Goalie Battle

[kickazz 5,459]

Toronto needs a goalie, did Babs like Jimmy?!

I don't think he hated him but I don't think he was a big fan either. He's called him out before.

http://thehockeywriters.com/babcock-to-jimmy-howard-give-us-good-goaltending/

Edited January 26, 2016 by kickazz

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

I can't think of a team that would want to take on Howard and his almost $5,300,000 salary. Puts him at 18th for yearly earnings among fellow NHL netminders, I love Jimmy and all he did for us but he was over paid a bit which will make him very hard to move. Especially while playing the way he is at the moment, hopefully he can bounce back. Toronto needs a goalie, did Babs like Jimmy?!

Do they? Reimer is leading the league with his save % and is 2nd with GAA. I don't watch them so I don't know beyond the stats, but that's impressive.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

I was good with the 1A/1B situation at the beginning of the year, but now Mrazek's making me nervous. Obviously I'm happy that he's played so well, but his stock is rising every day. RFA or not, Mrazek is probably going to get himself a decent chunk of money. I just have a feeling there's going to be a lot of money committed to the goaltending heading into next season.

[canadian wings fan 305]

Very worrisome situation indeed. Mrazek is already the much better goalie and he keeps getting better and better. Teams aren't stupid. They realize our situation, and why would they willingly take an overpaid headcase of a goaltender in Howard? A goalie with zero confidence and who can't even play the puck. I have no idea what Holland can do here

[kickazz 5,459]

Very worrisome situation indeed. Mrazek is already the much better goalie and he keeps getting better and better. Teams aren't stupid. They realize our situation, and why would they willingly take an overpaid headcase of a goaltender in Howard? A goalie with zero confidence and who can't even play the puck. I have no idea what Holland can do here

If Roberto Luongo and his contract can get traded, anyone's can.

[gcom007 1,465]

He'll get traded, but a decent return might be a 3rd round pick and us retaining some salary.

[canadian wings fan 305]

If Roberto Luongo and his contract can get traded, anyone's can.

Haha yeah that was another albatross contract but I mean Luongo had consistently been considered an elite goalie (despite the Schneider/Lack fiascos) and had the stats to back it up. There was a good fit in Florida because of his history with that franchise.

And I'm pretty sure the Canucks retained some salary. I don't think you can point to the Luongo fiasco and say that will work with Howard

[joesuffP 1,746]

Mrazek is an RFA. We take him to arbitration, given his lack of NHL experience and that we have a capable goalie in Howard he will most likely be awarded around 3-4M a year at the most.

[gcom007 1,465]

I expect he'll get around 4. But I don't think there's a chance we'll go into next season with over $9 million on the books just for goalie, especially considering one of those goalies seems to barely even play anymore.

[joesuffP 1,746]

At this point with E and Howard, they aren't even tough decisions. Before Holland wanted to get a return because their was questions about who would replace them, now their isn't. If Holland is desperate enough he can get rid of them he'll just need to get creative. I think Howard stays one more year though

[kickazz 5,459]

Wasn't Jimmy born and raised New York? Wonder if Buffalo is an option.

[krsmith17 7,191]

I've mentioned Buffalo as being a potential suitor a couple times now. I really think Howard would waive to go there, and I think Buffalo could really use his services. I'm not sure what we could get for him, but maybe a 2nd or 3rd round pick and a mid teir prospect like Hudson Fasching...

[kickazz 5,459]

Yeah they could use him for sure - they have a lot of talent in their system right now especially with Eichel and O'rielly. Jimmy could be a huge boost for them. He's a good goalie just being outshined by Mrazek (who is playing like Carey Price lol)

[kliq 3,755]

Haha yeah that was another albatross contract but I mean Luongo had consistently been considered an elite goalie (despite the Schneider/Lack fiascos) and had the stats to back it up. There was a good fit in Florida because of his history with that franchise.

And I'm pretty sure the Canucks retained some salary. I don't think you can point to the Luongo fiasco and say that will work with Howard

If Luongo can be traded, Jimmy can be traded. Luongo's contract was much much much worse when he was traded then what Jimmy's is now. After this year, Jimmy has 3 years left at 5.3 million per year. Luongo has a cap hit right now of 4.5 million for another 6 years, and he was traded 2 years ago. Even for a better goalie, 8 years at 4.5million is much worse then 3 years at 5.3 million.

