Howard to start Saturday

[Drake_Marcus 890]

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...rt_in_goal.html

Before you spaz please consider the fact that he's backed into a corner right now so maybe he'll come out fighting like a mad dog.

EDIT: For the record, if the Wings want to bring in a new goalie I pray they can get Halak for a good price. He's consistently outperformed Price, which is no small feat.

Edited October 24, 2009 by Drake_Marcus

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

At least Mays back in. For Howard, this is make or break it, a loss on saturday and he's pretty much done, we need a win, and he needs to prove he belongs.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

At least Mays back in. For Howard, this is make or break it, a loss on saturday and he's pretty much done, we need a win, and he needs to prove he belongs.

I completely agree. I'm thinking he'll have a whale of a game tomorrow for just that reason. Like he's quoted as saying in the article-- he's got nothing to lose and everything to gain. (Nothing to lose referring to the fact that he knows he's on his way out if he doesn't perform anyway)

[Hack & Whack Rule! 160]

I'm not saying Osgood's a s***ty goalie, but I'm glad they're giving Howard a chance. We need to see if we've got a solid backup or not. And I agree about Halak. It would be awesome to see him as a Wing.

[Jaymz99 2]

For Howard, this is make or break it, a loss on Saturday and he's pretty much done, we need a win, and he needs to prove he belongs.

I will say this much, if the rest of the team doesn't step up, you could have Terry Sawchuk in goal and it won't make a difference. Give the kid a chance to prove himself. He gets blasted for what, the few NHL games he has actually played in. All 1 of them last year was a big help. Not to mention the game where he had to relieve Ozzie after 5 goals. I love the armchair GM's.

P.S. Any Sammy bashers check his stats lately?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I will say this much, if the rest of the team doesn't step up, you could have Terry Sawchuk in goal and it won't make a difference. Give the kid a chance to prove himself. He gets blasted for what, the few NHL games he has actually played in. All 1 of them last year was a big help. Not to mention the game where he had to relieve Ozzie after 5 goals. I love the armchair GM's.

P.S. Any Sammy bashers check his stats lately?

It's Sammy. We know he can be excellent for short stretches... the problem is when he's cold he's ice cold.

On an unrelated note, I love Babcock's comment from the article:

"A little adversity never killed anybody. Suck it up and get going," Babcock said. "The bottom line is, it's 60 minutes so play the whole thing. Don't play 51, don't play 58.

"I'm a big believer in our group. I think we got to be more determined. Now, if we sag and feel bad for ourselves, then we'll get hammered the next game. If we just stick to what we're doing and we just keep getting one degree better, we'll be fine."

[Pucks 66]

About time. It's not make or break based on one game, that would be silly. Osgood is still looking for his game and look how many he's already played. They can't play Jimmy once a month and expect him to be stellar, but they know that.

[Nero 20]

At least Mays back in. For Howard, this is make or break it, a loss on saturday and he's pretty much done, we need a win, and he needs to prove he belongs.

So, let me get this straight. The team loses while Osgood is in net, no big deal. We lose when Howard is in net, and we suddenly want to get rid of him?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

About time. It's not make or break based on one game, that would be silly. Osgood is still looking for his game and look how many he's already played. They can't play Jimmy once a month and expect him to be stellar, but they know that.

This is about as close to a make or break game as it gets for a young goalie. The Wings organization know they need wins and they need them yesterday. They can't afford to give him a long leash at this point, despite the fact that they wish they could afford to. If they dump him it will be at great cost-- 4 years in the AHL as the #1 man and tons of organizational focus on him as the goalie of the future.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

So, let me get this straight. The team loses while Osgood is in net, no big deal. We lose when Howard is in net, and we suddenly want to get rid of him?

When Howard hasnt proven anything, and should he continue not too, why would we keep him? Pity? Development? There are better options, and we need a goalie to be counted on, if it cant be Ozzie or Howard, gonna have to be someone, because they arent going to trade Osgood.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

When Howard hasnt proven anything, and should he continue not too, why would we keep him? Pity? Development? There are better options, and we need a goalie to be counted on, if it cant be Ozzie or Howard, gonna have to be someone, because they arent going to trade Osgood.

