Goalie Battle

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

It's nice having Mrazek here, as a little competition, to push our #1 goalie to be better than he already is.

He's not our #1 one yet is he.

[number9 3,297]

He's not our #1 one yet is he.

He's been our #1 for almost 7 years now, where have you been?

[WingsallTheway 383]

This doesn't bother me in any way shape or form. I love the fact that we have 2 very good goalies. having great depth is a good thing, not a negative. I have never understand why so many seem to be one or the other. That is like picking between Z and datsyuk. silliness.....

Everyone likes having 2 good goalies but we have to think about the future as well

We won't be competitive if we have 10-12M tied up in goalies. Once its time for Mrazek to cash in, Jimmy has to go. Was the same situation in VAN with Luongo and Schneider, hopefully we don't trade both

[Manny>Ozzie(by a long shot) 55]

Gooooooooalie fiiiiiight!

[number9 3,297]

Everyone likes having 2 good goalies but we have to think about the future as well

We won't be competitive if we have 10-12M tied up in goalies. Once its time for Mrazek to cash in, Jimmy has to go. Was the same situation in VAN with Luongo and Schneider, hopefully we don't trade both

Like Kickazz said, the best thing that can happen is Howie steps up and at least outplays Mraz this year. Then we can give Petr a backup goalies contract and retain both for a while longer. Giving us another year of very formidable goaltending in all 82 games.

But yes, If Mraz clearly wins the #1 spot Jimmy will have to be shipped out. And that can be a good thing too depending on the return. However if we wait for that moment, Howard's stock is going to sink. And he's not on a very cap friendly contract to begin with. And that's why I think Howard winning the spot this year is the best case scenario. We could then trade him at the draft for a high return.

[WingsallTheway 383]

Like Kickazz said, the best thing that can happen is Howie steps up and at least outplays Mraz this year. Then we can give Petr a backup goalies contract and retain both for a while longer. Giving us another year of very formidable goaltending in all 82 games.

But yes, If Mraz clearly wins the #1 spot Jimmy will have to be shipped out. And that can be a good thing too depending on the return. However if we wait for that moment, Howard's stock is going to sink. And he's not on a very cap friendly contract to begin with. And that's why I think Howard winning the spot this year is the best case scenario. We could then trade him at the draft for a high return.

Yup I agree with everything. Pretty much all situations are positive but the most likely Holland situation is retaining Jimmy until he has minimal value but even then we'll have 2 capable goaltenders for the time being.

Even if Mrazek wins the starting job this year I still think he gets a modest contract as an RFA. After that his caphit will likely be up there with the top 3-5 goalies in the league which is going to sting but be well worth it. I feel like he would thrive off of that pressure more than anyone else

Worst case is we trade Mraz and keep Jimmy for "loyalty". Man that would be rough.

[number9 3,297]

Yup I agree with everything. Pretty much all situations are positive but the most likely Holland situation is retaining Jimmy until he has minimal value but even then we'll have 2 capable goaltenders for the time being.

Even if Mrazek wins the starting job this year I still think he gets a modest contract as an RFA. After that his caphit will likely be up there with the top 3-5 goalies in the league which is going to sting but be well worth it. I feel like he would thrive off of that pressure more than anyone else

Worst case is we trade Mraz and keep Jimmy for "loyalty". Man that would be rough.

Yup, yup, yup, and yes trading Mraz over Jimmy would be hard for to grasp.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

Hope that we are shopping our goalies right now to some other teams. Return value is probably at it's highest point right now (This season).

[Richdg 267]

Hope that we are shopping our goalies right now to some other teams. Return value is probably at it's highest point right now (This season).

Why would we want to do that? Our G's are what is keeping our heads above water. They are both playing great. Its not their fault we can't seem to score.

[joesuffP 1,746]

I would die if they traded Mrazek over Howard

Winnepeg seems to be in a free fall right now and they'll be heading into cap hell this summer

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

Why would we want to do that? Our G's are what is keeping our heads above water. They are both playing great. Its not their fault we can't seem to score.