If you want to compare stats:

Jimmys Stats:

This year: 7-7-4, 90.8 SV%, 2.76 GAA

Last year - 23-13-11, 91 SV%, 2.44 GAA

Luongo's Stats:

Last year before trade: 19-16-6, 91.7 SV%, 2.38 GAA

2 Years before trade: 9-6-3, 90.7 SV%, 2.56 GAA

[kickazz 5,459]

Luongo was known to be a playoff flub for a while actually. Imo he wasn't that amazing of a goalie.

Edited January 27, 2016 by kickazz

[NerveDamage 4,176]

Luongo was known to be a playoff flub for a while actually. Imo he wasn't that amazing of a goalie.

Well, I was living in Vancouver at the time and I remember that most of what you saw and heard in the media was how amazing Luongo was, and how he was carrying the Canucks for a good part of that season. .

Edited January 27, 2016 by NerveDamage

[kickazz 5,459]

Well, I was living in Vancouver at the time and I remember that most of what you saw and heard in the media was how amazing Luongo was, and how he was carrying the Canucks for a good part of that season. .

He was a great season goalie but he had a major flub in one of the playoff seasons when Schnieder replaced him in goal. That's when the whole Schnieder/Luongo fiasco began. And I think a couple years before that he was getting some criticism during the playoffs too.

[NerveDamage 4,176]

He was a great season goalie but he had a major flub in one of the playoff seasons when Schnieder replaced him in goal. That's when the whole Schnieder/Luongo fiasco began. And I think a couple years before that he was getting some criticism during the playoffs too.

the period I'm talking about is around 06-08, before they were Stanley Cup contenders. A friend of mine actually met him and one of the Sedins. I worked for about a year on a coffee shop across the street from GM Place (now Rogers Arena). but never met any hockey player.

[kickazz 5,459]

the period I'm talking about is around 06-08, before they were Stanley Cup contenders. A friend of mine actually met him and one of the Sedins. I worked for about a year on a coffee shop across the street from GM Place (now Rogers Arena). but never met any hockey player.

Yeah he was pretty good then. I think he was a top 5 goalie for a bit at the time and an all-star goalie (as in for the all star games)

He actually reminds me a lot of Jimmy in a way. Jimmy was a proven season goalie for a while but he could never catch a break in the playoffs (part of the reason why I prefer Mrazek over Jimmy is because Mraz could/maybe be a playoff clutch goalie). Although Luongo did have one year where he had a good playoff run which Jimmy didn't.

Edited January 27, 2016 by kickazz

[Juklitz 85]

Learning from Mraz?

[e_prime 1,936]

I've mentioned Buffalo as being a potential suitor a couple times now. I really think Howard would waive to go there, and I think Buffalo could really use his services. I'm not sure what we could get for him, but maybe a 2nd or 3rd round pick and a mid teir prospect like Hudson Fasching...

What about Lehner?

Edited January 27, 2016 by e_prime

[krsmith17 7,191]

What about Lehner? I don't really know much about him but he's still fairly young and his stats aren't really overly impressive. I'm pretty sure the Sabres have been counting on Ullmark to become their goalie of the future, but again, he's still very young so who knows how that'll turn out. I think both could learn a lot from a veteran like Howard.

[e_prime 1,936]

Just wanted to know your thoughts.

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

What about Lehner? I don't really know much about him but he's still fairly young and his stats aren't really overly impressive. I'm pretty sure the Sabres have been counting on Ullmark to become their goalie of the future, but again, he's still very young so who knows how that'll turn out. I think both could learn a lot from a veteran like Howard.

The Sabres gave up a 1st rounder for Lehner. I think that points to them believing in him. During our game against the Sabres, the play-by-play guys were saying that he was brought in to "solidify the goaltending position." But that's all about intent - Of course who knows what he turns into.

I was thinking that Calgary was a good spot for Howard since Hiller has some pretty bad stats this, but I guess Ramo took over for him. Does anyone watch them enough to know if they'll likely re-sign Ramo? They were paying over 8 mill for goaltending this year so Howard would actually be a cost savings for them, haha. (also, anyone want UFA-to-be Hudler back in a possible deal, haha?)

[Jesusberg 1,256]

While I don't think anyone is clamoring for Howard's services right now, I see Winnipeg, Calgary and Carolina as possible destinations. I'm not 100% on the details of Howie's NTC, but I'm wondering if Kenny's free to move him during the offseason? At the very least, if management tells him Mrazek is their starter moving forward, it might push him to consider a trade.

If they can't unload him to a team in the near future, I wonder if they can expose him at the expansion draft (when/if it happens). Again, his NTC might complicate matters, but we'll have to see how the league handles NTC/NMC.