Play Coach - When do you pick a goalie

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

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.

Ya but it looks like we'll be fighting for a playoff spot this year. Rather play the guy that gives you the best chance to win and not based on future contracts.

[number9 3,297]

Ya but it looks like we'll be fighting for a playoff spot this year. Rather play the guy that gives you the best chance to win and not based on future contracts.

It hasn't even been 20 games yet, it's way to early to tell where we'll finish. Tampa is outside of the playoffs looking in right now. Do you expect them to finish the season on the outside looking in? Me either.

I agree that I want to get the most points possible so play the better man, but is there really that much of a difference between Mrazek and Howard? If Howard is worse it's only slightly... it's not like we're talking about playing some average backup like Monster here. I would be fine riding Howard for the majority during the regular season, then unleashing Mraz in the playoffs again.

[kickazz 5,459]

Ya but it looks like we'll be fighting for a playoff spot this year. Rather play the guy that gives you the best chance to win and not based on future contracts.

Which is why people should hope for Howard to be the better goalie and hope that he's the one that gives us the best chance. Mrazek doing better than Howie doesn't help us long term. Howard doing better helps us long term. It would be a win-win scenario. Because fact of the matter is Mrazek WILL be re-signed. If Howard outplays him then we get Mrazek back for cheap.

See the logic?

Edited November 18, 2015 by kickazz

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

It hasn't even been 20 games yet, it's way to early to tell where we'll finish. Tampa is outside of the playoffs looking in right now. Do you expect them to finish the season on the outside looking in? Me either.

I agree that I want to get the most points possible so play the better man, but is there really that much of a difference between Mrazek and Howard? If Howard is worse it's only slightly... it's not like we're talking about playing some average backup like Monster here. I would be fine riding Howard for the majority during the regular season, then unleashing Mraz in the playoffs again.

I certainly think that Tampa Bay will make the playoffs.

Detroit... Not so sure at this point and it very likely could come down to the difference of one game. You're talking as if Detroit has a 95%+ chance of making the playoffs whereas I view them right now as having about a 40% chance of making the playoffs right now so if Mrazek is the better goalie, he should warrant more playing time if our goal is to make the playoffs. If our goal is to look long-term then sure, let's keep doing what we're doing and then hopefully make a trade for some assets and set ourselves up for a good spot in the draft.

Which is why people should hope for Howard to be the better goalie and hope that he's the one that gives us the best chance. Mrazek doing better than Howie doesn't help us long term. Howard doing better helps us long term. It would be a win-win scenario. Because fact of the matter is Mrazek WILL be re-signed. If Howard outplays him then we get Mrazek back for cheap.

See the logic?

Sure.

I hope they both have .970 save percentages but unfortunately that's not the reality right now. The reality is that so far Mrazek has earned the starter's role so he should be rewarded accordingly.