That's true about Ozzy-- his amazing post season play bought him a free year again Once we get into the playoffs we know Ozzy is money.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Agreed - every time he's been given a chance he's performed quite well...Chances are he'd be a starter on quite a few teams if he wasn't stuck in Montreal.

EDIT - right off the top of my head I could see Gainey asking for Kronwall in return for Halak...That's a little steep - however what's the potential for Halak, and what do we have in Howard/Larson/McCollum?

Definitely steep. What about Kindl + McCollum? Kindl's definitely a bit risky of a pick for Gainey but he has a huge upside. McCollum is a stud for sure, but American, which would be a tough sell for a goalie in Montreal (stupid, I know, but it's a francophone thing).

[rage 24]

Am I the only happy about this!! lol

[thedisappearer 291]

This is about as close to a make or break game as it gets for a young goalie.

No way. We're riding Howard as the back up through the Olympics. If, then, he isn't doing it, we'll do something. Yes, that will raise the price of what we want. No, we're not going to over-react to this. Really, I'm surprised you are getting worked up abou ***.

[Xitium 272]

Good. Time for Howard to fail again and finally get the boot.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

The Kindl/McCollum tandem might be enough (at least I think it's a pretty fair deal for both teams) - however depending how desperate Holland is (think worst case scenario such as Ozzie going down with a torn ACL - God forbid) Gainey could potentially ask alot more than what Halak could be worth, but thems the breaks

From what little I've heard of McCollum - he could potentially surpass Howard on the depth chart within a few seasons...He just might be worth hanging onto.

Oh McCollum is a great young prospect, and that's why I think he'd be needed to swing that deal. McCollum was the best goalie in the OHL last season. But Halak is good enough to be an All-Star some day.

[Carman 387]

I kinda hope he has either an abysmal performance or a shut out performance he needs to either step up, or step out.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

No way. We're riding Howard as the back up through the Olympics. If, then, he isn't doing it, we'll do something. Yes, that will raise the price of what we want. No, we're not going to over-react to this. Really, I'm surprised you are getting worked up abou ***.

I'm not worked up as much as I'm being unnecessarily bold.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Montreal is not going to trade Halak right now. He's pretty darn close to becoming their starter, if he's not already.

Edited October 24, 2009 by MacK_Attack

[RedWingAbner 13]

This topic needs to be modified to read:

"Howard to start, Wings to lose, Saturday."

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

This topic needs to be modified to read:

"Howard to start, Wings to lose, Saturday."

How do you know? The game hasn't even started yet.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I will say this much, if the rest of the team doesn't step up, you could have Terry Sawchuk in goal and it won't make a difference. Give the kid a chance to prove himself. He gets blasted for what, the few NHL games he has actually played in. All 1 of them last year was a big help. Not to mention the game where he had to relieve Ozzie after 5 goals. I love the armchair GM's.

P.S. Any Sammy bashers check his stats lately?

^ This.

Logic around these parts is rare these days it seems.

If he doesn't fully perform after a while, then find options to move him. But saying he's completely done alraedy and people wanting him to fail in here or thinking the game is over before it's even started is pretty sad.

Edited October 24, 2009 by SouthernWingsFan

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

^ This.

Logic around these parts is rare these days it seems.

If he doesn't fully perform after a while, then find options to move him. But saying he's completely done alraedy and people wanting him to fail in here or thinking the game is over before it's even started is pretty sad.

I couldn't agree more

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

This topic needs to be modified to read:

"Howard to start, Wings to lose, Saturday."

I'm with you.... Im not very confident in our #2. because he plays like #2....

should of taken that Bertuzzi money and kept Conks!

[VM1138 1,921]

So, let me get this straight. The team loses while Osgood is in net, no big deal. We lose when Howard is in net, and we suddenly want to get rid of him?

Osgood is a proven high caliber goalie who turns into a monster in the playoffs.

Howard is an unproven goalie with a history of inconsistency and underperformance. We know Ozzie will get better. There are no such assumptions for Howard yet. So yes, there is the mentality of: trade him while we can get something for him.