Legace released by Thrashers

[germanwing 154]

Detnews.com

[Guest E_S_A_D]

Detnews.com

Amazing how a career can turn so quickly. Sorry to read this.

[FinWing 26]

Just another guy whose career went down the drain after the Wings let him go.

[toby91_ca 620]

Just another guy whose career went down the drain after the Wings let him go.

Not really, he was a backup with the Wings and towards the end of his term with the Wings he did get some games in, but only due to injuries really. He left the Wings for a starting role....so really, after he left the Wings, he became a starting goaltender in this league, something he never was with Detroit....however, he never was as good as the stats might have suggested, as we have seen.

Also have to take into account that the guy is soon to be 37, which tends to be on the old side for goaltenders. I'm haven't bothered to do any research, but I bet if you had a look at the goalies in the league today, whether starters or backups, the vast majority would be much younger than that.

[P. Marlowe 748]

Poor fella. I feel bad for him.

Not really, he was a backup with the Wings and towards the end of his term with the Wings he did get some games in, but only due to injuries really. He left the Wings for a starting role....so really, after he left the Wings, he became a starting goaltender in this league, something he never was with Detroit....however, he never was as good as the stats might have suggested, as we have seen.

Legace played 51 games during 05-06 and 41 games during 03-04 with great stats. I think that he has the ability and skill to be a good number one goalie in the NHL. Well, that hasn't happened. I'd like this thread to stop on the surface and not become a cruel analysis of his mental abilities. That has been done here before and I don't think it's nice to kick a man when he's down.

[maltbymaniac 13]

i always liked legace back in the day.

[Gizmo 21]

I feel bad for him too... but he cooked his own goose when he pulled that "I want to be #1, or else..." stunt.

[gcom007 1,465]

His career didn't go down the drain. He was always a marginal backup. People just get too excited when they have a couple descent games. There is no such thing as Manny Legace's great career. There are a couple of years where he looked better than he was and a career where he's mostly sucked.

Thank goodness he didn't take Hollands first deal. What an epic mistake that would've been.

[OsGOD 3]

just another guy that thought he was more than a career backup

[FinWing 26]

Not really, he was a backup with the Wings and towards the end of his term with the Wings he did get some games in, but only due to injuries really. He left the Wings for a starting role....so really, after he left the Wings, he became a starting goaltender in this league, something he never was with Detroit....however, he never was as good as the stats might have suggested, as we have seen.

Also have to take into account that the guy is soon to be 37, which tends to be on the old side for goaltenders. I'm haven't bothered to do any research, but I bet if you had a look at the goalies in the league today, whether starters or backups, the vast majority would be much younger than that.

His career didn't go down the drain. He was always a marginal backup. People just get too excited when they have a couple descent games. There is no such thing as Manny Legace's great career. There are a couple of years where he looked better than he was and a career where he's mostly sucked.

Thank goodness he didn't take Hollands first deal. What an epic mistake that would've been.

I don't disagree. I'm just saying his career peaked in Detroit and because of his regular season performance he was chosen to be the playoff starter in 2006 instead of Osgood. That's not too bad. In those playoffs he really had a chance to make a name for himself as a number one goalie but unfortunately it all ended up in a meltdown for him and the rest of the team.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I hate to say this, but I wouldn't be surprised if Holland brings him in after Howard begins sucking.

[MannyK 16]

i always liked legace back in the day.

me too.... i have his jersey =/

[drumnj 459]

I hate to say this, but I wouldn't be surprised if Holland brings him in after Howard begins sucking.

I was thinking the same thing. The Wings are always about bringing back ex-players.

If Legace isn't playing over in Europe and Howard has pretty much fallen on his face, I could see Holland calling him up.

Although he'd probably get offered league minimum or something close.

[Krayzie_Bone 58]

I don't care what anyone says. If him and Ozzy had the same amount of starts in REGULAR season this year I still say Manny would have a better goals against more wins. Starting for the Red Wings of course.

Edited September 29, 2009 by Krayzie_Bone

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I don't care what anyone says. If him and Ozzy had the same amount of starts in REGULAR season this year I still say Manny would have a better goals against more wins. Starting for the Red Wings of course.

But that won't get us anywhere if Ozzy goes down in the playoffs.

That being said, things are quite different then they were when Oz and Legace were competing for the number 1 billing in 05/06. Oz was in the midst of completely changing his style while Legace continues to be a positional goaltender who is 3 years older and less confident.

[gcom007 1,465]

I don't disagree. I'm just saying his career peaked in Detroit and because of his regular season performance he was chosen to be the playoff starter in 2006 instead of Osgood. That's not too bad. In those playoffs he really had a chance to make a name for himself as a number one goalie but unfortunately it all ended up in a meltdown for him and the rest of the team.

It was a mistake. Babcock's big one. It was made WAY too early in the season after he had a great October. Osgood outplayed Legace down the stretch and should've started. It was the first time in years and years that a goalie has played a pivotal role in a Red Wings playoff failure. Not saying we didn't have other problems, but we tend to lose because we can't score. Our goalie couldn't stop the puck either when Legace started. And everyone should've known better after he bombed the season before as well.

I was getting yelled at around here for saying all season that it was a mistake and he'd blow it just like last year when everyone ripped on me for saying Osgood would be fine. Some things never change, but at least I'm always right!

[gcom007 1,465]

No way Legace will be back.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

It was a mistake. Babcock's big one. It was made WAY too early in the season after he had a great October. Osgood outplayed Legace down the stretch and should've started. It was the first time in years and years that a goalie has played a pivotal role in a Red Wings playoff failure. Not saying we didn't have other problems, but we tend to lose because we can't score. Our goalie couldn't stop the puck either when Legace started. And everyone should've known better after he bombed the season before as well.