So that we could trade for someone that can help us score?

[Bill Berzeench 310]

So that we could trade for someone that can help us score?

Stamkos for Mrazwk.

[marcaractac 3,963]

The team has been facing a lot of shots. We're gonna need to keep them both for the time being. If we only had one of them, they would have nothing left in the tank in the second half of the season.

[cdjen 21]

As I have said somewhere, I rather win and lose with Mrazek in goals. Howie is older and therefore is tired and slower at the end of the game resulting in letting in the tying goal. He is a very good goalie and would be great with a scoring team... He is lost with a 1-2 goal team like the Wings.

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[cdjen 21]

There it is, 1 minute to go and 3 goal Howie lets in the tying goal.

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[Wings_Toledo 233]

There it is, 1 minute to go and 3 goal Howie lets in the tying goal.

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I have also noticed a tendency for Howard to let in the tying goal during the last ~5 minutes of the game. Without looking up any stats, I assume Mrazek doesn't do this quite as often. That's why Babcock started Mrazek in the playoffs last year and, hopefully, if they make the playoffs again this year Blashill will do the same.

[Buppy 1,720]

I have also noticed a tendency for Howard to let in the tying goal during the last ~5 minutes of the game. Without looking up any stats, I assume Mrazek doesn't do this quite as often. That's why Babcock started Mrazek in the playoffs last year and, hopefully, if they make the playoffs again this year Blashill will do the same.

Made me curious, so did some looking. Unfortunately, war-on-ice doesn't filter by time in game, so it's not quite conclusive.

Combined last year and this year, leading by one, with opposing goalie pulled, both are nearly identical. 2 GA for each, on 16 shots for Mrazek, 15 for Howard.

Leading by one, all situations there's quite a difference though:

Howard - 44 games, 548.5 TOI, 32 GA on 306 shots, 89.54 sv%

Mrazek - 32 games, 570.1 TOI, 16 GA on 293 shots, 94.54 sv%

The team is better defensively with Mrazek, but Mrazek is also much better. Better on all shot types too.

Low-danger (perimeter shots basically): Howard 7 goals/155 shots, Mrazek, 2/137

Medium (high slot/circles inside the faceoff dots): Howard 6/69, Mrazek 3/90

High (low slot/goal mouth): Howard 19/82, Mrazek 11/66

I figured there would be a difference, but I'm surprised by how dramatic it is. Among all goalies with at least 300 minutes in that situation (42 of them), Mrazek is 4th best, Howard is 3rd worst.

Oddly, when trailing by 1, Howard is 21st of 47 while Mrazek is 44th. Trailing by any amount, Mrazek is 56th of 61, with Howard 20th. Tied Mrazek is 2nd of 61, Howard 38th.

Granted, Howard wasn't great last year. Limited to just this year, they are much closer.

Overall, I don't know if you can say Howard is particularly prone to giving up late, tying goals. Not enough information available (unless someone cares to dig through game logs). But it does look like Mrazek, so far, is generally better in tied games or when protecting a lead, but more likely to get a bit rattled when behind.

[Bill Berzeench 310]

Made me curious, so did some looking. Unfortunately, war-on-ice doesn't filter by time in game, so it's not quite conclusive.

Combined last year and this year, leading by one, with opposing goalie pulled, both are nearly identical. 2 GA for each, on 16 shots for Mrazek, 15 for Howard.

Leading by one, all situations there's quite a difference though:

Howard - 44 games, 548.5 TOI, 32 GA on 306 shots, 89.54 sv%

Mrazek - 32 games, 570.1 TOI, 16 GA on 293 shots, 94.54 sv%

The team is better defensively with Mrazek, but Mrazek is also much better. Better on all shot types too.

