Play Coach - When do you pick a goalie

[wings7 62]

I have no clue here, but at some point, you'd want to get one guy going, right?

At what point do you need to pick?

It's a long season, both are playing very well, but is there a concern that eventually each will want more time?

Do you think about trading one of the two or let them push each other forever?

Go!

Edited November 4, 2015 by wings7

[Izzy24 44]

1) These things tend to sort themselves out.

2) I'm sure Howard and Mrazek (and everyone else in the NHL) want more time now. They didn't get to where they are by not caring. I don't think the coach needs to overly concerned about that.

[Bill Berzeench 310]

Jimmy's on the payroll for 5+ mil a year for 4 years. Tough not to play him. Weiss, Cleary, Samuelsson, Tootoo, etc etc etc. Pretty soon people are going to start questioning our GM's ability if he's paying 10's of millions for pressbox guys, over-ripening prospects that were once ripe, and trading other top prospects on deadline day for old broken down vets who only stick around for 20 games.

[wings_fanatic 677]

Jimmy's on the payroll for 5+ mil a year for 4 years. Tough not to play him. Weiss, Cleary, Samuelsson, Tootoo, etc etc etc. Pretty soon people are going to start questioning our GM's ability if he's paying 10's of millions for pressbox guys, over-ripening prospects that were once ripe, and trading other top prospects on deadline day for old broken down vets who only stick around for 20 games.

I don't care what we are paying Jimmy. If mrazek keeps playing like he has then he should end up being the starter eventually this season because while he and Jimmy have been pretty even, his puck handling ability makes a difference and ultimately makes the team better. Furthermore if this keeps up I would look to trade Jimmy at the deadline in a package to improve our D.

[The Secret 304]

There is nothing better then a solid 1 - 2 knockout tandem. Share the ice unless one starts out playing the other.... keeps 2 goalie's fresh for the play offs.

[WingsallTheway 383]

I'm totally fine with whats been happening. What's wrong with having two goalies rotating that are both capable of winning every night?

It's only going to last for one season so enjoy it

Edited November 4, 2015 by WingsallTheway

[e_prime 1,936]

Jimmy's on the payroll for 5+ mil a year for 4 years. Tough not to play him. Weiss, Cleary, Samuelsson, Tootoo, etc etc etc. Pretty soon people are going to start questioning our GM's ability if he's paying 10's of millions for pressbox guys, over-ripening prospects that were once ripe, and trading other top prospects on deadline day for old broken down vets who only stick around for 20 games.

People are going to start? Ha. It's been like that for years. Fact: Fans have always and will always question what certain GMs pay for certain players, question the players that are played, players that are traded, etc.

To put the current goalie situation into some perspective:

How much was Chris Osgood getting paid when people were screaming that Howard should be playing instead?

I'm not going to bother looking up the numbers, but rather just say this: The goaltender that having the strongest play should be the goaltender in net. No matter the cost associated with the player. So far, these two guys have been pretty even. So keep doing what we've been doing.

Maybe give a guy two starts in a row after a win and it's not a back-to-back situation. ...either way, at this point, I'm not complaining about goaltending or the money being spent on it.

If we need to free up some cap space I can think of one of two 4+ million or one of two 2+ million dollar defensemen that can be moved rather than Jimmy "Better than Bad, He's Good" Howard.

Edited November 4, 2015 by e_prime

[Opie 308]

I would make the change when one of the following two things happen:

1. Jimmy and Petr become a problem in the locker room. According to some quotes currently both guys see this as a challenge and are supporting each other.

2. One of them shats the bed. Other than that keep the rotation going, I think the decline of Howard towards the end of seasons has been due to logging too many minutes.

I think J-Ho's body just cannot handle 60+ starts a year. If both of these guys can play at current level (they are almost mirror images stat wise), missing a couple of games will help them rest and hopefully keep on the same pace.

[e_prime 1,936]

Just some more perspective for those worried about how much we spend on goaltending:

Dallas - 10.4
NYR - 9.461
Minny - 9
Calgary - 8.737
Colombus - 8.225
Vancouver - 8.125
Nashville - 7.725
Boston - 7.7
Montreal - 7.652
Carolina - 7.45
Colorado - 7.35
Tampa - 7.227
L.A. - 7.05
Washington - 6.85
NJ - 6.725
NYI - 6.562
Chicago - 6.587
Arizona - 6.542
Toronto - 6.45
Pittsburgh - 6.35
Detroit 6.029
Philly- 5.725
Florida - 5.583
Ottawa - 5.55
St. Louis - 4.85
San Jose - 4.6
Winnipeg - 4.475
Buffalo - 4.37
Ducks 3.4
Edmonton - 2.45

These are just the simple cap numbers pulled from nhlnumbers.com. Some teams have three goaltenders on their roster and against their cap number due to injury, etc. Even with those adjustments, we're in the lower half to bottom third of what we're spending for Jimmy Howard and Petr Mrazek. Even after Mrazek's raise. We're probably sitting pretty with cost vs. value.