I was getting yelled at around here for saying all season that it was a mistake and he'd blow it just like last year when everyone ripped on me for saying Osgood would be fine. Some things never change, but at least I'm always right!

While I don't disagree that it was a mistake on Bab's part naming Legace the starter when he did, Ozzie's health played a pretty significant role in Manny getting (and keeping) the nod. It's also the reason he didn't come in when they struggled out of the gate. Babs had no problem putting arguably one of the greatest goalies of all-time on the bench when the season was on the line. I don't think he would've hesitated to put in Oz had his health been where it needed to be.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

I hate to say this, but I wouldn't be surprised if Holland brings him in after Howard begins sucking.

There's better goalies available.

[BeeRYCE 2]

I think Legace can back up any NHL team... Not to say I'd want him, but he definitely shouldn't be unemployed.

[gcom007 1,465]

While I don't disagree that it was a mistake on Bab's part naming Legace the starter when he did, Ozzie's health played a pretty significant role in Manny getting (and keeping) the nod. It's also the reason he didn't come in when they struggled out of the gate. Babs had no problem putting arguably one of the greatest goalies of all-time on the bench when the season was on the line. I don't think he would've hesitated to put in Oz had his health been where it needed to be.

In the playoffs, sure, he had what, the hand injury after game 3 or something in practice? But the 2nd half of the season I'm pretty sure he was injury free and blatantly outplaying Legace. But besides that, perhaps Babcock just learned his lesson from Legace when he pulled Hasek in 2008! Granted, Hasek was just looking miserable out there; perhaps worse than Legace in some ways.

There's a big difference though between throwing in Chris Osgood in 2006 and 2008 if you're Mike Babcock. You can't forget that by 2008 Osgood was a Cup-winning goaltender coming off an All Star season as opposed to an aging goalie who won a Cup in '98.

I think with Osgood, he simply hadn't earned Babcock's trust yet. Between Legace having the strong October and Osgood's injuries, Babcock's first real experience with him wasn't so hot and then Hasek came in and looked pretty great in 2007 despite his age. Osgood has since earned Babcock's respect. His 2006/07 campaign was solid and I think he was looking better than Hasek down the stretch though it's no surprise Hasek got the nod in '07 and '08. But even in '07 when he never saw playoff time, Babcock noticed his solid play as the season went on. Then...

Osgood outplays Hasek in 2007/08 all season and makes the All Star team. Hasek still starts playoffs (he's earned it in his CAREER)

Hasek bombs. Babcock: "Get in Osgood!"

Osgood wins Babcock his first Cup.

Osgood bombs regular season. Conklin outplays Osgood. Babs maintains Osgood's his starter.

Osgood puts on a Conn-Smythe worthy performance carrying an injury-ridden team to game 7 of the finals.

At the end of the day, with Legace, he never earned or proved anything over the course of his entire career like Osgood and Hasek have. He never made it happen when it mattered most. I really have no idea what Babcock was thinking when he started Legace. It just seemed like pure insanity to me even in the first week of November after Legace got named player of the month. I don't question too many things Babcock does, but the whole Legace thing really blew my mind.

I'm grateful it happened though because I do think Babcock learned a lesson from it. It's not so much about going with the goalie who has the better season or looks better down the stretch. If you've got the choice, you've got to go with the guy who's proven the most through career-long experience. That's why Hasek rightfully started in 2008, but Osgood was no slouch and goes in. Then last year, he sticks with Osgood despite Conklin's strong play. Smart move.

This isn't such a knee-jerk thing like some here think. Not saying you do, but it's a general thing that goes on. Experience and long-term perspectives oftentimes say a lot more about a guy than a more current situation suggests.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

In the playoffs, sure, he had what, the hand injury after game 3 or something in practice? But the 2nd half of the season I'm pretty sure he was injury free and blatantly outplaying Legace

If I remember correctly, he was intending to start Osgood in Game 5 after Legace had turned in another dreadful performance, but Oz pulled his groin during warm-ups (or something to that effect).

[b.shanafan14 733]

This is too bad. Strange, year before last him and Ozzy were both in the All-Star game, now Manny can't get a job in the league?

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I don't disagree. I'm just saying his career peaked in Detroit and because of his regular season performance he was chosen to be the playoff starter in 2006 instead of Osgood. That's not too bad. In those playoffs he really had a chance to make a name for himself as a number one goalie but unfortunately it all ended up in a meltdown for him and the rest of the team.

Not necessarily peaked with Detroit. Overall he wasn't bad in his few years after in St. Louis until he tanked midway last seaeson and Craig Mason just took a stranglehold the #1 position soon thereafter. Let's not forget he was in an All-Star game recently. Obviously not the end-of-all-end things to determine if a goalie is good/great or not, but he didn't make the All-Star game by mistakes or bad numbers at the time.

[gcom007 1,465]

Not necessarily peaked with Detroit. Overall he wasn't bad in his few years after in St. Louis until he tanked midway last seaeson and Craig Mason just took a stranglehold the #1 position soon thereafter. Let's not forget he was in an All-Star game recently. Obviously not the end-of-all-end things to determine if a goalie is good/great or not, but he didn't make the All-Star game by mistakes or bad numbers at the time.

I thought he made the All Star team because his stats were good and one or two other goalies were injured or chose not to attend. He wasn't voted in and I'm pretty sure he wasn't one of the first three choices.