Low-danger (perimeter shots basically): Howard 7 goals/155 shots, Mrazek, 2/137

Medium (high slot/circles inside the faceoff dots): Howard 6/69, Mrazek 3/90

High (low slot/goal mouth): Howard 19/82, Mrazek 11/66

I figured there would be a difference, but I'm surprised by how dramatic it is. Among all goalies with at least 300 minutes in that situation (42 of them), Mrazek is 4th best, Howard is 3rd worst.

Oddly, when trailing by 1, Howard is 21st of 47 while Mrazek is 44th. Trailing by any amount, Mrazek is 56th of 61, with Howard 20th. Tied Mrazek is 2nd of 61, Howard 38th.

Granted, Howard wasn't great last year. Limited to just this year, they are much closer.

Overall, I don't know if you can say Howard is particularly prone to giving up late, tying goals. Not enough information available (unless someone cares to dig through game logs). But it does look like Mrazek, so far, is generally better in tied games or when protecting a lead, but more likely to get a bit rattled when behind.

Good research. Seems like Howard is shaky with a lead almost every time.

[Jacksoni 418]

Mrazek on track to becoming the main goalie in the long run. This situation is almost perfect for him, alternating, reflecting, practicing.

To make it perfect in my opinion, someone in management should get their butt to Moscow and have a sitdown with the best goaltender of all time and try to make him consultant to the Red Wings for 2 seasons. I think you oldtimers know who that is, V.T. are his first letters.

I think Mrazek is ready for that, seems like a good next level progression to me. Playstyle fits nicely as well.

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

Mrazek on track to becoming the main goalie in the long run. This situation is almost perfect for him, alternating, reflecting, practicing.

To make it perfect in my opinion, someone in management should get their butt to Moscow and have a sitdown with the best goaltender of all time and try to make him consultant to the Red Wings for 2 seasons. I think you oldtimers know who that is, V.T. are his first letters.

I think Mrazek is ready for that, seems like a good next level progression to me. Playstyle fits nicely as well.

No, he needs to sit down with the best Czech goalie and we all know who that is and his initials are D.H. .

[Jacksoni 418]

I'd take him as a good second choice. In the best of worlds I'd have Tretiak, he's in a league of his own in my humble opinion. But Czech begets Czech I suppose, would certainly create improvement.

[krsmith17 7,191]

V.T.? Hmmm... Vesa Toskala? I doubt he'll be able to teach Mrazek a whole lot, unless it's learning how to let in shots from behind the oppositions goal line...

Or maybe you're talking about Vladislav Tretiak... Do you really think a 63 year old that hasn't played professionally in over 30 years would be able to teach Mrazek to play in today's game? I doubt he'd have a whole lot to offer to be honest... Jim Bedard seems to be doing just fine with Mrazek.

[derblaueClaus 1,668]

Being an awesome player does not result necessarily in being an awesome coach. Sure, veteran players can teach you a few tricks, but coaching is a lot more than that.

Edited November 25, 2015 by derblaueClaus

[Jacksoni 418]

Or maybe you're talking about Vladislav Tretiak... Do you really think a 63 year old that hasn't played professionally in over 30 years would be able to teach Mrazek to play in today's game? I doubt he'd have a whole lot to offer to be honest... Jim Bedard seems to be doing just fine with Mrazek.

He was, and probably in his mind still is a soldier hockey goaltender. Recruited into the Red Army at age 11.

He probably never stopped analyzing the goalie position, I'd guess given his upbringing (brainwash) he can't. Check out some of the documentaries regarding soviet hockey.

Mentored Dominic Hasek and Belfour among others. So much more to say about this man, but it's all available online for the interested.

Only gripe I might have is that he didn't utilize the butterfly stance.

Should still be able to raise Mrazek a level or two.

Edit: here's a picture, he's the one in the middle. Red Wings fans should be able to recognize a couple of faces.

Edited November 25, 2015 by Jacksoni

[roboturner 562]

V.T.? You mean the guy that a bunch of college kids put on the bench in the Olympics??

I kid probably a bod move by their coach.

Edited November 25, 2015 by roboturner