Edited November 4, 2015 by e_prime

[Smite 399]

I think Jimmeh thrives on healthy competition. Much Like Ozzy. I just worry about the 3 on 3 OT. it just reeks of groin pull with goalies going side to side.

[LeftWinger 5,131]

I am a huge Mrazek slappie, but for me, I say keep it going like this for as long as possible. I know we won't have the most expensive tandem next year, but if Petr doesn't take over, it'll still cost less to re-sign him than if he did. We need all the cap space we can muster for a run at a legit #1 defender next summer.

[BottleOfSmoke 5,965]

I don't pick a goalie until I have to. The only thing I like more than a good goalie is a good goalie tandem. Like others have said, it keeps both goalies fresh and hopefully the friendly competition keeps them both at the top of their game. It's a win-win situation.

[Bill Berzeench 310]

Howard looked so strong last night. The 4 posts helped, but he got a piece of all of those, so they were really saves. I am not a big Howard fan because he never focussed on improving his short comings - puck handling and consistancy. But i have noticed a distinct difference in his confidence playing the puck this year and in his focuinevery game. He seems like he has his swagger back, and that's huge. Simple thing, but on one of the pps last night, he played the puck up to a defenseman who only had to go back to the blueline and not the goal line. This may seeminsignificgoal, but it saves 5-10 seconds. And if done 2 or 3 times a night, gives us a potential extra 30 seconds of pp time in the offensive zone and not behind our net. That can be the difference between a win and a loss in the NHL. Today's NHL isnt the 83 Oilers NHL where goals were bountiful. Anyway, Howard has impressed me so far this year. Seems like he's out of the funk he fell into and put in some time with his stickwork during the offseason.

[Richdg 267]

A good coach never picks the players. he lets the players pick. The guy that is producing plays. it really is that simple.if both are producing, both play. I said before the season if I was making the call I will take the next 3 years to transition from Jimmy to Mrazek. This year Jimmy 50 Mrazek 32. Next year 41 each, and then in year 3 Mrazek 50 and Jimmy 32. Both stay fresh, Mrazek gets time to devleop, and jimmy plays out his deal.

[kickazz 5,459]

Now.

I pick Legace.

[rick zombo 3,739]

The answer to this awesome question, I believe, is this: when's the expansion draft?

[Bill Berzeench 310]

The answer to this awesome question, I believe, is this: when's the expansion draft?

Great call.

[LeftWinger 5,131]

Exansion draft? then I choose to protect Mrazek.

[wings7 62]

Ya, I agree with most of you. Alternate as long as you can. By the trade deadline you probably want to have your starter so he has a month plus of straight playing for playoff preparations. But until that game 60 or so, why not alternate.

[rick zombo 3,739]

Exansion draft? then I choose to protect Mrazek.

When/if expansion happens and if both goalies are still playing equally well, you'd have to think that the tie would not go to the veteran. Mrazek will be the younger, cheaper option.

Hopefully by that point, the brass will have a good idea if he can shoulder a 50-60 game work-load and play with consistency.

[Smite 399]

Now.

I pick Legace.

At least who ever loses out can join the Fox Sports Detroit team as a commentator. Seriously when am I going to see Hasek between periods, that would be epic.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

Think Blashill has done a pretty good job on this but would like to see Mrazek get more playing time as he has been the better goaltender so far this year.

[kickazz 5,459]

Think Blashill has done a pretty good job on this but would like to see Mrazek get more playing time as he has been the better goaltender so far this year.

I want Howard to get "more" of the starts and be slightly better than Mrazek so that when do sign Mrazek to a contract in 2016, it will be cheaper.

You give him all that playing time now and his agent will be demanding a hefty raise.

So best hope they both do really well and Howard edges him out. It will help us in the long run.

Edited November 17, 2015 by kickazz

[LeftWinger 5,131]

Hmmmmm, I've read that somewhere before Kick....

Anyhow, I agree. I've said, even as far back as last summer that although I am a full Mrazek slappy, it would be better for the team from a business standpoint for Howard to retain his #1 status in order to get Petr on a cheaper re-sign. I still feel the same way today. SIgn Petr to a lessor deal then trade Howard as a #1 goalie status. Win-Win for us!

[kickazz 5,459]

Hmmmmm, I've read that somewhere before Kick....

Anyhow, I agree. I've said, even as far back as last summer that although I am a full Mrazek slappy, it would be better for the team from a business standpoint for Howard to retain his #1 status in order to get Petr on a cheaper re-sign. I still feel the same way today. SIgn Petr to a lessor deal then trade Howard as a #1 goalie status. Win-Win for us!

That's one of the few points you and I have agreed on hah.

Although who knows, I may have thought differently about this 5 months ago..