Island for Marty Biron. Above average goalie, very cheap at $1.4 million, free agent next summer, and the Isles can never get enough goaltending. I've (and others here) always thought that Biron would look good in a Red Wings uniform. He seemed disappointed to leave Philadelphia for the NHL's basement, and surely would welcome a trade to a contending team.

It's only a matter of time before DiPietro gets hurt again, the guy is more fragile than glass. And while Roloson isn't the long term answer, maybe Howard would perform better in an environment where there isn't as much pressure on the goaltenders and the team to win. MacDonald and Danis are both gone, leaving them basically with Biron, Roloson, and DP. A Roloson-DP/Howard tandem could work nicely for them.

Edited August 15, 2009 by Hockeytown0001

[rage 24]

I'd be content with trying McCollum for a Steve Mason-esque approach. I'm convinced he's the next big goalie and in the very near future as well... As soon as next season even.

This is a great idea. Just as long as we are not slipping down the Playoff Tree and threating to lose a Playoff Spot.

[rage 24]

Trade him to the Island for Marty Biron. Above average goalie, very cheap at $1.4 million, free agent next summer, and the Isles can never get enough goaltending. I've (and others here) always thought that Biron would look good in a Red Wings uniform. He seemed disappointed to leave Philadelphia for the NHL's basement, and surely would welcome a trade to a contending team.

It's only a matter of time before DiPietro gets hurt again, the guy is more fragile than glass. And while Roloson isn't the long term answer, maybe Howard would perform better in an environment where there isn't as much pressure on the goaltenders and the team to win. MacDonald and Danis are both gone, leaving them basically with Biron, Roloson, and DP. A Roloson-DP/Howard tandem could work nicely for them.

I read this, and man I really really want Howard to do great this year! I have always been a Howard fan!!

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

This is a great idea. Just as long as we are not slipping down the Playoff Tree and threating to lose a Playoff Spot.

Considering that the Wings cruised to a playoff spot last year in front of, statistically, the worst regular season goalie in the league, I think they could handle it.

[dat's sick 1,002]

If Howard doesn't work out, Larsson will get the backup job instead. That's all there is to it.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

If Howard doesn't work out, Larsson will get the backup job instead. That's all there is to it.

I doubt it. The Wings don't like pushing their prospects into the big show too soon. Larsson's a great young goalie, but he's still got a few seasons in the AHL before he'll be asked to carry more than a handful of NHL games a season. However, if he has a crazy camp/preseason and dominates in the NHL when given a call-up all bets are off (of course).

Holland is the type of guy who would rather take a veteran over a rookie 9 times out of 10, so I doubt he'd bring Larsson up full time to replace a failed Howard (baring a surprise dominance scenario like the one outlined above).

[chrisdetroit 189]

If Jimmy Howard doesnt work out, it will clearly be due to a lack of an enforcer.

WHEN Jason Williams doesnt work out, its because hes a lazy piece of s***.

great post! ROFLMAO

[chrisdetroit 189]

Legace was great in the 06 regular season, and since Osgood is the obvious playoff choice, his f***-ups in the playoffs will not be a problem.

Price tag is my biggest worry.

No on Legace. He was sent to the minors by St. Louis last year. Obviously he hasn't improved since he left. Then there is the problem of what happens if God forbid, Ozzie is injured in the playoffs and we have to put in Legace. No thanks.

[LeftWinger 5,150]

Absolutely NO to Legace (sorry Chris) but he is the worst option out there!

[dat's sick 1,002]

I doubt it. The Wings don't like pushing their prospects into the big show too soon. Larsson's a great young goalie, but he's still got a few seasons in the AHL before he'll be asked to carry more than a handful of NHL games a season. However, if he has a crazy camp/preseason and dominates in the NHL when given a call-up all bets are off (of course).

Holland is the type of guy who would rather take a veteran over a rookie 9 times out of 10, so I doubt he'd bring Larsson up full time to replace a failed Howard (baring a surprise dominance scenario like the one outlined above).

Larsson played better than Howard in the AHL last year, and he played 2 seasons in the SEL (not a junior league) before coming over.

If Howard wasn't out of AHL options I'd be willing to bet Larsson would be the guy that got to start the year as Ozzie's backup.

It kinda depends on how things play out though. If Ozzie plays convincingly but Howard completely fails, I'd say there's a 99% chance that Larsson is brought up.

If however Ozzie struggles as well, I could see them going after a veteran goalie.

[SDavis35 140]

Larsson played better than Howard in the AHL last year, and he played 2 seasons in the SEL (not a junior league) before coming over.

If Howard wasn't out of AHL options I'd be willing to bet Larsson would be the guy that got to start the year as Ozzie's backup.

It kinda depends on how things play out though. If Ozzie plays convincingly but Howard completely fails, I'd say there's a 99% chance that Larsson is brought up.

If however Ozzie struggles as well, I could see them going after a veteran goalie.

Keep in mind Larsson also made the AHL all-star game (i think Howard did too?)

[e_prime 1,936]

Trade him to the Island for Marty Biron. Above average goalie, very cheap at $1.4 million, free agent next summer, and the Isles can never get enough goaltending. I've (and others here) always thought that Biron would look good in a Red Wings uniform. He seemed disappointed to leave Philadelphia for the NHL's basement, and surely would welcome a trade to a contending team.

It's only a matter of time before DiPietro gets hurt again, the guy is more fragile than glass. And while Roloson isn't the long term answer, maybe Howard would perform better in an environment where there isn't as much pressure on the goaltenders and the team to win. MacDonald and Danis are both gone, leaving them basically with Biron, Roloson, and DP. A Roloson-DP/Howard tandem could work nicely for them.

As a Wings fan, love the idea of Biron coming over if Howard doesn't pan out.

As an Islander's watcher, the biggest problem with Howard coming to the Isle is that they need solid goaltending NOW.

They don't have a huge ton of depth beyond Rolly/DP/Biron, but they do have at least one solid prospect at their AHL team (I cannot remember his name.) ...but moving Biron will ONLY happen if DP plays this year. Which he may not.

Furthermore, their lack of quality defense is the reason why, at this point, they can't get enough goaltending.

They need SOLID goaltending to keep them in games. ...and with Tavares on the team, they will be looking for more wins.

IF Howard can develop into a quality goaltender, I'd like to see it happen here in Detroit. Sure, there might be more pressure here to perform, but it's more likely that he'll be able to develop nicely with our defense in front of him than what the Islanders currently ice.

[Esquire 324]

Considering that the Wings cruised to a playoff spot last year in front of, statistically, the worst regular season goalie in the league, I think they could handle it.

Because, statistically, our highest goals per game in the NHL saved our asses. Now that Hossa, Sammy, and Huds are gone...not so much.